RX400h

Yes, it was time to check out that cabin filter. Apparently, the dealership had mis-installed one of the quarter-turn glovebox travel-limiting pins, making it extremely hard for me to twist, but it weren't for that, removal and installation would've been a 3 minute job. I've attached a picture of what the old one looked like. I guess 15,000 miles is the LONGEST I will ever wait before changing the new one!

Oh, the engine intake filter was also dirty, but not nearly as much as was the cabin filter.

Dave

Rey,

The big guys are working on this issue. If they can't do it, no one can!

Dave

Welcome and congratulations!

We were one of the first buyers in San Diego, so any discounts were essentially pipedreams! With a good mixture of city and highway driving, we average 24-25 MPG, far higher than did our Nissan Quest, which averaged 17 MPG.

During cooler months, I use regular gas, but when the heat of Summer arrives, I tend to switch to midgrade. If driving to Las Vegas where temps hit 105, premium fuel is mandatory.

I'll bet that'd work!

I have a switch that cuts off the plate lights - comes in handy if roadrage is encountered.......

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Thanks, it was actually the same exact size that I used...150X 102, so I don't know why it's not taking the image...hmmm, thanks.....I don't give up so I'll try something else. Oh, I have a Mac. Rey

Well, that explains why you're having trouble........ :)

More importantly, I heard that Cayenne twin-turbo-fighter, an RX400h-SS will sport 600 HP and will do 0-60 in a mere 4.7 seconds. Fuel mileage is said to be a very respectfull 20 MPG on average.

Sorry, WWest, I couldn't resist.....:chairshot:

You are mistaken only by the designation, it will be the RX 600h-SS, it will sticker for a base of $104,000, has to be ordered with a mimimum of at least $12,000 worth of options in the USA and at only 20mpg city/hwy, when gas hits $5.20 for premium (a gallon) this fall no one will buy them.

Personally my 08 RX 400h is fast enough, if anything I want even better fuel economy with even more electric running capability on the next generation. Smaller engine no, larger engine not needed either, the present one is big enough, does the qtr mile quicker than a Porsche Cayenne S now geezzzzzes! If anything it needs

an improvement in the suspension to match it acceleration capability, something more like the Porsche Cayenne S

Yes, and just about the time the RX600h-SS hits the streets the VW division of Porsche will be introducing an SUV hybrid with a 1.0L Miller cycle ICE using a positive displacement variable speed SuperCharger via a variable frequency AC drive using the hybrid battery as a power souce. No throttle plate required.

40MPH and 225HP only when you NEED it. B)

Sadly, anything being produced by VW, Mercedes, or Audi is likely to be VERY trouble-prone. And if anyone has noticed, diesel fuel prices are significantly higher than even premium gasolene prices.

More importantly, I heard that Cayenne twin-turbo-fighter, an RX400h-SS will sport 600 HP and will do 0-60 in a mere 4.7 seconds. Fuel mileage is said to be a very respectfull 20 MPG on average.

Sorry, WWest, I couldn't resist..... :chairshot:

While this model has been very reliable, and so far the traction batteries have gone the distance, it is our feeling that repairs outside of warranty to the hybrid system are going to be expensive. In short this is technology that you only want to own for three or four years while it is in warranty, and that is about the period when the next generation will be ready for sale.

I'll have to repectfully dissagree with this statement, based upon Toyota's excellent reputaion with the Prius. The batteries have been proven to last at least 150,000 miles, so unless you drive 30,000 - 40,000 miles or more per year, you should not have any out-of-pocker expenses. This technology is well-proven to be highly reliable for many, many years and there is no guarantee that brand new technology will be as reliable. Lithium batteries have a fairly long history of working well in small packages, but few if any large packages of lithium batteries have the same tried and true reputation.

I plan to keep our RX for at least 10 years, maybe more. I am that much confidence in this technology.

Rey knows me by now, but yes, it does look like bikeandsail has quite a few miles thus far!

Our RX has truly been the most relible vehicle we have ever had.

How many miles on the dog? Nice jet black finish, does he match your Corvette or your RX?

Rey

That's a "she", Rey and she rarely gets to ride in either leather-seated vehicle! :D

Dave

I think it's fairly obvious that you had a rare lemon. Most of us who have driven an RX350, prefer the 400, partially because of the transmission difference (which to me is significant), partially because of the stronger low and mid-range torque of the 400, and finally because of the 30% increase in city (and high-traffic) mileage.

Certainly, the 400h isn't for everybody, but as fuel prices climb to statospheric levels, the 400h becomes much easier to justify.

Rey knows me by now, but yes, it does look like bikeandsail has quite a few miles thus far!

Our RX has truly been the most relible vehicle we have ever had.

I am curious also on what the most mileages of someone on the board has or heard of on the 400h.

68.500 miles with about 10 of that towing a 1300 lb sailboat / tailer combination.

Ron

Only 68.5 miles? That may be the least number of miles on any our RXs! We have about 30,000 miles on ours.

What about performance mods? Cosmetic's are nice, but the real fun is when you hit the gas and something wicked happens.. ;)

Every RX400h already has a factory Cold Air Intake, so don't even bother with that aspect of a performance mod.

Eibach makes lowering springs, but I have yet to hear of anyone buying a set.

Rey,

Have you tried deleting the original photo, first. I just uploaded an image to my settings, but I had not done this, previously. Maybe I'll try deleting and then uplading a different photo....

I did notice "Profile views updated each hour" at the bottom of my profiles page.

Dave

Actually, only Corvettes of 96 and older vintage were rattle traps. The C5s and C6s all have hydroformed frames and are pretty much rattle and cowl shake-free. My 01 is still superbly free from any annoying squeeks and rattles.

Our RX400h makes noise only when we leave the sun visor unlatched or something in the back that isn't secured properly.

any recommendations for a dealer? i've bought from kearny mesa and the service/facility is just ho hum.

i think the 2008 rx400h is in my cards soon.

We bought ours fron Bob Baker Lexus in El Cajon and although their dealership isn't as large as some others, the service people are great and I continue to take our RX there because of that.

There is no 2005 400h.

Something is up here. For one what he is saying happened should not be possible. The steering is a mechanical rack and pinion, he says its the power steering steering in the direction opposite his steering inputs. That should not be possible since the steering rack is just that, a mechanical rack. All the power steering does is help with the effort.

Makes no sense...

Sorry, I just researched this issue at techinfo.toyota.com. At the bottom of the stearing shaft, the very bottom, is the torque sensing assembly. Between the upper stearing shaft and the pinion gear is a torsion rod. There are two rotational position sensing devices, one at the top of the torsion rod portion of the stearing shaft and one at the bottom. the idea is to sense the level and direction of torque being applied to the stearing shaft and provide DC motor drive levels and polarity accordingly.

Were either of sensors to come loose and rotate ever so little, or the torque sensing rod/shaft take on a permanent "twist", the sensing signal could very easily get out of phase and that might result in reverse polarity being applied to the drive motor. It isn't likely that the DC drive motor could bias the stearing very much opposite the position of the stearing wheel but it could clearly do so to the extent of the level, amount, of twist the torsion shaft could accept before reaching it's "twist" limit.

It would certainly make it hard, VERY hard, for a driver to keep the vehicle in the center of a lane of travel. It would be like having a rubber wind-up band between the stearing wheel and the rack and pinion mechanicals, lots of hysterisis between left and right stearing. Maybe as much as a 1/4 turn of the stearing wheel and all the while with the DC motor "torqueing" the rack and pinion in the opposite direction you wish to turn.

NOT fun...??

Boy, I would hate to be a mechanic who tries to pull the wool over Double - U's eyes! "Technical Analyst" is a good nickname for W!

I agree, Jack and since you live in my neck of the woods, traffic is never in short supply!

Dave

...and here I thought Corvette owners are all mod-"happy"....You are right up there with the best of them, Rey! My ONLY mod to the RX is a K&N oil filter (with welded-on nut for super-easy removal). However, I do have two modified vehicles in the household - my son's Honda (Eibach springs and shocks, Magnaflow exhaust, AEM V2 intake, Black Racing Pro wheels with low-profile tires, and homemade shift knob, saphire blue glass) and my Corvette with intake, exhaust, shifter, CAI mod, wine red shift knob, and custom-made glass body coalescing filter for PCV line.

It's good to hear that you are enjoying your mods!

Dave

Well, this is only the second incident involving the steering rack of which I've seen or heard. I wonder if salty roads have anything to do with it - unlikely, but there have been no failures in snow-free areas that I know.

Please keep us updated as to the cause.

I think having a power meter is somewhat akin to having a boost gauge in a supercharged vehicle - very entertaining! Also, to me, having a tachometer is essential if the vehicle has either a manual transmission or has paddle shifters with an auto tranny. Having a tach in a CVT-equipped vehicle isn't going to help you drive more efficiently; that's accomplished by watching the power distribution animated graphics on the center display, along with the instantaneous MPG numbers.

As far as the RX comparisons go, there are more reasons than simply fuel mileage to choose the hybrid. Acceleration and lack of transmission shifting are plusses for most people who compare. There is no storage penalty in an RX that I know of and yes, city and high-traffic highway driving is where hybrids really shine. While an RX350 may average 18 MPG, an RX400h will average 23-26 MPG - a significant savings when even regular gas is over $3.00/gallon. Certainly, buying a hybrid and keeping it for 5 years or more are wise decisions that will save the owner money in the long run. Batteries are expected to last over 150,000 miles.

We've had ours for almost 3 years now and I can't recall ever hearing something like that. Please let us know what they find.