Russell Wheeler

Just filled the car with Super unleaded (1.65 a litre) - as E10 seems to give poor economy. Can't continue with fuel prices so high, and I have an LPG kit removed from my previous Volvo, that I took out 12 months ago. Anyone with any experience fitting them -  Is there a service mode to make the ICE run all the time ?

Doesnt sound like a good one, the rx400 I have goes like a rocket (Specs are something like 0-60 in 7.5 seconds), although with a CVT you don't feel it like a conventional car. Steering in mine is light, with not a lot of feeling, no pulling to the left or right at all. No funny smells either.

Found the button, completely unlabled in my car, it wasn't that. Any Ideas, seemed to start when the Battery went flat

8 hours ago, Herbie said:

Have you checked that the power back door isolator switch hasn't been accidentally switched off?

It's not actually 'in' the glove box but if you open it you'll see the switch here:

Is that for the 400h - I had a look but couldn't see anything ?

The back door on my car will not work from either the keyfob or button on the dash. This seems to have happened since the Battery went flat. I have found articles on how to reset the power windows, but not the back door, Any ideas ?

I had the same this year, on both subframes at MOT. It was on the ramp and I had a chat (and look) with the mechanic carrying out the mot repairs. It is rusty, but surface rust, so would last years. I will treat the subframes with rustproofing next year when it warms up. Second hand ones are available, get them cleaned up and rustproofed when you purchase them.

On 11/28/2021 at 8:03 PM, Thackeray said:

This looks a good price and a good capacity - 20,000 mAh. But being unbranded, I wonder how long have you had it in the car?

And how long does it stay fully charged? Are you using it to jump start the car? Do you think it's sturdily and safely made?

Sorry for the list of questions but I'll probably buy one if you can recommend it.

I have had it about 12 months. I don't know how long it would remain charged, as it gets used as a 12v supply to pump up air beds, as a power pack to charge up mobiles etc, so I have never left it long enough to discarge on it's own. It does seem to work fine, I have also jump started a number of non hybrid cars, as well as the lexus with it. For the size of it, it is very powerful

31 minutes ago, Herbie said:

It's not so much a 'small battery' issue as a usage issue. Whether it's a big 100Ah or a small 40Ah, the capacity should have no bearing on the longevity of the battery, which should run to well over two years these days.

The problem is that people either don't use the car enough or only use it for short runs and, if that is indeed its usage pattern then a trickle charger should be used when it's parked up.

I don't know what capacity battery the RX400h uses but let's say 45Ah and let's assume that it's brand new and fully charged. If we take the quiescent current as being 50mA (0.05A) like I said above:

45Ah means it can supply 45A for 1 hour, or 22.5A for 2 hours and so on.

45Ah / 0.05A = 900 hours or 37.5 days or 5 weeks 1 day from fully charged to fully discharged 

Remember though,

• this example assumes a brand new and fully charged battery, which obviously won't be the case in the real world
• a hybrid takes about 20A to reach READY mode so in reality the battery will not be able to start the car well before it becomes fully discharged, so we lose some time there
• for various reasons the car charging system is nowhere near as good as an external charger so a 'half-hour blast' won't do anything to top up the battery; it would need to be a couple of hours at least

Hardly scientific and perhaps not even a good example, but I hope it gives some sort of indication that you can't really leave cars stood around doing nothing for extended periods of time, or only do short runs, without the risk of the battery letting go.

It's a PIA. I used mine Monday, did 70 miles, come to use it today, flat had to be jumped. I have a solar panel, which seemed to work ok in Summer. No other cars I have owned in the last 30 years have this problem and could be left a week without getting a flat Battery.  The Battery is less than 12 months old.

Yep, welcome to the rxh00h problem. 2 years is about right and it needs a new Battery. They are so small that anything discharges them. I have one of these in the car to start it https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/393205362280?hash=item5b8cddae68:g:BboAAOSw9hBgVHeT 

Rust, lots of it underneath, although the topside of the car looks fine

I am having similar problems, albiet not as bad as yours. The subframe (both front and rear) have corrosion, I applied loads of waxyoil last year. I may need to get new subframes. You can get the parts second hand https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/234108019432?hash=item3681ece2e8%3Ag%3AzssAAOSwnixhARmp&LH_ItemCondition=4

I am guessing the 4k quote is from Lexus, try a reputable specialist. Mine was main dealer serviced, and corrosion not mentioned at all, until it was serious enough to be mentioned on the MOT.

I do have a handbook, it doesn't say !

I have recently aquired a 2006 400h, which has screens in the headrests. Where abouts is the DVD player to put disks in ? - Also it has a removeable towbar, which has been removed. Do they have a standard place to store it ?  - Again can't find it !

Or it could have been a taxi or similar, where the local authority carries out the MOT, like this car PF57 WRN

I would try eBay, there are a number of cars being broken on there. My car had advisories for corrosion, and looking the front subframe is very rusty. I have started to use waxoyl to prevent further rusting, and in spring will go through the entire underside. Not very good considering it has been main dealer serviced since new.  https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BREAKING-LEXUS-RX400H-RX300-2004-2009-HYBRID-SUPPLY-OF-ONE-WHEEL-NUT/154212152401?hash=item23e7c2b451:g:xL4AAOSwM81eKYTT

Guess this would work then   - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/153977637146?ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2649

At the moment I am sorting out some body damage, it can't be doing the Battery good to completely discharge it.

Sure this will have been covered but could not find anything obvious. I have just been bequeathed an RX400h (2006), and when I got it the Battery was completely flat. I have disconnected the Battery and when you leave it and check, it holds charge. When connected to the car it only seems to last a couple of weeks before going dead. Do these cars suffer from a parasitic drain ?  - I can see that the Battery is far too small,   - Is there a replacement Battery that holds more power ? - It seems to only need to "boot" the computer system before the hybrid batteries take over.