Better Luck

Well, i couldn't leave well enough alone on my Rx400h...

This past week i've been working on a little project involving the gauge cluster (modifying the needles, nothing dealing with electrical though). I had to remove, install, and remove and install the cluster from the dash a couple of times however...

I finished the cluster and installed it this afternoon, and i thought everything was working perfectly.

NOPE.

When it became dark i turned on the headlights, and noticed the interior center console lights (nav buttons, radio buttons, and shifter icon buttons) and the center "cubby" blue and amber accent lights, all not working.

I remember from doing gauge cluster work on my Rx300, that if the cluster is not installed, it can affect other things such as this... so i made sure everything was connected, which it was. Also the dimmer switch, which was also fine.

My next thought was that i somehow blew a fuse. I checked in the manual for any fuse with the words "interior lights" in it, there were about 5 possible ones. Checked them all, and they were all fine. So i checked EVERY fuse- the ones in the dash panel, and the two in the engine compartment. EVERY fuse is OK.

Upon closer inspection, i notice that if i flick the light stalk (on the steering column) to parking light or lights-on (when the interior lights would ordinarily come on) the radio button lights "flick" ON for just a second, and go off. None of the other console lights do this (my guess is because the radio lights are LED's while the rest are bulbs, which wouldn't show the slight shot of voltage).

I tried removing the radio, but the lights still didn't come on. I tried removing the car battery for a few minutes thinking something would reset, but nope...

I checked the bulb that illuminates the shifter icons (on the same circuit not working) with a 12V source and it's working- so the lights aren't blown out or anything... they just aren't being given any voltage besides for that first second when i turn the lights on.

Does anyone know what the problem could be? All of the other lights and functions of the car are working 100%. The radio and nav LCD are working fine. However, when i dim the dimmer switch, the radio LCD goes off...

I've been working with car electrical stuff for a few years, i've encountered this problem before in the Rx300, but it's always been as simple as changing out a fuse. I'm not sure what could be wrong now though. All i did was unplug and install the gauge cluster a few times (with the car ON) which is my only guess to the start of the problem. I just don't know why the console lights are out because of it.

The only hints i have is that when first switched ON, the radio icons illuminate for a split second, then go off. If it was a fuse or shorting problem, there'd be no voltage, period. But there is for a second... I'm thinking it's a computer issue?

Any help appreciated! :(

It's my 2008 Rx400h.

From working on my boat, I experienced a similar situation and I found it to be ground wires not grounded. I am guessing you have a ground issue somewhere where you tinkered.

Now that I am out of my '08 400h and into an '06 Highlander Hybrid I can appreciate differences in both. I think the RX was a tad faster but that could be change from the 330 to the 350 output that my HH doesn't have. Now that I don't have rain sensing wipers I miss them as well as the back-up camera. The HID headlights that were steering linked are to me more of a gimmicky kinda thing and I really didn't notice much if any of a difference. I DO miss my rear power rear tailgate, and the built in bluetooth but I found a device Soundfly by Satechi that works wonderfully for this. I also miss the door locks that engage when you put the car in drive and vice versa.

One thing I don't miss at all is the glare from the dash on the RX, it was awful and prevalent in most daylight situations, at least for me and my seating position. I think overall my driving position is better in the HH than it was in the Lexus and my monthly payment is MUCH improved for a similar experience.

HI guys,

I am wondering if anyone knows where the upgrade port for HDD navi is located?

I mean the one a dealer would use to upgrade maps etc.

I just wanna poke around, no harm done.

I've seen other Toyota vehicle with standard navi and the upgrade port is firewire connector behind navi screen or something.

I was hoping it'd just appear as mass storage device of some kind on a standard PC.

Anyway, anyone acutally know WHERE such connector is?

Note my navi is HDD, not DVD.

The DVD is the upgrade. Order a new one and you are upgraded.

Does your car have navigation or not? If it does, find the setting to have the GPS sync the clock. If not, not sure.

Before giving my 400h back to the dealer Lexus Cpo My RX400h did the same thing as you described. I never did get to research the problem. I recalibrated it several times and even manually input my location and it still had me two states away at times. Try looking for the disc and re-inserting it.

How do you like the Highlander vs the RX?

Not as luxurious but actually a more commanding view of the road. Liked the telescopic wheel on RX and the power lift gate. Stereo was better too. I think the Highlander handles better though. A tad more truck like in the suspension tuning. Overall it will be fine I am sure. Glad I found out about the body work before it was too late.

Angus, if you want to put your mind at ease take your vehicle to the nearest Carmax location and have it appraised. There is no charge for the service. I was very impressed with the new Woodbridge location off of Prince William Pkwy. Very nice and informative and no obligation to buy from them or sell it to them although it was my intent to trade it in to them.

I did research on the Highlander I was buying, no accidents or body work done. They gave me a below wholesale price which made up the difference for what I paid for the Lexus vs. what they gave me to return it which was what I owed. I put down about 5K on it and was walking away from that equity if I didn't take advantage of the wholesale price offer. I can't walk away from 5k that easily.

This was not Pohanka but Lindsay of Alexandria. This vehicle was originally sold by Lindsay since I was given the original window sticker. I doubt the car went to auction and the dealer bought it back. I think it was traded in or it may have been a loaner. Not certain. The body work was done by the dealership I bought it from. They knew about the "Frame work" since there was an entry in their system regarding the body shop work including reference to frame work. When I mentioned that point to the disagreeable gentleman named Ace, he tried to play semantics with me and said that frame work is not the same as frame repair. I called it one or the other I can't recall which at this point but he was quick to point out that they were VERY different terms. I tried to say that if 3-4 linear feet of the frame around the door was worked on, I would hardly think it should have been a candidate for CPO and of course he disagreed with me.

I am now afraid to take the vehicle I bought from them to replace the Lexus to Carmax!

Anyone own one or driven one?

We want to take advantage of the cash for clunkers program and trade our '94 Jeep Grand Cherokee on a good hybrid commuter car for the wife. She currently drives our RX400h.

I switch between my BMW rag-top and the Jeep (for sloppy weather). We figure it's the best deal we could get for the Jeep, NADA trade value is about $2000 and it would qualify for the $4500 cash for clunkers deal.

We want to keep the RX for a long time because we really like it. A Camry or other non-expensive hybrid for the wife's commute would allow us to keep the miles low on the RX and still allow her to use the HOV lanes (single driver can use them in VA with a qualifying hybrid).

The other reasonably priced hybrid options could be the Prius or Honda Insight. I think they're both too small (possibly dangerous) and the Prius is supposed to drive like crap.

The Camry is allegedly the best selling car in the US for 8 of the last 9 years. I assume there's a reason for that.

Any information or opinions are appreciated.

Unless you already have a VA clean fuel plate issued before July 2007 or can transfer your RX plates you won't be able to qualify for new ones.

Bought my 400h in November. It was a Lexus Certified Pre-owned 2008 with about six thousand miles on the odometer. I did a Carfax report on it before buying it. I took the report to the dealership and asked about each entry of which there were five or six. All of the items were body shop related and were explains away as minor including one that was noted as frame work. The others were related to painting and ding removal "In order for the vehicle to be certified".

With the economy as it is and my line of work taking a beating, I decided that maybe the high payment was not prudent and I should downsize. I went onto KBB and Edmunds to find out what my car would fetch on a trade-in. Both sites came up with about 38 thousand.

I took the car over to Carmax and had an appraial done where much to my dis

ay they valued it at 28 thousand saying it had been in a severe enough collision to require the frame to have been welded. The appraiser took the time to show me exactly where the work was done and how to see the differnce between the factory welds to the rear quarter panel welds Vs the welds on the side that was worked on.

Needless to say I was very upset and immediately drove over to the Lexus dealer located near Washington DC and showed the sales manager what I had discovered. I could not have gotten a worse reaction from the guy and was told I had no idea about what I was talking about and what did I expect him to do.

I am in customer service and I certainly know enough not to antagonize someone who you are trying to get a result from but this guy went over the top. Within three minutes he offered to buy me out of the car for 35 thousand. I was shocked to get to a number so quickly. I said that was absolutely unacceptable and he walked out of his office more annoyed than before and came back with his last offer of 36500. Which again I declined sighting that I paid nearly 43 thousand. And that this vehicle should never made it through the CPO program.

The end result is that they gave me what I owed on it which was about 37500. And they said that if I wanted to buy another used car from them, I could get it at wholesale.

Does anyone out there know about CPO more than what the Lexus website says about the program which says that the faintest of odors or the smallest rattle would disqualify a car from passing inspection. But major body work (welding) would not? Has the world gone mad or are my expectations out of line?

Any thoughts?

That would certainly be handy in a hybrid vehicle.

Funny you should mention that, my Prius was reset automatically everytime I refilled the tank. Is the resetting of the personal settings done with some special equipment or is there a secret handshake way of doing it? Where are the Lexus techs. on here? They must have insight to this.

I recently purchased a certified used 2006 RX400h. I rarely see a green battery in the navigation screen. It is usually blue. Is this normal? The mileage in the city is about 19 mpg. I'm wondering if there is something wrong with the battery :(

I get no less than 24 MPG on a tank and I use regular grade gas. I drive combined hwy city pron=bably 70% hwy. I get green bars almost anytime I drive my car down my street which is down hill. I have a 2008.

Sorry for your troubles. Looks to me like something was splashed on your car that was acidic in nature. Battery acid? Not sure if it is a warranty item or not. I would take it to an independent body shop and ask them to help identify what the problem is. If they suggest that it has anything to do with the paint job from Lexus....there you have it. If anything else you will gain peace of mind.

Has anyone use regular unleaded gas on the rx400h? How was the performance?

I buy my gas fr either Costco or a local chain WaWa. I have had the car since November and have used premium only two or three times. I find no difference in either performance or mileage. I would doubt there will be any long term effects from using regular but I am not a mechanic. My avg fuel economy on my normal routine seems to be about 24-25 MPG. My typical tank involves two or three 35 mile hwy trips and local driving in suburban traffic and two-three reverse commutes with stop and go traffic. Does that seem typical?

"B" is used when you are going down a long hill and you can use the engine to brake you to go slower. My mileage is around 23 in combined highway and suburban driving. I think of traffic in NYC when I think of city driving, stop and go and creeping or crawling in conditions that allow for electric operation only. If you are like me and live in the suburbs you are driving at thirty MPH or faster and unless you want to get dirty looks and lots of fingers you have to drive using the ICE to get the proper speed.

Sorry for the delay in follow-up. The problem was a blown relay. The part was replaced under warranty and they are working fine now. Wish they would have found this during the Certified Pre-owned inspection. But the upside is that I got to experience the service department at my dealership and damn was I impressed!

My question is this regarding the climate system. I find that I have to constantly fiddle with the temp. control to get the cabin at the right temp. Never had this on any other car with automatic climate control. I usually set it at 70-71 and forget it. The RX seems to not hold a good cabin temp. What am I doing wrong. Some days, (cold weather) I have to kick it up to 75 just to be comfortable. Any observations or similar experiences out there?

I have a 2008 RX 400h with navigation. Current miles 396. Bought it July 14, 2008.

It has two mpg gauges; one on the instrument cluster under the speedometer, and the other in the trip information section of the navigation menu. The owner's manual indicates that the former "Displays the average fuel consumption since the vehicle was last refueled." The latter has a reset button on the screen (no comment in the navi owner's manual). My intention is to use the cluster gauge to determine my mpg for each tank and the navigation screen gauge to keep the cumulative mpg.

Despite the words in the owner's manual, the cluster gauge does not appear to reset after I filled up for the first time.

Can I accomplish that with the two read outs some way?

Thanks for your help.

I am reading the thread, no one answered the poster's original question about resetting. I was curious about this as well since my Prius reset within driving one mile after a fill up all by itself. I have not found this to be true in my 400h. Any concurrences?

OEM would require a partial new dashboard which I would think would be cost prohibitive certainly compared to a few hundred bucks to buy an aftermarket unit. One way to do it and beat the cost is looking for a "totaled" RX with nav from a salvage yard.

With regard to the limitations of the system, I have trouble sometimes getting the address right. My biggest complaint is not being able to input data on the fly. I know about the coastal tech stuff you can add but have not done so as of yet.

What language is this written in? Sorry you are experiencing issues with your brand new vehicle

Any one?

I have burned several mp3 cd's, I have noticed that sometimes the folder list will display and sometimes it doesn't. Any one with this experience?

No they don't work in either auto when it is dark out or in manual.

Anyone have any ideas why my fog lights wont wor? In the manual it says they only work with low beams, I have made sure the light switch is on, I have the headlight switch in auto and I have the fancy self-adjusting headlight package switch in the on position. Tried with car in drive, park, engine on to no avail. Perhaps a blown fuse. Going to take it to the dealer on Monday to have a look. I am not that dumb!