RX400h

Did they at least replace the oil?

Do you check the spark plugs and fuel pump?

You're welcome, Jillian.

👍

Yes, it would be expensive, plus any gains would come from a combination of higher intake flow to go along with higher exhaust flow. My MX5 Miata has a freer-flowing, custom exhaust to eliminate the restrictive OEM configuration. It also has a cold air intake and a Magnaflow muffler.

It is a dual head V6 so a dual exhaust setup is naturally correct, IMO. 👍

Yes, we must weigh the risks. During one period in my working career I designed brake rotors with the assistance of an investment casting expert. The owner of the company kept referring to vehicle miles as a way to compare brake rotor wear. As we know, wear of brake rotors and pads has much more to do with rotor and pad materials, as well as the frequency and duration of activation versus the number of miles on the odometer. A rear door actuator life would also be dependent on its number of actuations - something you would most likely never know unless you personally knew the owner of the vehicle in which the used actuator was installed. The silver lining is that the motor will probably not have to last another 16 years. 🙂

I believe your car has a timing belt. Perhaps it has failed and needs to be replaced. In any case, it is best to not try to start the engine until it is checked. There are most likely youtube videos that show you haw to check the timing belt.

Thanks, Chuck. So it is not known how old the used motor is? I would assume that if the used motor had a similar history of actuations its lifespan may not be much longer. That's certainly the gamble one takes when buying used with no history of this information. Many years ago when I had a 1968 Mercury Cougar, its oil pump failed, causing the engine to self-destruct. I had a used engine installed but it lasted only another 2 years at most. At the time, the car was worth only $300, so in retrospect I should've scrapped it and moved on.

How old is the used one? Did you price new ones?

There are some good, well-known pads on this page: Brakes for 2006 Lexus IS250 RWD (tirerack.com)

In this video at 3:12 the mechanic mentions that there is one screw that needs to be removed from the duct so you can pull it down just enough to remove the blower.

Savagegeese is an excellent auto reviewer on youtube. I believe he owns this LC500 in this video:

According to: Your car does not have a transmission dipstick. See the last post on the page linked above.

Is it just the driver's door that doesn't unlock when using the key fob?

Doesn't your vehicle have a 4 year warranty? This issue would be unusual with such a newer vehicle like yours. Our 2006 never had this issue.

Congrats, Chris. This is an extremely reliable vehicle. Oil and oil filter changes should've been done at every 5000 miles, so I'd have those changed if there is no sticker anywhere that indicates the last change date. Check the battery date. If it is approaching 5 years, you may want to replace it. The hood struts have probably been replaced by now. If they are functional, they probably were. Engine air and cabin filters should be changed at every 10,000 to 12,000 according to my experience. Your mechanic can take a look at them to determine whether they are due for replacement. The brake pads should've been replaced so have them checked. At 90,000 miles, the following should've been replaced: air conditioner filter rear differential fluid brake fluid timing belt transmission fluid At 100,000 miles, the engine and inverter coolant should've been replaced. At 120,000 miles, the spark plugs should've been replaced. At 145,000 miles...engine and inverter coolant Good luck and enjoy your new ride. Dave

Did you drive through a stream of water?

That may be a design issue, although when I occasionally add coolant to the overflow tank I fill it to the max mark with no ill effects.

I believe your model year was available with either 235/60/18 or 235/55-19. My guess is that the model with 19-inch tires handles a bit better but its wheels are heavier, so braking distances may be a bit longer and the ride, a bit harsher. So yes, there is a tradeoff. You can see the OEM wheel sizes and how the 18 inchers look on your vehicle at www.tirerack.com.

Yes, it would not be the first time a battery was DOA after being purchased new.

I really like Shell premium. Their gas is used exclusively by Car & Driver magazine.

Congratulations! How many miles do you expect to drive per year? Your owners manual (Hopefully you have one.) will show the recommended viscosity for your car. Our 2006 RX400h requires either 5W-30 or 5W-20 oil. I currently change the oil every year (no more than 5000 miles) with Mobil 1 synthetic oil and a K&N oil filter.

How about out of state yards? (like ones in California). Sometimes dealerships can search other dealerships' inventories throughout the US. That is fairly old vehicle, so this may not be a fruitful path to take.

I believe that chrome plating is under the gun for environmental reasons, so many platers are having to cut back their chrome operations. Have you perused tirerack.com? They offer a huge assortment of wheels that you can virtually view on your make and model vehicle.