BadBrad

So I actually broke a wheel stud on the front of the 400h while rotating tires. Might have been defective or I'm just damn strong. Regardless, it happened. I spent 45 minutes replacing this broken part and having the ride rolling again. What I learned is that it is incredibly simple to disasemble the brake hardware on these cars. No special tools required; really no special knowledge required. I could have had my eleven year old do the work with me looking over his shoulder directing. Pulled the brake caliper, pads, caliper bracket; rotor basically falls off the hub. Changed the stud in about 2 minutes - really.

What's my point here? This is easy work for a basic DIY guy. And if you take your car to a shop for brakes and pay more than a couple hundred for basic labor (not including machining a rotor, which is generally not required) you and your wallet are getting hosed.

Never had an oil mess like you think might happen. I occasionally find a single drop on the floor.

That battery SUX!

Five days in the airport parking garage on a nearly new car was all it took to drain my pathetic POS factory battery. Severe design flaw in these cars. I hope Lexus enjoyed paying a tow company to restart my car. :chairshot:

I NEVER take off the splash shield. Absolutely unnecessary. Make sure you use a filter with an anti-backflow valve and you'll keep nearly all the oil in the filter. In fact it's difficult to even drain those filters. I have to turn it upside down and puncture the backside with a nail so atmosphere will push the oil out. When I unscrew the filter I immediately flip it over and take it out the top on the left side of the exhaust header. No spills to speak of.

I sure see a lot of rust under there. I reccomend moving to California. We are nearly as socialist as Canada, without the salty roads.

Final report:

Lexus - list - $47.88 gal

Lexus - my cost - $38.30 gal

Toyota - list $18.28 gal

Toyota - my cost - $14.62 gal - bought it last night

same identical stuff.

Yes it is a minor cost in the overall ownership of a Lexus. I just hate to get ripped off.

Tom

Major league scam. It's like your buying it from Congress.

I did a search, but couldn't find any results. Is there a way to get the DVD sound from the rear seat entertainment system to play through the vehicle's speakers, or must you use headphones only? Thanks.

Set audio mode to Aux.

Waste of money. Treat the car yourself to a clay bar, a glaze, and a wax. Total bux - about $40.

For crying out loud, buy it at Toyota!

Have always and only used regular for 34000 miles. Rather than use premium, just send me the extra money.

The real answer???

Here is the Lexus propaganda straight out of the manufacturer's sales paperwork foot notes from 2006 and 2010, footnotes 1 and 25, respectively.

"Ratings achieved using the required premium unleaded gasoliune with an octane rating of 91 or higher. If premium fuel is not used performance will decrease." When they say "required" they meant required to squeeze that last four horsepower out of the engine.

I've only run 87 octane for 34,000 miles in the '06 and drive the thing harder than most folks do 'cuz I'm a lead foot. Never a problem with 87 octane. No pinging, no pre-ignition, no detonation. Run 91 octane if you like throwing money away. Higher octane only delays the onset of the knock sensor telling the computer to take two degrees of ignition lead out of the advance curve, and then only on a really hot day. Most of you guys will never feel the difference.

What you get from the dealer on this stuff is an extra warranty on the finish and it costs you big dollars. Lexus paint is at least 8 stage paint and not particularly subject to wear if treated well. That stuff they sell you is just expensive wax, and guess what. You have to re-apply it yourself anyway. In fact, wash with any kind of soap and you start taking the stuff off. Save yourself the bucks - clay bar your car, seal the paint yourself with a glaze, and put some wax on it. You'll be $750 bucks ahead.

Has anyone managed to obtain a 2010 RX with a factory rear seat entertainment system? My dealer claims they are not available yet the Lexus website indicates otherwise.

Thanks.

This is very hard to obtain. I've placed a special order in early April and still waiting. My dealer claims it can be anytime between now and late June.

Thanks! Lexus is doing itself a real dis-service in my oppinion.

Has anyone managed to obtain a 2010 RX with a factory rear seat entertainment system? My dealer claims they are not available yet the Lexus website indicates otherwise.

Thanks.

Ditto. Scratch-X is excellent stuff.

Tom

Thanks. I'll go get some. There is a scratch that is on the surface, and I cannot feel it. Then there is one that I can feel and I can see the white undercoat. I have this mild scratch removal paste, but it does not do anything. So Scratch-X may do the job.

I actually had a ski hit my show car. Scratch X pretty much removed the evidence - only I know where the ski hit. That's how good this stuff is.

Also if you do a lot of hard braking, [racing on the track or long descents down high steep mountain roads] the fluid temp can get very high, the water can boil and turn to steam. When that happens you can lose most if not all of the ability to brake.

Hugh? Brake fluid turn to steam? Brake fluid is oil ... so, no steam

I know this is an old thread; I was searching for specific directions on brake bleeding and came upon this information in need of correction. Couldn't help myself.

Brake fluid is hygroscopic meaning it attracts water from other sources like the atmosphere. So it will eventually absorb water. Brake fluid gets hot; the water will vaporize (turn to steam) and give you a mushy pedal since vapor is compressible.

I got some scratch (and a small ding) on my side panel. I used some polishing compound to try and remove the scratch, but it does not do anything. This compound is about 10 years old, and I was able to use it to remove minor rust spots on my old M-B. It does not work on the 400h. I know there are more powerful rubbing compound, but don't know if it is a good idea. If I asked the dealer, what will they do to remove it? Suggestions please. thanks.

Try Maguire's Scratch X. I use it all the time on stuff that you'd swear could not be repaired. Don't be afraid to be agressive with it.

http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/product_deta...p?T1=MEG+G10307

Thanks! I just bought a Lexus ski rack from craigslist. Unfortunately its missing a bolt (cylindrical shape). I contacted the vancouver dealer and he cant sell me one bolt but sells the whole pack of 4 nuts and bolts for $60. Thats insane!

Can someone please help or suggest something. I am not sure if I can find a cylindrical bolt that will fit this ski rack, anywhere else.

Thanks

Try buying the stuff at a Toyota dealer. It's all the same and without the rediculous customer raping markup. FYI - never buy nearly perfect stuff from craigslist without investigating the cost of making "perfect."

I drove one yesterday. Liked it very much. Considerably better handling than prior iteration (As usual I threw it and sales dude around a bit) but I think my '05 F150 still might take it in the twisties - probably my 39 year old Buick with F41 suspension too. And that pretty much means Lexus still has a way to go. Why can't they get this part right? Loved the new nav version. Very easy to use with the joystick - needed 'cuz the screen is far away - still a touch screen according to the sales dude. User friendly interface means no longer need to visit Lexus to set custom preferences AND it downloaded my Verizon phone book fast with NO issues. Voice commands seem better and Stupid Sally didn't have trouble understanding me. Quiet, stable, little more exhaust note than I expected but I'm a car guy so I liked this. More engine shielding than a nuke Aircraft Carrier but I could still reach the oil filter from the top. Rear wiper hidden - nice. Spare tire back inside to make room underneath for double-wishbone (oh and no run-flats!). No room for the fold open rear grocery bag holders - back to a cargo net. No strut towers means about 5 more (my estimate) cubic feet storage. Nice leather - of course! Can get seat ventilation. Very good rear seat legroom since there is no 3rd row seating option - better room back here than in the Acura. Rear seat now have low side recline levers NICE - and can be dropped flat from near the rear hatch - also NICE. One lexus dealer in town still has yet to figure out how to order the entertainment system. No longer coming from factory with roof rack cross pieces, which I need. I wonder if they are hiding something that works poorly or has excessive wind noise. There is plenty more I missed or left out - but these are the things that struck me.

We're down to choosing 'tween this and a Ford Flex, which I think is a very well designed and implemented vehicle but is considerably larger and currently (but not for long) a little underpowered.

I'm still around but have been VERY busy with removal, refresh, and reinstallation of the major league power plant in my GS 455. Amusing the orders of magnitude in technology between these two vehicles.

Anyway...

I read Dave's response above and do totally agree with him that the K&N filter would make the easiest work of this all. But I don't mind the occasional challenge the filter wrench gives me a few times a year. And you get the filter for half the price if you dare venture into the pedestrian 'yota dealership

I still spill so little oil in the job its of no consequence. I'm an average size guy so I can get my medium size hand in and around to the filter, which I always remove the Helen Keller way; I never actually see it.

Don't need ramps to get to the drain. If you really need a little clearance just drive it up on a short 2x4.

I don't remove panels, and I only use a single pan.

I've got a big 'ole funnel that is kinda squishy that I can jam between things in the "engine" coverings and reach the filler hole. Can easily pour from the five gallon jug'o oil. I got that funnel from my local govt. utility dept. who wants me to recycle oil rather than pour it in the storm drain like some dunderheads might do. It actually jam-fits in the top of a new oil bottle and has about a 6 inch opening.

Just finished again last weekend - much harder to remember how to turn off that damn "Maint. Required" idiot light.

Are you able to do that without buying a service for that phone?

Thanks.

Luckily I'm still in a contract grace period with Verizon and I'm getting ready to fire them.

Anyone else, please let me know if there is a way to manually enter data into the 400h phone book.

Geeesh,

Lexus should be ashamed of themselves for selling these expensive cars with such a POS owner's manual, and by that I mean the Nav Manual. It's obviously a translated asian manual - no offense meant to my asian friends - and therefore only slightly more comprehendable than a bad acid trip. So much for the rant.

My particular V3m Razr is barely compatible with the car. I did figure out how to pair it with the system but only after reading directions at the Verizon website. FYI - don't bother either buying the car AND Verizon service anywhere near EVER. Only two Verizon phones will work - and then only by the skin of your chinny chin chin.

Now my question. Since the phone will NOT transfer data to the car - thanks for nothing Verizon - Can you enter phone numbers into the phone book manually? The POS owner's manual seemingly has nothing in it for guidance.

Thanks for baring with my frustration. I look forward to your assistance.

An update on this strange clanking noise.

It seems to only occur at high altitude (i.e., every time we go to the mountains at about 7,000 + feet).

Come back down near sea level - noise goes away.

Weird!

I'm not worrying about it.