Water Ingress Rx400H 2006

[spurty]

Quick write up of a problem that may help others.

Noticed our 2006 RX400h was very quick to condensate, especially when parked up and would take ages to disappear even with air conditioning on etc.

The passenger side foot well carpet seemed damp, more so than other side. After removing kick panel trims and scuff plates i found my way under the carpet and discovered a pool of water! Made the major decision to remove the carpet from the vehicle as it was ringing wet and i wanted to discover where the water was coming from. After four hours having removed all the seats and centre console box, i was finally in a position to remove the carpet. What i found was shocking (see photos)

There were pools of water everywhere, right by wiring and electrical components!

After a mammoth drying out session, i began water testing to see where the water was coming from, sunroof drains were working fine, no blockage there, window seals all good etc etc. Then i removed the rear parcel tray/organizer in the rear boot. There was a lake just under the nearside lamp....... which was obviously moving forward past the hybrid Battery into the floor wells.

On inspection of the rear lamp, it seemed the water was running down the tailgate past the lamp gasket into the vehicle! A good clean up and some sealant round the gasket, as good as new with no water ingress.

So if you have water under the front footwells, you might want to check the rear lamps first!!!

[Boxbrownie]

Frightening amount of water there, great information should help others in time to stop them having to do the same before it gets that bad, might be useful having this as a sticky up top Mods?

Water is relentless!

[stevet]

Useful write-up. Good that it bypassed the batteries. Or could it have got to them if you hadn't found it till later?

[Slai]

Thanks for this. Had a look at mine this afternoon and rear carpets were soaked. Luckily it didn't make it to the front. I'm going to try and get replacement foam gaskets just behind the tail lights.

[nelmo]

Holey crud, that's a lot of water and impressive dedication to finding the source - Sherlock-like

If it helps, also consider your windscreen as a source if it has been changed recently. Had mine done due to a crack and started getting lots of condensation but no wet carpets. Got the windscreen people back, they took out the windscreen and realised that the previous fitter had put the glue primer in the wrong place along part of the bottom of the screen. The result was a 20cm section which wasn't sealed, letting moisture in.

[spurty]

Thanks for the comments gents, just hope this helps someone without going to the lengths i had too.

You cant buy new rear lamp gaskets separate, so after some advise i am going to seal mine with Buytl tape.

Carpet is being dried out in a warm room at work for a few days, and the car has been thoroughly dried out inside. Cant wait to out it all back together again....

This is the area in the boot where the water was gathering, under the rear lamp.

You can see where the water had been flowing down the "step" where the Hybrid Battery is mounted

[stevet]

So was it from the rear lamps mounted on the tailgate or the ones on the body? Going to give mine a good check this weekend.

[spurty]

So was it from the rear lamps mounted on the tailgate or the ones on the body? Going to give mine a good check this weekend.

The ones in the body. If you open the tailgate then look at the black plastic trim that sits next to the lamp, this was blocked with 'rubbish' coming from the roof, and diverting the rain water directly into and over the rear body lamp,part numbers 64457a and 64458a on the attached diagram. Undo the Philips screw you can see at the top and carefully pull the trim towards you, then give it a good clean.

As for the lamps they are fiddly but easy to remove with 3x 10mm nuts holding them in, once these are removed pull the lamp unit towards you and give the things a good clean and check the black gasket behind them onto the bodywork. I removed these and cleaned and then sealed with a black waterproof sealant.

[Beejay]

Really handy info. Many thanks spurty.

[Slai]

Hi Folks,

Just a quick update - If needed, you can buy replacement tail light gaskets from Lexus. The part number is L81554-48061

It looks like the gaskets have been 'uprated' - they are slightly different being more enclosed.

Pictures attached.

I left a dehumidifier in the car to dry it out, and whilst it's working, its taking quite some time, so I've decided to take out the front seats, and centre console and remove the carpet completely so that it can dry out indoors.

Simon/Spurty - do you have any tips that you can share when taking out the front seats and the centre console please (and thank you)?

Simon

[paul marsden]

Hi all.

My story...

I have a 2008 400h with 86k on the clock. On driving home on Friday night got the Check VSC and Check Hybrid warning system notification. Nursed the car home the remaining half a mile and went to have a look at it on Saturday.

Long story short, drivers footwell was soaked, car wouldn't start. Tried soaking up the water on Saturday and Sunday, didn't seem to make any difference to the amount that was contained within the car.

Had to have the car transported to my local Lexus garage. Have been asked if i've been driving through flood water (I haven't been flooded thankfully unlike some other poor unfortunates) the car has simply been left out in the rain i.e. not garaged overnight and not protected when in the work car park. So far my bill is sitting at £4k, need new carpets, new hybrid Battery and still the cause isn't known although i'm sure it will be located eventually.

Advice on next steps.

Paul

[Boxbrownie]

Sorry to hear of that, I am surprised they reckon it needs a new hybrid Battery without first getting the thing started!

[spurty]

Hi all.

My story...

I have a 2008 400h with 86k on the clock. On driving home on Friday night got the Check VSC and Check Hybrid warning system notification. Nursed the car home the remaining half a mile and went to have a look at it on Saturday.

Long story short, drivers footwell was soaked, car wouldn't start. Tried soaking up the water on Saturday and Sunday, didn't seem to make any difference to the amount that was contained within the car.

Had to have the car transported to my local Lexus garage. Have been asked if i've been driving through flood water (I haven't been flooded thankfully unlike some other poor unfortunates) the car has simply been left out in the rain i.e. not garaged overnight and not protected when in the work car park. So far my bill is sitting at £4k, need new carpets, new hybrid battery and still the cause isn't known although i'm sure it will be located eventually.

Advice on next steps.

Paul

Hi all,

Update to what is a long running saga.

After replacing the lamp gasket I was still getting water in through somewhere at the back, it was parked up for two days, stripped down while the carpet was drying somewhere safe, I moved the car forward only to hear a huge 'slosh' of water running forward. Luckily I work for toyota so got into work for further proper inspection (we do lots of toyota aygos with water leaks, so figured my techs would know)

After more stripping down of the boot interior trim and rear bumper we found the water was running in through the seams of the rear panel and quarter panels. But you as it is all double skinned you cannot see where the water was flowing.

Eventually after lots of testing we found that the body sealant on the rear panel was cracking a had tiny pin prick holes letting water in, we resealed these and any grommet holes around the rear, refitted the rear bumper and tested again..........finally dry! Refitted the carpet(which had been dried outfor 2 weeks) all interior and its finally back on the road and good as new

Paul my advise to you would be, can they salvage the carpet? As thats over a grand on its own.get them to strip the back panel and tape up the holes and do an extensive water test, if its not the seams it will be one of those grommets you can see once the bumper is removed.

[paul marsden]

Thanks Spurty.

I'm writing to Lexus GB at the moment and copying in the dealer to see if they can do anything to help me.

I'm shocked that this would happen to a bulletproof SUV. Mine is in no way mistreated and the closest it gets to any hazard is the supermarket car park!

I don't want to put you in any potentially awkward position as you work for Toyota and i don't want to put words in your mouth but do you think that this is a design oversight? I did some research and understand there was a rear seam TSB issued in 2009.

I wonder how many other RX owners are having similar trouble with the amount of rain we have had lately.

Paul

[spurty]

Thanks Spurty.

I'm writing to Lexus GB at the moment and copying in the dealer to see if they can do anything to help me.

I'm shocked that this would happen to a bulletproof SUV. Mine is in no way mistreated and the closest it gets to any hazard is the supermarket car park!

I don't want to put you in any potentially awkward position as you work for Toyota and i don't want to put words in your mouth but do you think that this is a design oversight? I did some research and understand there was a rear seam TSB issued in 2009.

I wonder how many other RX owners are having similar trouble with the amount of rain we have had lately.

Paul

I am going to do the same and write to Lexus, got to be worth a try.

Not sure about a oversight, but it certainly does seem to be a problem especially as there is a TSB for the exact problem

Judging by the amount of Toyota vehicles we are getting in at the moment with water leaks into the cabin, (Aygo, Yaris and Auris currently) with the amount of rain recently i would urge people to check under sides of the rear compartment in there RX's

Remove the trim (marked in red) remove all three compartments (marked in blue) get a torch and stick your head into the boot area and look back either side where the two side compartments were, you will see a seam going downward, that is where the water flows in!

[Beejay]

"

"I wonder how many other RX owners are having similar trouble with the amount of rain we have had lately."

Somehow the fact that Rx SUVs are sold in monsoon [ serious rain] countries like Japan and the Far East makes me wonder if

you have had a rear end bump at some time, if your rear light seals are in order anyway.

BTW this weather is only about 16th on UK winter water levels not Climate disruption green garbage media hysterical headlines we are getting.

In the 60's 70's and 80's the Thames from Maidenhead to Chertsey used to have dredgers working constantly. Now to save the depressed mollusc

the Environmental Agency stooped dredging to 'save' the mollusc. There are about 12 million plus in UK rivers anyway but Green options mean misery for

people living by the Thames, and other wet areas in Somerset which saves the water voles and spreads sewage over the Somerset Levels.

Rant over.

[Boxbrownie]

Bring back dredging...........then after a few years of dredging if it floods as badly again the greenies can say "told you so" until then they can shut the flood up! :D

[matto68]

Very interesting..i wonder if this is what has killed the electrics in my RX300,,,see post called dodgy electrics.

Just want to get mine sorted and sold on now,ive had enough of driving without heaters etc,seems like a poor design.

[vrodman]

Untitled.jpg

Remove the trim (marked in red) remove all three compartments (marked in blue) get a torch and stick your head into the boot area and look back either side where the two side compartments were, you will see a seam going downward, that is where the water flows in!

Simon

any chance of a bigger view of that exploded parts diagram? I think I would like to check mine but I can't quite see from the diagram how it all comes apart. Or even, can you tell me if the parts diagram is available to buy or download anywhere?

thanks

Dan

[spurty]

Untitled.jpg

Remove the trim (marked in red) remove all three compartments (marked in blue) get a torch and stick your head into the boot area and look back either side where the two side compartments were, you will see a seam going downward, that is where the water flows in!

Simon

any chance of a bigger view of that exploded parts diagram? I think I would like to check mine but I can't quite see from the diagram how it all comes apart. Or even, can you tell me if the parts diagram is available to buy or download anywhere?

thanks

Dan

can you not click on it and download it? Try this one

[Jon W]

In February 2013 my 2007 RX400h suffered wholesale electrical
failure and the fault was attributed to a blocked rainwater drain in the
sunroof aperture. The repair was very expensive
and the passenger A pillar remains stained inside.

I booked the car in for the inverter recall and a routine
service last week. Again, however, there
was a wholesale electrical failure (“Check VSC/Check Hybrid” and the oil
warning light). This time I am told the
hybrid batteries have failed and require replacement. I am sceptical.

Does anyone know a good independent expert who can inspect
the car for me?

Thanks

[Boxbrownie]

As has been said before the hybrid batteries actually failing is very, very unusual (but not unheard of eh Duncan? ).

It is more likely to be inverter failure or a ECU problem than the hybrid pack, some main dealer garages (no matter what kind of misguided loyalty we buyers afford them) will just take the easy route and dare I say most lucrative to get your car back on the road again, all at our expense!

I know of a Lexus specialist out here in Essex ( Westfield Motors, Rawreth) which I have used since buying my RX300, but I do not have any experience with them regarding hybrid problems, it might be an idea ringing them though and see what they say?

Best of luck matey.

[NEV72]

Paul when you say you took your car to your local Lexus dealer, would this be Lexus Poole?

The reason why I ask is, same as you I'm having problems, Lexus Poole will become clearer later.

Last Saturday after owning my 400h for just over a week, wife was nipping out into Newton Abbot, after about a minute she comes back into the house saying that there was a warning light on the dash, so I went out to the car and saw the error message 'CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM' seeing as how the car had started up and the warning was in white, I suggested she try and drive it and see if the light would go out, seeing as it was in white, and had been told error messages in Amber are a warning, but error messages in Red you should report immediately, so off she drives, and I go back into house, a minute later wife's on the phone saying car has broken down up the road, everything just stopped engine, brakes, the lot, she gave it a few minutes and tried starting it, which it did, and limped home. Meanwhile I'm trying to ring Lexus Exeter but just missed them, as they'd closed for the night,

So then I decide to google the 'CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM' error message and find there's a common thread with the Inverter being at fault. and possibly due to water intrusion, now the car had been on the driveway for a few days, and the torrential rain had been at it all week, it hadn't been driven through floods or anything like that because due to the terrible weather we'd been unable to go anywhere.

Next morning first thing Sunday I'm on the phone to Lexus Exeter, chap there says to ring up the breakdown on back of tax disc, half an hour AA bloke turns up, car starts, but he sees the error message, nothing he can do , he calls his mate with the low loader to take it back to Lexus Exeter. Second chap turns up, again car starts up, error message is there but he can drive it onto low loader off he goes.

Monday ring Lexus,the lass there says yes it's a problem with the Inverter as first thought, and the thing is, and here's where Lexus Poole comes in, tells me that when there was a recall Lexus Poole did the check for the previous owner, and it sounds like they haven't re-sealed the unit the inverter sits in, or something to that effect.

Anyway tea-time tonight lass at Exeter rings apologeticly, saying they've never had this kind of problem except for once when some other berk drove his Hybrid into a lake, a few years ago, and that she was waiting for Lexus Poole to get back to her.

, I did ask her how much longer and she must have misheard me and told me £3000 pounds, till I told her I needed to know how much longer she thought it would take, as obviously once they get a reply from Poole, they then have to go and get on with the repair. So that's where I am at the minute.

[paul marsden]

Hi Nev72.

I'm sorry to hear about your problems and hope you manage to get it resolved to your satisfaction. Thankfully nobody was hurt in the "shut down" process. I've read elsewhere that this has happened on motorways etc presenting all sorts of issues.

Yes Lexus Poole are my local dealer and carried out the inverter recall work for me. I've never had a problem with them and always found there service really good.

If you are suffering from water affecting the inverter it would be interesting to understand how this got into the vehicle.

I'm staggered by how many of our cars are affected by this apparent problem - not what I'd expect from a car with the build quality reputation of Lexus.

[NEV72]

Well Paul, I was going to sit it out and see how it all panned out, but when I saw your thread, I thought I'd add my ten bobs worth, as it seems we both have the same problem and Lexus Poole is the common denominator, One thing I didn't do, which with hindsight maybe I should've done, was to check carpets ,rear boot wells etc, for water, it's just an inconvienience at the minute, but if I'm nowhere nearer in a week or two's time, that's when it becomes a problem.