eugene.s

Great advice, Paul, and thanks for keeping this forum ongoing - there don't seem to be many helping contributors nowadays, comparing to a couple of years ago... In my case we have no official dealer on our island, so we have to figure out what to do with sea slugs ourselves ;)

Hello All, Got a 2011 LX570 with the 19-speakers option installed. It says there's a hard disk drive (for music), but I can't figure out how to use it. My friend, who has this option on a 2009 model, is able to see "save" button (to HDD) when playing audio disks. I thought that maybe the HDD is dual for navigation and music, and probably I need to delete the navigation. Anyone knows how to do it and any other advice?

JMARK, if you tire pressure monitor system warning light blinks, it means a malfunction in the system (most likely, one or more of the sensors died or needs to be reprogrammed to the system). If the warning light is permanently on, it means the system is OK but there's low tire pressure in one or more of the tires (including the spare tire!)

Thanks to All for the info. The auto-wiper actually works, what doesn't appear to work is its sensitivity adjustment (via the ring on the knob). I'll try Paul's link but well expect the answer "visit the dealer" (no Lexus dealers in my place). So, anyone who knows how to "regulate" the sensitivity adjustment (i.e. to anchor the knob ring to start from some "more sensitive than usual" regime) or how to isolate what doesn't work (e.g. the sensor itself or the wires or a glitch in the onboard computer settings, etc.), please kindly post a solution here.

Some more news how to find the part number for your 2nd key: - http://www.toyodiy.com/parts/ - enter your VIN and search for the part number of your key

MAC, can you please tell me which particular bulbs did you use for each of these? (the manual is not really helpful, letting you guess which particular wedge/single/double end bulbs might be OK or not)... Thanks in advance!

OK, I've got HIDs 6000K installed for low-beams and fogs. AFS works just fine on them (personally checked). But the installation guy feared to experiment with HIDs for high-beams as the same bulbs are also used for daytime running lights. He suggested that I put halogen bulbs of 6000K for high-beams instead. This confuses me as the truck's manual, firstly, confirms that high-beams are also used for the running lights; secondly, it says that the running lights consume half the energy than the high-beams, and, thirdly, it says that high-beams are 9005 bulbs, HB3, 60W and they are already halogen. So, a few questions: (1) Anyone got HID on your high-beams, how do your running lights behave? (2) Do you know which temp color are the stock high-beams? (feels like 3000K; any way, they are much more yellow than 6000K) (3) Which replacement halogen lights (of 6000K or closer to white) would you recommend? (4) E.g. I found this on the web, but they are 100W while the stock ones are 60W. I also found some 65W 4000K halo in a local shop. Anyway, I assume using the bulps consuming a higher than designed power may at least blow out the relevant fuses or, in a worse case, get a car computer malfunction or, in a worst case, get the relevant wires burnt? Thanks in advance for any your advice

The official answer is here: http://www.lexus.com/cpo/overview/ Someone who routinely buys CPO cars in the US, however, advised on a forum that nowadays two refurbished exterior parts are OK for a CPO car. Not sure if it's true or not but maybe we'll never know...

Ashron, many thanks. Any advice how to check this sensor or where it's located?

I had VSC OFF and Check Engine lights on a few years ago on GX470. It appeared that it was caused either by the fuel cap not tightly closed or by having some snow coming in while the fuel cap was open after refilling the tank. I cleaned the code, closed the fuel cap until I could hear a click - and everything was OK after that. It seems that the GX car computer check for the integrity of the fuel system and gets these lights on when it notices what it thinks is a leak (which is equal to the pressure in the fuel system being lower than usual e.g. due to the fuel cap not tightened). Try looking for the relevant topic on this forum (I believe it was around 2009), there was some other advice also.

Check the headlight fuses first. The relevant ones should be in the trunk compartment (consult your owner's manual to isolate the relevant fuse)

You are probably looking at erasing all the previous keys from your system (so that someone who has the 2nd key cannot access your car) and buying and programming a new key in. If so: - if you need a 2nd key: buy a new key with a chip somewhere at the internet. This will be a second key for you (so that if you lose the 1st key, you'll have a spare). Make sure what you get is both the key and the chip inside it. You may want to check with any Lexus dealer for the "part number" first, otherwise googling for "rx300 key wth chip" gives a plenty of results. - buy some cheap aftermarket programming cable e.g. this one. - install the software called Techstream on your computer, connect it to your car with the purchased cable. - erase all the previous keys (it will also erase your existing key) and program the new (1st/2nd) keys in. Better to browse the internet first how to do it with techstream. On the other hand, the software is rather intuitive and will guide you through the process.

You may also consider checking the relevant fuse (consult your owner's manual to see which one to check) first before physically going for the sensor. E.g. my headlight stopped working and I thought I need the replace the bulb. In reality I just needed to replace the fuse which blown out.

Anyone knows how to access the service menu on LX570? E.g. on GX470, there were at least two ways to get there: - press "audio", then "sound", then press up-left, down-feft, up-left and down-left on the screen; - press "info", turn on/off parking lights 4-6 times (from this menu you in particular could adjust the sound sensitivity of a Bluetooth-connected phone)...

Rain-sensing wiper operation (when you move the knob one step down from the normal position) gets me crazy. My GX470 was absolutely sensitive to my regulating the sensor sensitivity (via the ring on the knob). On LX570, adjusting the sensitivity ring seems to result in nothing. The sensor doesn't seems to capture any water drops at all; and rain-sensing function on LX works maybe 10 times worse than on GX. Tried all customization options but found nothing so far (save for the rear window wiper regimes). Any advice how to make the rain-sensing sensor more sensitive?

In addition to my previous post: Found one experience of having completely drained the tank on the Russian Lexus Forum. This led to: fuel filter replacement (from own experience, though on GX470, you need to remove the fuel tank to replace the filter; oh, yeah, this car is designed to be serviced by a dealer!) + replace sparks + fuel system cleaning + smth else. I can only guess how much this may cost.

Anyone having a manual re configuring LX570 with Techstream?

Whether the ignition is on or off, but the engine is not started, you'd normally not be able to select the neutral. But there's a manual switch (as your say) to do this. You operate this switch not necessarily for towing, but e.g. during the mandatory vehicle inspection (by your dealer or by the authorities). E.g. you put your vehicle on a stand, manually switch to neutral and than the stand would accelerate your front/rear wheels (which, while the engine is not running, is only possible with the manual neutral) and test how well your brakes work etc. Towing with neutral is not recommended, looking at a "general" or "layman" driver, who is not skilled to that, as it may cause accidents and serious injuries. Everything for your safety really! (and to protect insurance companies and dealers from liability - oh yeah!)

If the noise sounds like "inhaling" or "exhaling", you have to IMMEDIATELY check your braking fluid level/braking system. Sometimes air gets to the braking system (where only the braking fluid should be), making such noise. You need to test your braking system to see if the issue is critical (as the air in the system may significantly deteriorate the braking effort and result in an accident). PS - however, some "small" sound like this may be tolerable, I had such "small" sound in many cars - but again, you have to test your braking system immediately to be confident.

Ashron, I think it's designed that the adjustable suspension is only for the front and the rear suspension is "fixed" and cannot be adjusted (only the "low-normal-high" level can work on both the front and the rear, but the "sport-comfort" switch operates the front suspension only). Newlee, the battery drainage is probably a common problem for GX/LX. Leaving my previous GX470 for a couple of weeks, the battery would be drained or almost drained (didn't try it with LX yet).

To confirm for the benefit of other users who might be interested - the 2010 model doesn't have a heated steering wheel, it starts from the 2011 model. (Note: your vehicle might be made in H2 2010 but be a 2011 model, hence having a heater for the steering wheel - consult your dealer or post a request for help here).

DTE readings are not reliable (as your manual says). Zero DTE basically prompts you to top up, while you have some safe margin of fuel. Yes, DTE is designed to be conservative and this is for a reason. The reason is to help you avoid problems by completely draining your tank. People use to believe that if you're empty and add some fuel, the car will start. NO. If you add fuel to a COMPLETELY drained tank, you'll have to wait (maybe > an hour) and play with ignition, etc. for the fuel to get through the system - before you can start the car. Hence, I sympathize Lexus' "conservative" DTE policy here.

Hi there, mine also gets to 1/4th of the scale in all conditions - guess, this is normal and you should be concerned only if the level goes above this (which may happen e.g. in a traffic jam - when the truck cannot get enough outside air to cool its systems down). Don't forget, the recommended oil is 0W20 or 5W20. The former one is not so popular for some reason, but it was designed for fuel economy, I use this one - 0W20. If your concern really is "when can I [safely for the engine] start driving having just started the car" - it's when the tachometer readings get stable and dont "jerk" (the readings really stabilize at 1,000 RPM or slightly above).

Anyone tried to purchase from http://www.wheelsrims.net/ or http://www.wheels-and-rims.com/? Wrote to support of the former one but my request bounced back, having been redirected to the latter site. Got suspicious if those might be fraudulent. Pls let me know if you had any experience with them.

Got the Orange Electronic TO35010 sensors from Amazon (posted there a shorter version of this review): Ordered 5 sensors from Amazon (it also being the seller) a month or so ago and installed them today, fit Lexus GX470, 2005. The delivered sensors looked slightly differently (not so elegant) than on the Amazon picture and came with plastic (not metal) caps. They came in 2 batches: the 1st of 4 sensors, built in Nov 2009, and the 2nd of 1 sensor, built in Dec 2011. The manufacturer's support explained that year/month built comes from the batch number - in my case, 510-091117006 and 511-111221012 respectively. Manufacturer's support service is very quick. They explained that though an average sensor's life is 5-7 years, the year built should be of no concern as sensors use no power until activated (by inflating the tire up to 26psi). Installation by a dealer should not take more than 2 hours. The dealer was not happy to deal with aftermarket sensors but did not charge extra fees. He inputted the sensors into the computer before their installation on wheels. He applied pressure on them with his hands (as if he wanted to break them into two pieces) and warmed them, again in his hands. The 2011 sensor woke up within a minute or so. The dealer's computer started indicating the applied pressure and temperature. The '09's did not activate this way and I was said they are junk. I've noticed that the 2 top pin-holes on the '09 seem to have some seal or membrane which the '11 did not have. I asked to install them and pressurize to 34psi just in case in a hope to break the seal, before reducing the tire pressure back to the normal 32psi. This worked and the '09's also activated. I had checked with a few authorized U.S. Lexus dealers, they were selling at ~$130 per sensor (the lowest quote I got was ~$105). For the system to work, you need 5 -- for the main and spare tires -- i.e. $650 ($525, if you are lucky). So, Amazon's price for the Orange sensors ($36 each or $180 for 5) makes the difference. By the way, the removed original sensors look exactly like the Schrader sensors also sold by Amazon at approx $130 each. One needs to know that Orange sensors are aftermarket and untested. I'll update this report if any failures or sudden death.