lex69

Hello all of you RX300 testers

I have been on Michael's list since November 05 and as yet have had no response from Lexus GB or my local main dealer. The lurching continues to be a pain and if I had more time I would have added more posts for the cause.

However when collecting my car from a regular service I had a casual conversation with a junior member of staff who seemed to suggest that a complete gearbox re-build was the answer. Has anybody heard any similar comments. Could it be that they are trying to fob us off with a relatively inexpensive software upgrade when the real problem is mechanical?

Well done Michael for your tenacity. Hang in there!

Best regards

Ken

Hi Ken,

Thats an interesting comment!

I have asked for a face to face with Steve Settle and will raise this question with him and see what they say.

Anyone else had any contact from LGB or have you all given up and changed your car for something more drivable as many of you that have emailed me seem to have done?

Michael.

Hi Mike,

I have just been given an RX350 courtesy car as mine gone in for minor niggles, and i must admit there seems to be no lurching at all. I dont know if its just this particular car but whatever ECU they have used or changes they have made seems to have done the trick.

Hi Ian,

look in the lexus website and email a set of dealers from around the country stating your interest, requesting a quote and that you have a car to trade in. Most of the dealers will be happy to deliver the car to you so no need to stick local. If you are lucky, you may find that two or three of the dealers have one in stock that you can take immediately if you are prepared to take their colour / spec through orders being reneged on. Once you have found three that want to talk with you and are prepared to be flexible, deal with all three and they will offer you a more realistic deal to win the business from the others. These are tough times for car dealers. The trade in will give you an easier route to get a discount: rather than explicitly discounting the car they can offer you a more generous trade in value than your existing car is worth. Shop around and be prepared to walk away.

The only point that I would add is to try to find out what their customer service is like. This can be very important.

My experience of Lexus Newcastle is first class. They fought my case and got me a replacement new car to be delivered in october (New upgraded model). Other people have failed to get satisfaction. Also my limited contact with Lexus Bradford has been very good.

I suggest you look at some of the threads to establish where some people have had good and bad experiences.

Billy

Hi, did you manage to get a replacement RX due to a fault on the vehicle? If so what was the fault and how long did you have the car for ?

Tony,

I see that you are in Hampshire.

Are you by any chance also using Lexus Southampton?

If so maybe we should get together.

Michael.

Hi Michael, ive been reading all your comments about the lurching problem and am fed up with this fault on my RX.

I purchased mine from Southampton and am contemplating asking for a full refund due to faulty goods.Surely we have some rights here!!?

Dear all

Have been pretty busy for the last few months, and have just come back and updated myself on this topic with all your posts....makes for interesting reading.

My story to date.

As some of you are no doubt aware I too have suffered with the lurching gearbox since the car was new. Here are the facts from my standpoint and from all I have managed to learn on the subject.

There is a fix for this problem in the US. I actually have a copy of the TSB in my posession and have forwarded it to my Lexus dealer who was interested to see it and was told by Lexus GB when it was presented to them, that a fix for the UK cars was most definately in the pipeline and we could expect to see it around mid summer this year (2006). I believe the fix in the UK is for a replacement ECU, and not just a re-flash of the current ECU memory, as it is in America. It is my belief that the American 'fix' for this problem merely serves to 'smooth' the problem of the lurching gearbox, and only an ECU replacement which I believe UK owners will recieive is the only 'true' fix for the problem.

My RX300 has just come back from my dealer after having quite a lot of work done under warrenty.

The 'clunking' noise from the transmission that you can all hear is coming from the rear end. It is a known issue and Lexus have a fix. On my car this was to replace the rear diff with an upgraded/modified rear diff. New modified rear drive shafts and new replacement rear shock bushes/mounts. The car is now silky smooth again and the clonking has totally gone. It is worth noting that the clonking can sound as if it is coming from the passenger footwell area whilst driving the vehicle and it only seems to occur when the car is in 3rd gear and whilst using light throttle at around 30 mph.

The leading edge of the bonnet was respayed, (the car is now 2 years old and 15,000 miles). It is my belief that the paint chipped too easily and my dealer agreed with me in my case, and a warrenty claim for respray was thus upheld by Lexus GB. The car now looks like it did the day it was new.

The front nearside tyre at 14,000 miles was excessively worn on the outside edge. I belive this was mostly down to a tracking problem, and a little to do with roundabouts. Either way, my dealer re-aligned the wheel geometry and I hope all is now well. It is worth noting that my steering wheel was never truly centred from new, and now it is.

Bonnet support strut replaceed as the original was no longer supporting the bonnet.

Rear Parcel shelf replaced as the original started to detach whilst retracting each time the boot was opened.

Small rattle from front pax side of dash addressed.

All I can say is that I truly belive that Lexus customer care, IN MY CASE, has been truely outstanding. All my concerns with my vehicle have been addressed by my dealer, who I will mention because I think they've done an outstanding job, (thank you Lexus Croydon).

The only thing I can't wait to see sorted now is the lurching effect of the gearbox. As I've said before, it's not a major issue for me, but I can understand how it is for others, due driving conditions etc. in their cases. I think Lexus could have been a little bit more pro active in addressing this issue, as they obviously do read this forum, however, assuming the fix does appear in the next couple of months, (and about time too), it really will make what is already a good car, a really great car.

I hope this helps everyone with an eye on this problem

Regards all

RxMike.

Hi mate, can you tell me who you was dealing with at LEX CROYDON as i have the clonking noise that needs to be sorted. If these guys have fixed your car they will obviously know what to fix..

I have many good dealings with Croydon but need your contact name regarding this issue please.

I am advised that they could be negligant by not advising that the contents of the mirror are harmful to their paintwork, they have known about it for years and todate have still not made any notification to this in any manuals or on the mirrors themselves.

The best example would be the McDonalds case where the contents of a coffee cup burnt a customer, the customer won their case on the same basis and hey presto what does it now say on all coffee containers "warning contents hot"

Hi mate,the answer to your question is yes Lex GB did pay for the respray.., but let me know if you get anywhere with this legal issue..It would be very interesting to know!!

Car goes in on Monday for the clunking let you know what happens.

Hi mate,did you have any come back from the dealer about what this clunking problem was, as my RX has been doing it now for a few weeks..

I have Jan 2004 RXse and have recently noticed a cluncking noise coming from either the gear box or maybe the drivers shaft when i am slowing down to aprox 30mph.Its very annoying and wondered if anyone else has had this problem?

does any body think that i have a valid claim against Lexus for this work.

There are at least three of us on these forums who have had exactly the same experience (myself included, but was driver's side mirror thanks to a transit van)...

short answer to that question is a resounding NO, however. The specifications of the vehicle as well as its technological and safety features (i.e. the electrochromic mirrors which use a phosphoric gel charged with DC current) are in the public domain and the onus is upon the owner to mitigate that risk.

L.

Did you also have to have door re sprayed or did you manage to get it out.

Thanks

Thanks

:duh:

does any body think that i have a valid claim against Lexus for this work.

There are at least three of us on these forums who have had exactly the same experience (myself included, but was driver's side mirror thanks to a transit van)...

short answer to that question is a resounding NO, however. The specifications of the vehicle as well as its technological and safety features (i.e. the electrochromic mirrors which use a phosphoric gel charged with DC current) are in the public domain and the onus is upon the owner to mitigate that risk.

L.

Did you also have to have door re sprayed or did you manage to get it out.

Thanks

Thanks

I had a nightmare with this mate,my whole passenger door and rear door had to be resprayed.I took the matter up with LEX GB and got nowhere.!I was told this had happened before and would be covered under waranty-but didnt help or prevent me from having a respray though!!!

The same thing happened to me with the wing mirror. The gel behind the glass ran down the side of the car and splattered everywhere.It stained the paintwork and had to have a respray---nightmare.

How about you??Did this happen?

Quick question regarding the corrosion of mk2 alloy wheels- Mine are starting to show rust on the central disc by the lexus logo on the middle of each wheel. Does this allow me to get the whole wheels replaced under the warranty, or does the rust have to be on a larger scale on the alloy itself. Some advice would be very helpful- as i have read that quite a few LOC members have had alloys replaced on the warranty due to rust!!! Cheers

I had exactly the same problem with this sh***y die running down my car and got a full side respray from Lex Croydon which was under warranty, but had to pay £150 for glass replacement. As i said in my earlier post if this ever happens to anyone else put a cloth under the mirror to stop this thick die running down the paintwork straight away.. Its a nightmare!!

I must admit the rear parking sensors are a very good extra, have Lexus brought out front sensors yet for mk2 RX??!

Ive just bought a new tomtom go 300 portable satnav for my RX. Bit of a long shot but has anyone got a similar satnav and if so where the hell can you put the damn thing!!? It will stick on my windscreen and side window and also on the wooden centre console, but will not stick properly anywhere on the dashboard. Can anyone help , any advice(tips) please on the best place to view it!?

I'm thinking of getting the LEXUS ICE system in my RX mk2, i have been quoted just over 2 grand by LEX Croydon fully installed. Does this seem too much money, and should i consider the equivalant systems from the high street stores. Or should i just go for the cheappy option and get a system with 2 screens from Argos,ebay etc..?

Just looking for some advice...! My RX mk2 was in a particular Lex bodyshop for minor repairs and was due to be picked up today. I went along with my tiny Toyota Yaris courtesy car to collect my RX only to notice a big chunk and some scratches on the rear bumper AND a foot long deep scratch on the side of the car under the doors. The manager seemed puzzled how and when this had happened, so i told them to keep the RX in the garage over the w/end and demanded a quick fix for early next week. In the meantime im left with this tiny Yaris over the long w/end (with 2 sml kids) and no room for car seats etc...

Apart from trying to source a bigger loan car is there anything else you lads can recomend i can do in this situation(apart from trying to kill the bodyshop idiot who ruined my car).

Can anyone tell me if my wife would be fully protected on the free RAC breakdown cover for her car, or is she just covered for driving my RX. My old AA cover is up for renewal and wondered if she still needs to take out seperate cover for her car. Is it the Lexus owner who is covered along with my spouse or only whilst driving my LEX.

Its got to be Platinum with Pembroke interior, this looks the best by far! You cant spend all that money getting a black RX (NON METALLIC) and spend every weekend washing it... Also the black being non metallic shows up all the scratches.

:tsktsk: They say things happen in 3's!! Ive just had my 3rd minor incident in my 5 months old RX within a short space of time.. The first a small dent, the second a scrape (both done by myself), and the third- coming back to my 4x4 to see the wing mirror glass smashed and no note left Grrrrrrrrr! The smashed glass was not really the problem, as called my local LEX dealer and for £200 replaced and fitted.. The main problem was behind the exterior mirror where there is an anti-fogging gel which stops the glass ever misting up. This brown liquid gel had run down the side of my car under the wing mirror and splashed on the door as i drove it to the garage. At the time i asked the service dept. to try and get this off with some polish and thought nothing of it. Then the service manager came out to say it would not come off and the whole side will need to be resprayed.. I couldnt believe this and was gutted!! He told me this shouldnt happen and is going to ring LEX GB to try and get this cost of respraying paid for by them..

So if anyone else knocks there mirror and smashes the glass then put some tissues underneath the mirror to prevent this gel running on your car.

Thnx and look forward to any replies.

Anyone know how much a front fog light would cost me to replace- any estimations on cost!!!!!!! The wife scratched it today ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!

Every time i open one of the doors on my RX after it has been raining, i end up with a wet head and a wet arse due to all the drips coming from the exterior roof and landing on my seats. This is very annoying and happens all the time. Does anyone else have this problem, its not the door seals its coming from the roof itself. Any ideas - maybe a design fault!!!!!!

:yack: Had a small scrape on my RX mk2 whilst putting the car in the garage.There is a dent and some scratches on the front wing which really p***** me off. Does anyone know of cheap repairs on Lexus's in the Kent area that can be recommended, or even Lex dealers who are reasonable on prices for body repairs. I would rather not get it done on my insurance but if no option then so be it. I would really appreciate your help on this as only had the car for 3 months and am a fairly new member to LOC. ps- never a dull moment in a RX!!!

PLEASE HELP.

Does anyone know if you can buy rear sun blinds for the rear side windows on the RX300 mk2.I have called a few Lex dealers and one says you can but could not find a price, and the other two said that you cant get them. Can anyone help me out here?

Go and see Lex Croydon. I walked in there and got GBP2,000 off list without much haggling!!

;) Just a minor niggle-- When you are listening to a CD and you want to change back to the radio via the steering wheel MODE button, it is annoying that the radio station always goes to MW first rather than FM. I end up having to push the button a couple of times to get FM. Is there any other way of getting FM first!! I know its very minor but i have just got the RX300 and would welcome any help on this please.

No the key was not on a keyring!!