darrude

Just an update. I never actually changed the spark plugs. We bought at 62,000 miles, but although was told this service was done, no stamp or service invoice was handed over. Turns out he did post it on, my wife never told me (I had it serviced locally just after purchase as believed it never came through). Anyway this showed spark plug change at Lexus main dealer so seemed pointless me changing). We live reasonably rural, and on my last car I stopped using the local (attended service) petrol station as I was convinced my car didn't like the fuel from there. While trying to think what could be at fault if not the spark plugs it suddenly dawned on me. I bet with the cool weather she is filling up there so she didn't have to get out of the car. Turns out she was, back on fuel from a mainstream garage and the issue has gone away. So my advice, don't fill your Lexus up from a petrol station that makes its money primilary from red diesel sales....!

Good thinking I'll check for that.

Does feel more like engine hesitation. Just of that is fine when under load.

I'll let you know if it makes a difference.

I bought tech stream when we got the car and completely forgot, as have just put a new hard drive in an old work laptop.... Good call. I'll get it installed and plugged in tomorrow. I've been meaning to sort for ages.

Hi Wifes RX (2012/450h) has got a bit of a rough idle, just approaching 80,000 miles. By rough idle I equate that to be just a small vibration / bouncing when stationary with the engine running. I can't find any evidence in the history for the spark plugs been changed, so going to do over Christmas, just wondering peoples thoughts on this, or if it could be something more (ie a coil pack failure). Does the check engine light come on for a coil pack failure / missfire. I can't myself believe the spark plugs could be so bad that it would cause this on is own. Other than a rough idle car seems to run fine. Going to change the 12V as well, although this is showing 12.3V on a cold morning. Just ordered an OBD diagnostic (lost my old one), just to check for codes, but trying to plan so I can get everthing ready for when I tackle the job. Thanks, Darren.

Been sprayed with something like waxoyl I think. Had the car since new, but did get "pit" manovoured by a truck, so maybe left over from the body shop...?

60,000 miles on mine, filter absolutely clear. Brilliant write up though. Thank you. On the list of tools is add a torch though! Weird wooden bar in the bottom corner though - pics attached! Thanks for taking the time to post.

Hi is there any updates on this, ours was wet through today, passenger side a pillar.

Well ours did it again, so the flush hasn't fixed it, it does seem to have helped though, definitely think it's the cam gear problem. Not sure whether to give it another go, get rid or just put up with it and hope it doesn't break.

Well an update from me, I ran an engine flush additive, then, flushing oil, then refilled oil with 0W 20. Early days but not heard the rattle once and engine seems to run much smoother (maybe placebo). Very easy DIY job. But would defo recommend as a first step. Willn update again after a few more months of testing. Ps: info for the flush to get the engine running at idle: To activate maintenance mode (Without using Toyota's Intelligent Tester computer): 1. With foot off the brake pedal, tap the power switch twice to put it into Ignition On mode. (If you see a green READY light come on, you've actually done it with your foot depressing the brake pedal) 2. Leave the shifter in the P position, and then fully depress and release the accelerator pedal fully twice. 3. Move the shift lever to the N position (need to press the shift lock button to allow the lever to shift out of P), and then fully depress and release the accelerator pedal fully twice. 4. Move the shift lever back to the P position, and then fully depress and release the accelerator pedal fully twice. At this point the display will say something like "FWD Maintenance Mode" 5. Then depress the brake pedal and press the power button to start the engine. Do all of this inside 60 seconds. Important: Do not drive vehicle when in maintenance mode. Hope this helps!

I bought my is from Lexus Coventry, when it had a power train vibration they were great.... Just a nightmare with toll bar Island... Assume that's all done now... (I used to work just by the airport).

Hi Eame64, do you know if Lexus Coventry have tried doing an engine flush? I'm going to give that a go a starter for 10 as everything I've read seems to suggest the nose could be delay in building up the required pressure at the top of the engine. My mechanic friend said to time the oil light from engine start to when it goes out and see if there is any relationship with they light staying on longer and prolonged noise as a way of proving. He said if so, do a flush, then use an oil designed for a diesel for a month or so as it work have and increased detergent content, do another flush and switch back to the recommended oil. Unfortunately the RX is the wife's so not sure she really pays that much attention to the warning lights...! Could be worth the question with Lexus maybe next time you are in communication with them?

Thanks Friso, not really what I wanted to hear though...., hopefully not that. I thought it sounded more like it was away from the engine, but very hard to tell. It doesn't sound well when running though at the moment. Think I'll check the basics (fluid levels etc) this weekend. I'll feed back any findings.

Hi did you get this sorted, ours is doing exactly the same, only done it a couple of times and to intermittently to test properly. Thanks Darren

In a slow and steady commute high 30's, never made it into the 40's. Local (we live rural Yorkshire) school run we get high 20's, but very hilly and nearly all slow single track roads, for comparison when my wife had a 1.6 auto astra for a similar journey we were getting high teens. Wife's average is about 28 including a work commute and school run.

Wait till your car is 4 years old.... I've never owned a car as bad for rattles. I keep thinking about getting off the car purely for this reason.

Thanks, Thank you, I'll order the same, is this everything I need (other than the virgin key, obviously).

Thanks man, I'm a bit away, but have been promising the kids a day trip to the deep for a while :). Is it relatively easy to do. I'm not to fussed about the outlay and I'm a tinkerer... Just don't want to break the wife's car, some of the other customisations would be useful. The car is a pain in the arse for locking people in.

Hi tech stream users... Sorry to hijack, my wife's RX has only one key, and other than main dealer not found anywhere that can help.... 18momths of ownership and not found the time to sort, no main dealer nearby. Had a quick look on the links above and I reasonably confident in doing this myself. However before I do, can you damage the car if done wrong... My wife would not forgive me.... Happy to take the risk of breaking the spare key fob. Also wondering what other advances there are of owning tech stream. Any cable recommendations... Thanks Darren

Hi all, just got back from a long road trip in the wifes Rx450h (2012) and the constant squeak coming from the passenger side lower panel (underneath the glovebox) is infuriating. Thought I'd log on here and see if anyone has posted a similar issue but can't find mention anywhere, I was hoping someone may have already had and posted the fix to the issue. Issue is there is a constant, on all but really smooth surfaces, creaking / squeaking sound from the panel below the glove box (manipulating this panel changes the noise). does anyone know the best way to remove and best possible fix for this. I'm planning on just removing and putting felt tape on every interface....? Thanks, Darren.

To be honest mine were primacy 3's, so that could be a difference.... At the time I lived in a converted mill that sat in a little dip, everyone's cars was stuck and everyone was helping push out. I couldn't even get it out of the flat car park, and few people in disbelief had a go, and were like... Yep that cars s**t in the snow! Mazda 3. Switched to all season after that and it was fine, but wouldn't do traditional all season again, they were terrible in the rain.

Cross climates on both our cars, most impressed by the lack of road noise, but also a good all round tyre. I had primacy's on my last car and there were good, but terrible in snow.

There are various reasons not to drain the tank as stated above, but an often forgot reason is to prevent fuel starvation when the car is on an incline and fuel is taken away from the feed point, more of a problem when parking on an hill, you come back then can't start your car.

I came to Lexus from a Mazda 3, 125,000 miles, 9 years of ownership and only had to change 1 shock absorber.... I wanted an auto, but do quite high mileage so a CVT made sense for me. My opinion is: It's perfect 90% of the time. Then the 10% when you want to have fun... Not so good... I think it does make you chill out a bit more behind the wheel because of it. The only real annoyance is, there can be a little bit of a lag if you punch the throttle (a little worse than a standard slushbox auto), but if your progressive it's fine and much better than the audi CVT (had an A5 hire car for a few weeks, that was so laggy it was dangerous). I think if you love spirited driving then it probably won't be for you, if you want a child relaxing drive them it's better than a standard auto. Ps 50,000+ miles on mine, no real issues (rear brakes seized, but my car was only used Monday's and Thursday's and kept out in the rain, plus the journey was all mway, so wasn't really using the brakes. Other than a few rattles it's a good work horse.