lemon

I've had good luck with Bosch Icons http://www.boschautoparts.com/WiperBlades/Pages/WiperBlades.aspx but I was even more impressed with the Valeo http://www.valeowipersusa.com/ By the way, I noticed at the Lexus dealership that the newer models are all coming with the beam style wiper blade now (like the Icon or Valeo). Same with numerous GM vehicles and probably other manufacturers too. Seeing as you're in Canada, Canadian Tire has a new 'hybrid' wiper blade that supposedly has the best of both wipers - a beam style and a conventional style merged into one. These look intriguing, and my Icons are 1.5 years old now...needing replacement soon. http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/2/DriveWinter/Blades/WiperArmsRelated/PRD~0211430P/Reflex%252BHybrid%252BWiper.jsp?EnableScene7Video=true&Scene7VideoNumber=1

Well, if they have a new and improved inverter, then hopefully I'm good there, since I have a new one under warranty (hopefully, they didn't just give me one from 'old' stock..lol). When it comes to the new leak, I have which is not the inverter, I may be out of luck on the hybrid warranty side. I perused my owner's manual last night and the hybrid warranty only covers the inverter, battery and assorted ECUs that control them. The transaxle, while it does contain the electric motors, is covered under the powertrain warranty.

See this post http://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/f31/inverter-shoots-craps-105-000-miles-24131/ Quite a few Highland Hybrids (which are the same as the RX400h in the engine compartment) with failing inverters around 100000 miles. See my post here http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=60231&hl=inverter&st=0 regarding my inverter leaking and being replaced in September 2009. Be sure to read the second page where another owner has posted a different kind of leak below the inverter (apparently part of the transxle) that I AM ALSO NOW experiencing. I really wonder if I should keep this thing beyond the 1600000KM hybrid warranty. I don't even know yet if the new leak I have will be covered under the hybrid warranty. Won't know till Dec. 27 when the technician gets it up on the hoist and comes up with some sort of diagnosis. It's sad really, because I really do enjoy the vehicle.

True, I guess the only way would be for me to take the old parts to the Lexus dealership and ask their opinion. Like I said, they showed me the old parts and also showed me a new set of parts (it's a kit with the belt and the pulleys/tensioner) and I agreed the old parts looked worn (but of course they would after 145000km) However, when it comes to pulleys and tensioners - a seized pulley is as bad as a broken timing belt (or will lead to a broken timing belt) and a loose belt runs the risk of skipping a tooth, also leading to potential engine damage. At least with these parts new and the belt new, I can motor on for another 145000km with no worries (assuming the leak I just found under my inverter doesn't cause some massive self destruction of the hybrid components (see my post about leaking inverter)

Well, no, not really. It's $399 at Toyota vs $599 at Lexus for the timing belt service (which includes the timing belt). The extra money for the tensioner and pulleys would have been extra at the Lexus dealership on top of the $599 same as at the Toyota dealership. So, no matter what, I saved $200 by using Toyota. Too good to be true doesn't apply in this case. The Toyota dealer screwed up and quoted me the wrong price for the timing belt change, despite me pointing out to them (several times) that I was bringing a hybrid in. As should be expected, they stuck to the quote of $399.99 even after discovering their mistake, however, I don't expect them to make this mistake on the next hybrid that comes in. *edit* Just re-read your post. You mean extra money if they replaced the parts without them needing to be replaced? I looked at the old parts when I picked up the vehicle, and while I'm no expert, they did look worn compared to a new set that they showed me - to be expected after 145000KM. When I called the Lexus dealer yesterday (after Toyota told me I might need the tensioner/pulleys and/or water pump) I confirmed that the $599 only included the timing belt and labour, and also confirmed that they would do the same as Toyota - inspect the water pump and tensioner and replace if necessary. If Toyota really wanted to screw me over, they would have told me I needed a new water pump as well.

Well, the original inverter leak that I had last year was covered under the hybrid warranty. I won't know until the dealer see this new leak and I argue with them and Lexus Canada as to whether this is covered under the hybrid warranty. Technically, if the other person that posted is right about it being the transaxle, it might not be, but my argument is that MG1 and MG2 are in there and it's leaking coolant from the inverter cooling system (which is separate from the engine cooling system), therefore, it must be hybrid related, no?

!!!=*&%$#!!!! I can't believe this. Had the timing belt changed today and when I got home, I had a good look under the hood to check for missing fasteners, cables, wires etc. Also torqued the passenger front wheel to spec (76 ft-lb) since the monkey at the dealership had torqued them on to near failure (obviously likes the sound of an air ratchet..zzzt..zzzt...zzzt..I guess those lugnuts are tight enough..oh what the heck..zzzzzt...zzzzt. Anyway, while poking around I thought I'd check the inverter since I've been worried about a failure ever since the first one failed. Lo and behold, I have coolant leaking EXACTLY where the post above shows. That could be a picture of my leak, I kid you not. My leak is just not as bad as that one, in the sense that the pink crusty stuff is not as much as in the pictures above. 146000KM on this 2006 RX. Is this what we have to look forward to as these things age? Failing hybrid components? Are we beta testers for Lexus? Anyway, I'll be taking it to my dealership and see what they say. I'm hoping it's covered under the hybrid warranty as the motor generators are somewhere in there. Really, really beginning to wonder why I ever traded in my Outback. It had 150000KM TROUBLE FREE!!

The key does not appear excessively worn, and yes I tried it both ways. The last time this happened I was in the garage at home and I tried my wife's key and it didn't work either. Honestly, I don't think this is a wear issue, as others have had this happen with a new ignition cylinder and key within weeks of getting new ones... http://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-second-generation/541237-ignition-switch-stuck.html (post #7 has a link to a post where the owner got a new cylinder and key and had the same problem a few weeks later)

Dealership just called. Water pump was fine, but they replaced the pulleys/tensioner etc. All I can say is the old parts had better be worn.

Owner's manual in the section about changing a flat. For my 2006 RX400h, it's 76 ft-lb / 103 N-m. *edit* just checked online manual for 2004 and it's the same.

Oh it's being done for the $399. I already discussed that with the dealership. Now I know why Lexus wanted $599. There's more labour involved with the timing belt on the hybrid, due to other parts needing to be moved out of the way - air cleaner, brake fluid master cylinder, battery & tray, windshield wipers/cowl etc. I have the printout from my shop manual (DVD actually) and there's a whole lot of things to be moved. Now it's just a matter of whether or not I need water pump and pulleys. If I do, I'm getting the used parts back to look at myself.

So I posted a while back about the Toyota dealer quoting me $399 vs $599 at the Lexus dealer. Being obsessive, I called the Toyota dealer two or three times after the original quote and double checked. When I booked the appointment on Tuesday for today, I again asked and the service advisor actually spoke to a mechanic and was told $399.99 for a six cylinder. Each time I spoke to them I was very clear to point out that it was a hybrid, exactly like the Highlander Hybrid in the engine bay. Each time, the mechanic told the service advisor, it's just a six cylinder, $399.99 for a six cylinder timing belt. I was also advised that the water pump was not changed just because, but would be inspected and changed if it was weeping. So today I drop it off, telling them to call me if it needed a water pump. At the time I was advised that sometimes the engine mount bolts are seized and need to be replaced. An hour later, I get a call at home. Service advisor (not the one that quoted me the $399) says he spoke to mechanic and there could 'potentially' be additional charges once they get into the repair (the car hadn't actually been touched yet). In addition to the water pump and the bolts, the idler pulleys (tensioner etc. for the timing belt) might also need to be replaced if they are worn. Again, they'll inspect it like the water pump and decide if it needs replacing. Water pump $160 or so, pulley kit $300!!! or so. Additional labour etc. led to a potential grand total of $1200. Just to confirm, I then called Lexus and was told that, yes, the water pump and the pulleys sometimes need to be replaced when the timing belt is done. Then the guy on the phone starts asking about the $399, saying the mechanic was griping that he needs to remove air cleaner, brake fluid master cylinder etc etc and the $399 quote was wrong - that's for a regular gas six cylinder. I just laughed and said, 'not my problem', I confirmed the $399 price several times and that had better be what you charge me - and don't pull any fast ones, like replacing water pump and pulleys, even if they don't need it, to make up for the wrong price of $399. I told him if any parts are replaced, I wanted the original parts back (that's something we can ask for here in Ontario based on some obscure law). So anyway, I'll wait and see what happens. I also printed out the TSB for the Idle Speed Reset, attached it to my work order, and asked the service advisor to confirm with the mechanic that they had the proper equipment to do the ISC reset. The service adviser said he talked to the mechanic and the ISC reset would be done.

The other possibility is an inverter problem. It's happened to a few in the RX. My inverter was leaking coolant, but I caught it before it failed and had it replaced under warranty. I won't tell you what an inverter costs...ok I will..$7000 CDN when I had mine done last year (under warranty so it didn't cost me, but when the warranty is done...ouch).

Interesting. I'll keep my ear open for this. I vaguely remember the click you've mentioned - car is at dealer getting timing belt done right now, or I'd go check.

My key normally just slides in with no drama. I've never had any issues with the actual insertion, just the turning after the insertion.

Well I'm now starting to experience the dreaded 'key won't turn in ignition' problem that others have suffered. This IS NOT pressure on the steering wheel causing the problem (I've experienced that in other vehicles and just turning the steering wheel slightly solves that problem). No, this is bizarre..for no reason at all the key won't turn. It worked fine when I started the RX, 5 mins later (drove the kids to school) it just wouldn't turn. Now this happened a few weeks ago to me, and maybe once or twice in the past year. The other times, I just removed the key, put it back in, jiggled it around and all was fine. This time, I spent 10 minutes unsuccessfully, cursing and freezing, wondering why I ever traded in my Subaru Outback. Then I remembered reading something about a fix involving a hammer (yes a hammer on a $60 000 vehicle because Lexus doesn't know how to fix the problem). Not having a hammer handy, I inserted the key and gave it a sharp blow with the palm of my hand (straight in toward the front of the car (or in the direction the key is inserted), not in the direction the key is supposed to turn). Voila!!! Problem fixed. Key turned readily after the whack. Just a heads up for those that might suffer this problem down the road.

Not too much snow, but lots of rain, and then a flash freeze led to snow with ice underneath on the roads where I live. The 400h was flawless (well..the wipers were frozen, but that's not Lexus's fault). One REALLY IMPORTANT thing on my 400h are the Bridgestone Blizzak WS60 winter tires. Without winter tires, I guarantee I would not be this happy about how the vehicle performed. I know many of you are ho hum about winter tires, but I don't know of anyone who has tried them for the first time (including me) that hasn't been suitably impressed enough to wonder how we ever managed without them.

Just wondering if it wouldn't make more sense to have the 330 and 350 as one forum (since they are very similar body and mechanical, except one is 3.5 litre engine the other is 3.3 litre) instead of the 300 and 330 being one forum, as they are very very different - body, engine, mechanical etc.

Yeah...just peek under rear of car. If there is a rear differential, axle shafts and a big honking driveshaft running from the front transfer case to the rear differential, then you have AWD.

If it's a 2006, there is no button to turn of the traction control. I think it was added in later model years, but not sure. Totally off topic, I hope you cleaned all that snow off the roof before you drove on the road/highway...

Can't help you with the 450h, but the metal to metal clanging noise at idle was likely because you needed to do the ISC reset (idle speed control reset). One of the symptoms of the ISC needing to be reset (this was needed if the 12 volt battery was disconnected or run below 7 volts or so) was a pronounced clatter from the transaxle at idle. Look under the sticky post about TSBs in this forum for the TSB regarding ISC (not that it helps now that you have a 450, but if the dealer didn't know about the ISC reset on your old 400h, my guess is they know diddly squat about the 450 as well)

Well I found this.. "So, I thought I would post this on here since it was VERY helpful to me when we accidently put the wrong Lexus keys in the ignition.... After putting the wrong key in the ignition, there is a safety feature that locks out all keys from starting the car. I read somewhere online the protocol and thought I'd help anyone else out in my problem so you don't have to tow it to the nearest dealership. Sit in the car with the doors closed, master key in hand. Hit the unlock button on the key 3 times. Wait 5 seconds. Hit the unlock button on the key 3 times. Wait 5 seconds. Hit the unlock button on the key 3 times. Put the key in the ignition and turn. Voila! It SHOULD start....this worked for me and saved me $$$!" And I seem to remember that before my key stopped working, I accidentally tried to use the key from my wife's 2010 Equinox. It didn't fit, but as soon as the metal of the key touched the metal of the ignition switch, the steering wheel started to move (you know how the steering moves away from the driver when you park, and moves back toward the driver when you put key in). I 'think' I then tried to use the Lexus key and it didn't work. I don't remember for sure, but will try this experiment next time I'm in the RX.

No, it's not the steering lock. Usually that happens when the wheels are slightly turned and the pressure on the steering column causes the key cylinder to lock (it's part of the mechanism that won't allow the steering wheel to turn if the ignition is in the locked position (i.e. turned to the positions where you can remove the key). This particular problem I just experienced a few days ago (and once or twice in the past year and a half). The wheels were dead centre, no pressure on steering column, but once the key was inserted in the ignition, it just wouldn't turn. Jiggling, moving the steering wheel...nothing worked..I just kept inserting, removing, twisting..and finally it turned again. I think this is a somewhat common problem on the RX..gonna search the forums to see if there was ever a solution.

This happened when I replaced my battery too. I think I just manually opened and closed the door, and then it started working automatically again.

You've gone and done it again.......that looks sweeeeet.