Gliderpilot

I fitted my towbar myself and it was a pain to get the wiring correct. Lexus do sell a kit for the electronics but it doesn't just plug in there is quite a lot of splices to do. Lexus don't have their own towbar but buy in bars from Westfalia and re-badge them, these come with a wiring kit which has a control box. One of the function includes a rear fog light baypass. When you switch on the rear fogs you are supposed to switch them off again strait away but because the main lights are on the trailer fogs will stay on. I've included the instructions for the Lexus electrical kit. To be honest if your electrics are working OK it's not worth changing them. Although there is a CAN BUS on the 400h it doesn't help with the towing electrics. RX Towbar electrics.pdf

No dipstick on my 400h and no mention of a change in the service manual, the only fluids changes apart from oil are brake fluid every 2 years, engine coolant at 100,000 miles the every 50,000 miles and inverter coolant at 100,000 miles and then every 50,000 miles.

Hi All Has anyone replaced the front bottom track control arms, how difficult is it to get at the bolts. Cheers.

Hybrid assistant seems to be able to do a battery check. It's only on Google Play though.

Check that the cam belt was changed at 100,000 miles.

You don't have to be an engineer to replace the bottom arms, just be able to use a spanner and socket set.

You can get both bottom arms and ball joints from e-bay for about £150 delivered. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FOR-LEXUS-RX300-RX400H-LEFT-RIGHT-2X-LOWER-SUSPENSION-WISHBONE-ARMS-BALL-JOINT/122640742503?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

I'd have the Outlander in a heartbeat but it wont tow my caravan (too heavy) the RX will. I can't wait till Toyota/Lexus get out of the stone age and start to produce a descent PHEV, after all they did it with the Prius a good while ago. I've given up waiting for an all electric model.

I've only ever found one reservoir so I'd say yes to Q1. When the level is low on my 400h I get a warning message on the small display in the speedo saying appropriately washer level low. It takes just under a gallon (4.5 l for the young ones) to fill it. I don't think the jets are heated but I use ready mixed screen wash. Hope this helps.

No all electric version though, They're still pursuing the fuel cell. No H2 infrastructure, my nearest is well over 50 miles away so to fill up it's a 100 mile round trip.

Try eBay, you want something like this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/50Pcs-ABS-Hidden-Rear-Door-Side-Trim-Panel-Fixing-Clips-For-VW-T4-T5-2003-2016/172511884762?epid=1786925410&hash=item282a8275da:g:nksAAOSwsDxZ4RGo

Fitted my tow myself which was easy, apart from the electrics, one connection is above the roof lining and it's not easy identifying the correct wires as a lot of them are white so which one do you chose. When it came to running the 12v power to the rear I just put three wires, one for the fridge power and one for the permanent 12v and the other for the sense wire, down a black plastic conduit and went from the battery to the rear under the car and cable tied it on.

Got them on my SR.

I tow a 1700Kg caravan with my 400h and have had no overheating problems or needed an additional cooling fan. It just drinks fuel but that's the price you pay for towing with a petrol car that gives a reasonable fuel consumption when not towing (28 to 32 mpg). I fitted the tow bar myself and there was a need to cut a small section out of the rear bumper. If you go for the Wesfalia detachable bar it's the one that Lexus fit as original equipment. The electrical wiring is a bit of a faf as you need to get the special wiring kit for the car. To get at the various connection points is not easy and identifying the correct wires for the lights is not easy as there is no connecting plug socket fitted to the loom. one of the connections is above the roof lining!

Just had a right royal battle with the rear wiper motor, the wiper blade had been juddering and noisy for some time so I took the arm off and ran the motor, what a racket. I removed the motor which took some effort as the window bush had rusted too but I finally freed it. That little motor is really powerful, I removed the cover to expose the gears and I couldn't turn the spindle. I finally removed it and cleaned off all the rust and then rebuilt and fitted the motor with a liberal coating of marine grease. The moral of this story is that if your rear wiper is noisy and judders don't leave it too long before giving it a coat of looking at, it may save you pounds as a new motor will not be cheap.

At 100K miles the cam belt will need replacing, had mine done at Lexus Bolton, it's a fixed price £295. You'll find all prices here. https://www.lexus.co.uk/owners/servicing-and-maintenance/#ServicingYourLexus

I keep getting a scam e-mail from smithamandez offering me various official documents, does anyone else get them and how can I stop them?

Had to change all discs and pads when I got my 08 400H, got them from Eurocarparts, they are fine. Also on other cars I've used Brake Parts Superstore. All were much cheaper than main dealer prices.

Having read the Nav manual which covers the player too, it appears that the format of the DVD has to be DVD-Audio so not MP3, pity there is no aux input on the head unit that can be used as 6 CDs full of MP3s wont hold my collection.

Has anyone on here successfully created an mp3 DVD? I've managed CDs but not DVDs

I had to do it after a 12V battery swap. Found this on YouTube

There is an Android App I've come across called Hybrid Assistant which will give you info on the HSD/LHD system, though you need to buy a good OBD dongle as not all work with it. The one they recommend is pricey at £98 but they have tested other that are cheaper. Check it out here.

Recommendation for the best OBD Dongle for Hybrid assistant required. I got a cheep one from Amazon and it looks like it doesn't work with Hybrid Assistant. I looked on their website and the one recommended is £100 and I don't fancy shelling out that amount of cash, especially as I need two, One for the Yaris and one for the Lexus.

My wife's 65 reg Yaris has a better camera the my 400h. BUT the reversing lights on the 400h are pathetic and need upgrading with LEDs. Also the cover needs to be removed.

The only way the petrol engine (ICE) can be started is via the hybrid traction battery, so if that has failed it will not start. There is no conventional starter motor on the ICE, there are several good videos on YouTube that show how the motor generators interact to split the power from battery to ICE. On the 400h and 450h there are 3 motor generators, two coupled to the ICE, one to start the ICE and charge the HV battery and one coupled to the front wheels to provide motive power and regen breaking. There is also one at the rear to drive the rear wheels and regen breaking.