Boxbrownie

Excellent diagnostic work leading to a correct solution, for others here I think this ought to be in the "how to" section as a sticky.

Hi Paul,

Thanks for the suggestion, but I had tried them as I have a pair of AO Polars in the car for sea going trips, but they made little or no difference to the glare as it's reflections in the windscreen from the dash top......they made the dash top look matt though! :)

Failing any purpose made item I will pursue a tailored piece of black cloth/velvet just over the top of the instrument pod area, then the Missus can have her tee-shirt back.......

Went touring Cornwall (England) last week but it entailed an awful lot of narrow (8-9 feet) lanes which were bounded by trees and tall hedges, the weather was glorious but unfortunately it made reflections from the dash top almost intolerable because of the dappled nature of the light and dark shadows in the lanes, I was wondering if you guys over in the States have heard of any kind of dash top (primarily the instrument housing) cloth or velvet type cover which will stop all refections? I got around the problem by laying one of the little ladies dark tee shirts over the top and it made driving so much easier again, but I wondered if there was a purpose made cover (as I used to have a Lumina APV import which had a full cover) for the RX300 ?

Yes....the belt that drives the camshafts............ :D Tomarto's - Tomayto's eh?

My research indicates zero failures as far as I can see......I know for a fact the belts at the Motor Manufacturer where I work are tested to twice the scheduled replacement interval.

Thanks for the replies.

Best regards David

For some reason here in thre UK it appears the main dealers are recommending a cambelt change at 60K miles rather then the specified 100K as per the service schedule....

I am trying to get a feel for just how many vehicles in service have actually had cambelt failure (I have read of none so far) and as to the reasoning of the change by the main dealers (apart from pure monetary reasons!).

So has anyone had an incident of valves kissing thier long lost cousins the piston family? :D

Best regards David

It will be/would be interesting to compare these to the "Silver Stars".....to see if the difference is still worth the extra cost?

Best regards David

Hi, Did the car have "flashlube" fitted along with the LPG conversion, in my investigations on LPG and these cars it appears it is crucial to have flashlube fitted and working/topped up to prevent valve seat recession.......might be a possibility No5 has a damaged valve seat, could cause the symptoms you describe.

Best regards David

Its not just the temperature read out your loosing....also the direction of warm/cold air, speed of fan, Radio presets, CD tracks and control....its a touch screen control of a lot of the systems! I think to tempt most owners it needs to retain original functions as well.

Best regards David

Thanks for that.....the heater I was looking at is electrical...I think its the wiper deicer section....to free "stuck" wipers...not truly a heated "screen".......

Best regards David

Hi folks....a question from over the pond here, did the Mk1 RX300 come with the option of a electrically heated front screen in the states? Seen it on the wiring diagram and wondered what regions it was available.

Best regards David

i called the dealership and they haven't even heard of it... i explained what happen and they still are suggesting a new trainy

Hmm...why does that not suprise me? We don't call'em Mainstealers for nothing!

Well done matey...sounds like this time YOU won.....

Best regards David

"counter gear speed sensor where the turbine input sensor" ?

Could you clarify the sensor and location please? Cheers matey......

Best regards David

Ok forget that, found them on the wiring diag...interesting info

Has it ever been in an accident?

Get some new stainless steel hardware to replace it and solve the problem permanently for about 6 cents.

Should he have to?

Its definately a setup....not a genuine airbag inflation......too slow by a mile! The airbag inflates in milliseconds.....you see this kind of deployment in films etc.....you can almost watch the thing inflate!

Best regards David

ps....it is funny though....and makes you wish it were real.

Try not to mount it if the design is such that it crosses the split divide of the rear bench seats, even by a little! Under rear payload crash test conditions the seats usually open up slightly causing the child seat to twist....better to stay straight of course in any kind of frontal impact.....this is from real world test experience not from browsing the web ;)

Best regards David

Just my two'penneth.....I work in the automotive research and engineering industry.....air bags are nowadays "suplimentary restraint systems" and only go off if really needed.....the fact you walked away from your accident even though you weren't wearing your belt shows that the airbag really didn't need to deploy. Every crash seems a hell'ava lot faster than the ACTUAL impact speed.....I've seen unbelted passengers fly forward and break/crack windscreens under just severe braking......and when you walk away and look back at your crumpled vehicle, just remember....it was designed to crumple like that....its made to soften the impact from within the passenger cell. So what you see as a major crash, a few years ago in an older vehicle it would have seemed just a "fender bender".

Without knowing the entire facts and details of the accident its impossible to speculate, and I have filmed and analysed more restraint test crashes than I care to remember, thankfully with anthropomorphic dummies....but its more likely everything worked just as it should have, thats why you walked away and were able to complain after :D

But please....do wear your selt belt, always....especially if your kids are in the car.....you will be teaching them a lesson every time you buckle up which might save thier lives one day when they begin to drive.....think about that side of it? Please?

And this isn't in any way meant to insult or demean your good self, just information and speculation!

Best regards David

Well....that clears your question up then!

As others have said......its a fine line between the two......take a look at two vehicles in a dealers with both options, pick the one you like the look of.

Either choice will be the wrong choice for several reasons.....and the right choice for the other reasons!

Best regards David

Subjectively its looks better.....but then thats your choice....

You might find there is a better range of tyres (tires!) in 18".....certainly it will feel a little better on the road in response and handling....but the offset might be slightly more road noise and harshness, again dependant upon tyre choice.

For a couple of hundred quid I'd go for it!

Best regards David

Hey its a Lexus.....it's for use at the rear tow eye point....for towing all those other vehicles on the road!

Best regards David

No problems with my 03 RX Mk1.....but it's not you as I have the same problem on my wifes Ford KA....there is a patch of distortion just in my line of sight from the drivers seat....but wifey being shorter gets no problem at all.....

So it does happen, I am suprised you got so many bad replacement screens though....hopefully just bad luck? Have to tried another RX at your dealers? Get them to swop the screen? :whistles:

Best regards David

Hmmm well I will find out on Saturday when I go and pick the vehicle up.............

Best regards David

Geez! makes me cry.....over here in the UK the cheapest I can find MXV4......$311.....each..... :cries:

And don't even get me started on the cost of the actual vehicle

Best regards David

A quick question for you Lenore....on that site you provided the link for, the picture of the LCD display there looks very bright.....especially for daylight viewing it appears to be in sunlight......is the level of brightness of that screen correct, or maybe been "played with" in photoshop? Because the RX300 I am about to buy has an LCD screen that comes nowhere near that brightness!!!

Best regards David

Hey! Cracking site....thanks for the link Lenore.

Best regards David

I have searched high and low but found nothing, but I am sure I read a thread somewhere about the "D" indicator bulb/led not functioning or blown......anyone got any idea where the thread was?

Best regards David