400h08

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.

My cruise control does not work too well on even slight down hill. If I set it to 70, I ended up over 80, although the slope is not that steep. Is this common?

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.

I owned a Mercedes ML320 from 1999 to 2008. I found the "rail dust" on my white ML320 after a few weeks of owning it. I took it back to the dealer, and the service advisor just rubbed it off with some buffing compound. It is not from a rail road, but I think the dust is from the brake or disc wearing down when braking, depositing the dust onto the panels. I used to wash it often when new. But towards the last 2 years, I washed it less frequently and rust started to show on the bottom of the door panels. That is when I traded it in for my 08 400h. Having seen this post, and my experience on my ML320, I'll washed it as much as possible. One question though, I do not wash it myself, I use the non-touch high pressure auto wash, or the cloth type of auto wash, and put on wax every time. Is this acceptable as compared to handwash ?

I think the problem here is that the bumpers of the two cars are at different heights. I was rear ended by a passenger car into my MB ML320 with similar damages like what you described.

I always like what I drive, thereby keeping it too long and passed the optimum trade-in value.

Please post back on how you did with the heated wipers. I am interest since I live in Toronto.

Yes, the mod is available, and is called trade-in :D Sorry, I did not read the link. Thought you were talking about a new model.

Agreed. I didn't know there is this option (in other cars), but it has been 9 yrs since I bought my last car. But, Lexus bothered to put this useless (to me) rain drop sensor in, which does not work most of the time.

What do you use for tire pressure sensor?

Thanks for your advice. I think that will really help.

It was really cold here in Toronto in the past 2 weeks. Together with my Blizak sniw tires, I am getting 14 l/100km (17 mi/g) now instead of 9 l/100km (27.7 mi/g) back in August. In the summer, it was mixed hiway and city, but the last 2 weeks is strictly city. The ICE is running all the time, although I can still see the motors helping in start and cruising situations. Vow, 74% increase. But it still beats my old Mercedes ML320.

Interesting. I understand there is something (don't remember where) in Lexus that can learn your habit of driving over time. May be they have reset the database, and you are back to square one as if you just bought the car.

According to my K&E slide rule, that is 25.5 and 24.8 mpg, respectively. Slide rule? The last time I used one was 1970 :D

Thanks. I'll have to wait for my next 6 month appointment for oil change/inspection. Maybe I'll try and see if I can tug it back in.

Just want to add that there is no cold cranking of the starter to deal with. It just starts the engine. The coldest here in Toronto was about -15c and mileage suffered. I bought my 400h in July, and was running at 9.1 litre/100km in the summer, but with winter here, this average has shot up to 9.5 (a 4 % increase in consumtion). I am sure it will average higher as winter goes on.

Actually, it's the AC cooling radiator located right behind the bumper ... but yes, it looks like the radiator. The ICE radiator is right behind that. Sorry it took this long to take the photo. Any ideas of what it is?

I have not used snow tires here in Toronto for over 30 years. Most of my cars are front wheel drive with 4 season tires. My last one was M-B ML320 which never needed snow tires (and I drove it for 9 years here in Toronto.) There are lots of snow here, especially on my side street, and my ML320 just plow through. Well, I traded it in for Rx400h, and the first snow, I feel insecure, and slippery. So I went out and bought 4 Blizzaks. Now it drives like my old ML320. I would buy these Blizzaks for the trip and keep it or sell them later on. No need to buy rims, just have them change over the new snow tires.

OK, I'll take a pic tomorrow. I just looked at it. The radiator is right behind the bumper, and before the rad, there is a mud guard or something, across the whole width of the bumper. That whole guard and the bumper forms the approach angle. but I can still see the rad quite clearly, and this thing is just there. Very strange. Anyway, will post pic tomorrow.

I just happened to look under the front end, below the bumper, and saw a kind of switch thing with 2 exposed wires (one white, don't remember the color of the second wire). This thing is just in front of and just about the lowest part of the radiator. What is this thing? Is it the outside temp sensor? It is so exposed that water, road dirt, snow can be splashed on it. It does not have any cover for protection. BTW, this is a 08 RX400h

what about asking Toyota dealer in your area?

Thanks. Learn somthing new today. :P

No sure I understand your problem. If you want to pre-set a station to 88.0, just tune to that station and press a pre-set key of your choice until it beeps.

Sorry, I gave you a wrong instruction. You need to click on the IMG code, and then past it on this forum. Any way, here it is, and please go back and edit your post, as I will delete this picture from my account.

I have RX400h. I have not used snow tires for 30 years or so. This time, I felt RX is not driving as well as my ML320, I caved in and put on 4 Blizzaks. Driving to the dealer with all season tires, the vsc, or stabilility light flashes on snowy side streets. Driving back, it was like driving on a dry road. These Blizzaks are good :)