lemon

For that amount of damage, one would think the impact would have made a loud BANG of some sort. Did neither the driver or passenger hear anything.

The plant debris is still suspect in my mind - I doubt plant debris blowing across the highway would have lodged in there at that impact point. I'm still leaning to someone taking this thing where it shouldn't have been.

Disconnecting the battery is exactly what causes this. You need to look in your owner's manual. There are instructions there on how to reset the one touch up/down for the windows and also how to reset the sunroof switch. This needs to be done every time the battery is disconnected.

Three years out of the ridiculously small battery (as in CCA and reserve capacity) that Lexus specs for the 400h is about average.  I replaced the one in my 2006 in 2009.  I believe other owners have experienced about the same lifespan.
I would suggest just throwing in a new battery.  Too late now, but I would have spent the $100 on the Lexus diagnosis on the battery instead.

And, on the other hand - my 2006 needed an inverter ($7000 part, covered under the hybrid warranty) and a transmission ($5000 part, covered under an extended warranty (not third party, but a Lexus extended warranty). The second transmission started leaking in the same spot as the first tranny within one year and 25 000km. Warranty was done..I'm now driving an MDX.

The best, for nose and wear, durability, is Michelin on a 400h. Please after purchase, get a 4 wheel alignment also. The TPS system is not affected by tire sizes, tread, style on THIS model. I do not prefer directional or rain grooved tires, they will wear and make noise on this vehicle.

You know this because you've tried all other brands of tire on the vehicle?

Just further proof that they didn't do the isc reset and don't know what they are doing. Did you print the .pdf file from here and show it to them?

I'm not an engineer, but that looks like a very poor design. Your pictures really show how low that sucker hangs down. The other thing I'd worry about (living in an area where the road get salted to death at the first sign of a snowflake - truly it's ridiculous) is how well that actuator is going to work after four or five winters. I can see that rod rusting and seizing.

Just as an aside, I had a closer look at your first pic with the damaged heat exchanger and I see what looks like plant debris (dandelion maybe) on the rubber exhaust hanger. Are you sure someone else (wife / kids etc.) wasn't driving and tried driving over a curb or something?

Good lord...that's an insane price, and a ridiculous design. You've just been a beta tester for Lexus, and I bet in newer models that system will either be protected by a skid plate or redesigned. I'm surprised there haven't been more reports of this, especially for those that live in snowy areas and may be driving over a snow drift or two.

This reminds me of the first couple years of the last generation Honda Odyssey (I had a 2006). Many owner's suffered holes in the radiator or A/C condensor from rocks flying through the enormous lower grill opening. Crafty owner's installed "gutter guard" mesh in that hole to protect the rad/condensor. Sure enough the 2008 models onwards came from the factory with mesh in the lower grill, just like gutter guard.

Part # 6, maybe?

http://www.partswebsite.com/oemlexusparts/index.php?i=2&model=2238&make=134&year=2007&section=141&catid=30224&type=parts&subcatid=31469&item_collision=1&items=noneℑ=8950660&catid=30224

EDIT: I should also note that i'm still having the "buzzing" noise when the A/C is on. Whenever i have the air conditioning button activated and set the inside temperature below 70, i get this "buzzsaw" noise coming from the engine compartment. It literally sounds like a buzzsaw. The sound continues until i set the A/C off. I've been so busy i haven't made it to the dealer. Could the noise be related to the engine shaking?

If it wasn't a hybrid, a bad A/C compressor (bearing etc.) might contribute to engine shaking (or a faulty idle up switch that failed to increase engine idle speed when the compressor was running), however, in the 400h the compressor is electrical, powered by the traction battery. It would not cause engine vibration.

Mine was also making a buzzing noise, but only for the first few minutes upon startup. After a short run time, the noise was reduced (but not completely gone) The dealer (as expected) said it was normal, even though I mentioned that it never made the noise when I first got the vehicle.

I don't think the OP is so much complaining about the fact that it got damaged - it's more that the heat exchanger was not designed to be replaced as an individual component, necessitating the replacement of the perfectly fine cat and muffler and thus unneccessary expense.

Is that something insurance would cover? What about approaching Toyota for some goodwill service, since it's not a defect but maybe bad design with the heat exchanger hanging down vulnerable to impact damage? Otherwise, see if you can find a wrecked RX450h, pull that part out and go to a custom exhuaust shop and have it welded in? By the way, any pics? I'm curious to see this part.

Just did a quick search and I found it cheaper online by about 3 or 4 hundred bucks...Still freaking expensive. One place wanted over $8000 bucks...insane....must be a mistake I'm thinking..

What did you ever do about your leaky inverter? I doubt it's causing the shake, but you would (hopefully, if the technician know what he is doing) get the ISC reset done properly (via the diagnostic computer) when the new inverter was put in.

Are you due for new spark plugs, air filter? Make sure your tranny is not leaking where mine leaked (twice) - just look at my old posts for the pics..

I tried a FRAM the first time I changed the engine air filter on my RX and it didn't fit. I returned it and bought the Toyota filter (from a Toyota dealer) and was surprised it was cheaper than the FRAM and, of course, it fit perfectly. For the cabin filter, I just used a FRAM - it fit fine and was MUCH cheaper than the dealer.

2006 model year was the first year for the 400h, was it not? Yours may have been built and went on the road in 2005, but it's a 2006 model. Anyway, yes, the ISC reset applies to ALL years of the 400h.

Your dealer may be clueless about the ISC reset, so be sure you print off a copy of the .pdf and show it to them.

Also make sure the ISC reset has been done. One of the symptoms of the ISC reset not being complete is a 'rattling from the transmission at idle'. The mechanic at the garage sounds like a Numpty, so print off a copy of the ISC reset TSB and take it to the Lexus dealer and ask them to perform the ISC reset. Alternatively, you can attempt the ISC rset yourself following the directions I've posted in the ISC reset thread that has been stickied to the top of the hybrid forum.

Agree with the above. The battery would ahve been disconnected for them to work on the vehicle and they havent done the ISC reset. The may not even be awsre of the TSB or (as someone else experienced) they may be toally inept - someone had a service manager tell them the ISC is self initiallizing...it's NOT. You could try it yourself or just print TSB and ask them if they did it/demand that they do it. By the way, that TSB is dated 2006 but there were identical TSBs issued for 2007 and 2008 models.

RXREY - wow..you actually traded the 400h. I agree with you - the gas engine is noisier in the 400h, but it is tuned differently and the timing is different as well (read this in the service manual - something to do with achieving smoother starts with different timing due to all the starting and stopping). I don't know if this is still the case with the 450h vs the 350, as they both have different engines than the previous generation of RX. Did you test drive a 450h -as I said, the engine is different than the 400h, but it still has a CVT.

You could also try something like this to avoid ever having to remove the plug again..

http://www.fumotousa.com/

I've used them on all my cars. I had one on my 2006 400h, and the only drawback is a longer drain time, since the hole is smaller than the hole in the oil pan.

I just bought one for my MDX, but for the first time I got one with the nipple attachment so I can connect a drain hose and (hopefully) drain right into an old oil jug and avoid the pan mess.

We are in Clovis, (CALIF) which is like living in an oven, so the air keeps the engine running much of the time when vehicle is not moving. Anyway, our orientation lasted 2 hours, in the heat, ran around the rest of the day, then we took off for San Fran the next day, doing 70-75 most of way. I had to fill up on the way back, and thought oh no, here goes 20 gallons,HA! it only took 12 gallons so my first tank I got 27 mpg overall, I'm very happy!

If the 450 is similar to the 400 in the A/C department, the compressor is electric, so the engine doesn't need to run to have A/C. It will, however, drain the traction battery faster, and that may cause the engine to run in order to charge the battery.

Thanks Dave, yes it's only been 2 weeks or so for me with the RX400H (07), but so far loving it!

Coming from a MDX (05), which I also really liked but the MDX mileage was really bad. The RX400H is giving me about 10 MPGs more than the MDX. May not be a ton but it "feels" good to me. The RX has better pickup and of course the MDX was more space. Still trying to get used to the Nav on the RX. Both great rides in my opinion. Hopefully the RX will give me many, many miles of enjoyment.

Will be interesting to see how the RX AWD handles the snow here in the winter.

I

Does the MDX ride better than the RX? Just curious, my wife always wanted the Accura. But I love the RX400h....

Lol...I just went from the 2006 400h to the 2006 MDX. Yes, the MDX handles better. I can also use the NAV system while in motion, and the voice command works EVERY single time, as opposed to the RX where the voice command failed miserable, almost every time. I do miss the mileage, but most of my driving is highway, and the RX was around 8.5 vs the MDX which with all highway driving like a granny I have seen as low as 9.6, but usually closer to 10 I also miss the HID headlights (MDX didn't get these till 2007). The extra row has come in handy numerous times already.

I think Lexus needs to come out with a seven seater to slot below the GX and compete with JX, MDX etc. The Toyota Highlander comes with seven, but it doesn't have the Lexus name..

Hybrid. They're both nice, though, aren't they. When I had my 400h, I liked the silence when cruising around in electric mode. The CVT I could give or take. Normal driving was nice, but full acceleration I didn't like the noise and the classic (and common to a lot of manufacturer's CVTs) motorboating feeling (engine revs to redline and speed of car seems to catch up).

If it stays running when warm, or seems to kick in with the slightest touch of the gas pedal, I'd seriously look into the ISC reset.

I have to admit - the blue gauge mod was, despite being so simple, one of the coolest mods I've ever done...lol.

One thing the 400h AWD also does is send power to the rear wheels when accelerating from a stop and also while turning. This is whether it's dry, wet, snow etc. Whether this power to the rear has any noticeable effect on handling I don't know (never driven a FWD RX). Unlike a torque vectoring AWD system that a lot of newer vehicles now have (Honda SH-AWD comes to mind, but other's have jumped on the band wagon) that definitely affect handling, the AWD in the RX is NOT torque vectoring - not sure about the upcoming redesign.

Having recently traded my 2006 RX400h for a 2006 Acura MDX, I will say that I don't lose sleep at night worrying about a $7000 inverter failing. I do, however, miss the awesome fuel economy of the hybrid. The RX had some features that the MDX doesn't that I miss, but the MDX also has some things that the RX didn't that I really like.