RX400h

We now have 77,000 miles on our RX and I have not seen any leaks. Why did you get your timing belt replaced at that mileage? Do you live in a northern region where temps dip very low?

Thanks, Gary, Often, procedures by the manufacturers have few or no photos and any they do include are typically very small black and white photos or crude drawings. It looks like Fram is one step ahead of most others, as I believe the boxes containing filters I've used contain no instructions at all. Zapopaz, I check at 10,000 miles and almost always replace before the 15,000 mile mark. How quickly your filters get dirty is dependant upon the ambient conditions in your area. Dryer areas tend to dirty the filters more quickly than wet areas. Dave

Cans of moisture-sensitive liquids are often topped off with moisture-free nitrogen. If you could ensure that the gas inside the headlight assembly is moisture free and sealed, you shouldn't have a condensation issue. In fact, I believe double-pane windows are vacuum-sealed for the same reason.

Keep in mind that when a Toyota service bulletin states that the 0W-20 is "superior", it is comparing that oil to the original non-synthetic oil used as factory fill. I really doubt that their 0W-20 oil is superior to Mobil 1, Amsoil, and other top-name full-synthetic oils.

My Costco battery was installed 2.5 years ago and is working, perfectly. I think it's safe to say that you need to have your RX tested. Something is not right.

You might want to include your location in your member profile. That often helps others to answer questions that are related to not only country, but also state and even, city. We went through the same calculations before we ordered our new 400h. Our payback was a bit shorter than yours, as the federal tax break for hybrids was still active at the time. And like you, we tend to keep our vehicles at least 8-10 years. So yes, I agree that the 450h is the better choice, especially if you live in a populated area that produces medium to heavy traffic on a regular basis. Gas prices in the $2-$3 range are long gone, making many hybrids smart choices.

The question is how many miles is a standard filter good for? There are some filters out there that have "extended mileage" printed on the box, but what about those that don't? Personally, I would not go more than 7000 miles on a standard filter. I use K&N filters for 5000 miles, along with Mobile 1 5W-30 oil.

As a general rule of thumb, the PCV valve should be changed when the spark plugs are replaced, although I don't recall seeing that (PCV valve) replacement requirement in the owners manual.

This is what Mobil recommends for your RX if you want their best: http://www.mobiloil....ance_5W-30.aspx They have a selection "wizard" to guide you to their recommendation, here: http://www.mobiloil....r.aspx?option=2 Again, no vehicle engine consumes NO oil, but some use more than others.

No vehicle uses no oil. When you read the dipstick, you are reading an oil level that represents oil, fuel, and water, so a "full" reading does not mean that no oil was consumed by the engine. Our RX has 75,000 miles on it and I believe if I check the oil level before the 5000 mile oil change, it is approx. 1/2 quart below a full reading. If you look at your owner's manual, you'll see notation that a quart every 800-900 miles is "normal". However, my guess is that standard build tolerances would never allow that much oil to be consumed. My Corvette consumes 1 quart every 2500 miles.

Keep in mind that Lemon lives in an area of the world that sees extremely cold temperatures. Most of us (and our vehicles) will never experience such drastic changes in temps.

Apparently, store owners in other countries have heard of this issue as well: http://www.oemxenons...eplacement.html

I have to admit that my Corvette's HVAC system is better than any I've ever experienced. On a cold morning (Yes, on occasion, temps can get down to 40F, here in San Diego), the interior of my car is toasty warm and not because I crank up the air velocity and fiddle with the controls - I do nothing at all. The 70 degree setting remains the same, year-round. Indeed, Lexus could learn something from GM when it comes to HVAC systems. Ofcourse, GM could learn much more from Lexus, especially when it comes to reliable electronics!

Perfectly normal. Think about it; doesn't it make sense that you'd want a thief to think that the alarm is active, even when your doors are unlocked?

The manual advises the owner to have the fluids "checked" at every 30,000 miles or so.

According to my 2006 Lexus RX400h Owner's Manual Supplement, every 36 months or 30,000 miles: brake fluid change at 72 months or 60,000 miles: transmission and differential fluid change ONLY if operated primarily in desert, on dirt roads, or while towing at 108 months or 90,000 miles: timing belt change and trans/diff fluid change ONLY if operated primarily in desert, on dirt roads, or while towing at 120 months or 100,000 miles: engine and inverter coolant change at 144 months or 120,000 miles: spark plug change I don't think there is any fluid for the electric steering.

I really don't think you will need to just run the car (without driving it), mid-week if you will definitely drive it, each weekend. You and your RX will be fine!

To which vehicle are you referring?

Wait a minute. Karen stated that she will driver her RX every weekend. As long as she drives it for long enough distances, I'd say her RX will be just fine. A battery "tender" is typically not necessary unless a vehicle sits for many weeks at a time without being driven. However, it would not be healthy for the battery or oil if the weekend trip is but a few miles to church or the grocery store, for example. My guess is that after sitting one week, a good 15+ mile drive one way will recharge the battery sufficiently and get any moisture out of the oil.

Does the AC compressor swtitch off when this happens? That'd be the first thing I'd check if I were a mechanic. Loose ground wires are known to cause erratic behavior such as this.

I am hoping that aftermarket manufacturers like Walker, Magnaflow, etc step up and make individual replacement parts. Sometimes it takes a few years after a new model has been introduced.

1 week and a no start is NOT normal in my book. You might want to have a current draw test done to see if the draw your battery is seeing is above normal. If it is normal, perhaps look into buying a battery that is rated by Consumer Reports as having excellent reserve capacity. Those include: Interstate Megatron Plus MTP-24 Diehard Gold Napa Legend Premium Duralast Gold Autocraft Gold in that order. Those who live in the South should also look at The Walmart Everstart Maxx.

Another vote for the Yoko Parada-X. They are V-rated and it is not recommended that you buy tires that are rated to lower speeds that the OEM tires. I think it's safe to say that any 50,000 mile tires will be poor handlers, at best.

First, read this: http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1023454_toyota-prius-taxi-tops-340000mi-dispels-battery-myth NOW do you feel better? Here in CA, regular gas costs $4.75/gallon. RX350 owners are weeping and RX400h and RX450h owners are laughing because all those RX350 owners thought they could never recoup the extra cost of a hybrid RX. We average 25-28 MPG, about the same as a VW GTI that weighs 1500 lbs less.

Don't buy any extended warranty until you read this: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/05/extended-warranties-a-high-priced-gamble/index.htm Our 2006 RX400h is 3 years past the factory warranty expiration date and it is running flawlessly. It has over 72,000 miles on it. I believe the hybrid warranty is 150,000 miles for California owners and 100,000 miles for owners in most other states. The dealership with which you are dealing should give you the hybrid components warranty details.