ColinBarber

I'm pretty sure no series II RXs in the UK have low tyre pressure warning systems. Even the 450h for the first few years didn't.

I'd be surprised if you cannot get to a position that is comfortable. With the premier you have control over the front and back of the seat base, try tilting either the front or the back down a little to see if that improves things.

It probably is the same, but cannot confirm as I've never tried a CT with standard nav. I didn't consciously study the controller but I wasn't draw to the fact it is particularly plasticky. The biggest thing I found with it was the amount of movement and force needed to move it left/right/up/down and press in which seems excessive and slows down navigating around the menus etc.

I've driven an IS Exec for the last couple of days. Nav seems fine, no different from any other Lexus system other than having to scroll through options with the rotary controller rather than using a touch screen or remote touch. The 6 speaker audio system certainly seems weaker than the 8 speaker premium Nav option, but I didn't spend that much time listening to audio. There was a lack of low and mid range, or overpowering highs, when sitting in the front. Rather than alter using the EQ, I put the fader to 70% rear which improved things.

Sorry Simon I didn't mean to imply I was specifically talking about the 450h implementation of the engine, merely that the engine design has had issues with noises related to the timing chains. The particular issue I was referring to, a TSB not a recall, was for cold startup noise. You don't seem to have the same issue as your noise isn't just for a second or two during startup. There has also been a recall for the 2GR-FSE engine where bolts work loose on the VVTi intake sprockets, resulting in noise and poor running. This ended up being a recall on safety grounds because if all three bolts worked loose and the sprocket separated from the VVTi housing the engine would cut out whilst being driven. The reason why the 450h wasn't included in the recall is because Toyota believe the cause is related to start up and the hybrid models start their engines slower and more smoothly compared to a vehicle/engine with a normal starter motor. You can read about all this here: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/jaxrs/download/doc/ucm443883/rcdnn-13v395-1839.pdf Personally I'd wonder if Toyota are 100% correct about the 450h not being affected so I'd certainly want to understand what is causing your noise just to rule this out.

Yes there are three chains. There have been TSBs issued for that engine in the US for noisy startup and the fix is replacement gears on the intake camshafts. However this appears to be different, but almost certainly related to one of the chains/tensioners/gears.

I think you have made the correct choice. I've had an exec for the last couple of days and within 10 miles of driving it I found the lack of seat adjustment uncomfortable. For me the front of the seat cushion was too high so I would definitely recommend the 8 way adjustable seats so you can tilt the front and back independently, as well as getting the lumbar adjustment.

I wouldn't want to wait for a 100k service as the timing belt will take some time. Courtesy cars are normally provided as standard as part of the price, including insurance, but given the age of your vehicle you could opt for cheaper 'essentials' servicing which may not get you a car as standard. My local dealership normally provides a car of the same class so I always got an RX450 whenever my 400h was in for service. Your dealer may offer a collection/delivery service to, depending how far away you live. If you did want to wait then most dealers offer tea/coffee, maybe a pastries, a TV to watch and free wifi.

The power/warranty statements aren't entirely true. Some of the Lexus models draw more power, although the Toyota badged variants of the same vehicle in other countries draw the same, but the CT for example is just an Auris/Prius in terms of hybrid drivetrain. The warranty period has nothing to do with power draw, it is just a marketing thing. Toyota can get away with just providing a lower warranty on Lexus vehicles in the UK compared to Toyota vehicles. In the US the Lexus hybrid system carries an 8 year warranty, the same system that is on the UK vehicles, and the same as Toyota.

Correct, it cannot be drain easily without a flushing machine or using some tricks. My point is that you probably want to do a similar drain and refill a couple more times if the the fluid is in bad condition, you probably haven't diluted the original fluid that much with just a single drain. If the old fluid is still 'good enough' then a drain/refill every 20k miles is a good way to maintain the health of the transmission.

Welcome Archie :)

SXE10 = Altezza RS200 chassis code - Saloon, 4 cylinder 2.0 engine 3S-GE = Engine model J160 = Transmission code - 6 speed manual A01B = Rear differential code - low ratio LSD (A02x are higher geared - A = standard, B =LSD )

How much did they change? A pan drain/refill only changes about 1/4 of the total fluid.

I think you need to explain what has happened to your dealer. They should sort this out free of charge if it is their fault.

faulty 12v battery or poor connections.

I'd say it is highly likely that it is related to the timing belt change. Even if the VSV wasn't disconnected the wiring may have been damaged.

Just come back from Lexus? For what, they could have left something disconnected?

here is some info which isn't directly related to the engine in the RX300 but similar concept. http://www.moranbahweather.com/toyota/lc_trj12/rm/rm1017e/m_05_0157.pdf

Sounds like an issue with the ACIS. That is typically controlled by a Vacuum Switching Valve (VSV). If the ECU is detecting an open circuit then the electrical connector to the valve may have been disconnected or the coil in the valve itself may have burnt out.

I believe it is a straight swap but never tried it myself so cannot be 100% confident. The speed signal from the transmission is always the same, the calibration is done in the instrument cluster/dial for either mph or km/h.

many obdii tools and programs allow multiple sensors to be continuously polled, either plotting the results on graphs or logging the data values to a file. That way you can able to go back over the data and look at the point where the issue started to see which sensors suddenly changed their value and work out which one was the trigger. For example, question 3 at the following link shows the results taken from 8 points in time, at frame -5 you can see the Throttle position sensor value suddenly change, which triggers an issue resulting in other values also altering: http://www.autoshop101.com/tests/intest14.html In addition to the sensors they show in the example above you can log many more including duty cycle of injectors and O2 sensors etc. Results may not pinpoint the fault but could at least point you in the right direction.

Hopefully the warranty will cover this, but there is the possibility that it won't because the warranty wouldn't cover faults that existed at the time the policy was taken out - not your problem, it is the dealers, but could add a complication. In answer to your original question, I've not seen a common issue with the IS200 engine where a cylinder lacks compression.

just a light without any buttons? do you have a picture you can post?

Which one?

You really shouldn't try and force EV mode by using the EV button - that results in inefficient use of the hybrid system. You should use Eco or Normal mode, accelerate to a desired speed and then lift off as much as possible to maintain speed and make the hybrid system to just run on batteries (EV light will come on, not the EV Mode light), provided your speed is around 45mph or less.