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Lexus RX 300

9497 messages,  Last post on Dec 13, 2012 at 5:24 PM

You are in the Lexus RX 300/330/350 Forum.

What is this discussion about? Lexus RX 300, SUV

Messages Page 896 of 950

#8951 of 9497 Re: '02 RX 300 or '02 Volvo V70 [grace5] by wwest

Aug 09, 2006 (2:01 pm)

Replying to: grace5 (Aug 09, 2006 8:22 am)
The entire Toyota/Lexus FWD and/or front biased AWD vehicles seem to be affected by what some refer to as a "firmware" BUG within the engine/transaxle control ECU.
 
It was first noticed, noticeable, in the early RX300's as a propensity to upshift the transaxle at weird times. For instance just before coming to a full stop. Wherein most transaxles shifted into first the RX300 would upshift initially and then downshift into first only after the vehicle came to a FULL and COMPLETE stop. Owners describe it as the feeling of be "bumped lightly from behind".
 
The other time was at 30-45 MPH during throttle fully closed coastdowns to a lower speed the transaxle would upshift giving the "slingshot effect" feeling.
 
Apparently having the transaxle in the wrong gear if/when the driver decided to accelerate rather than coming to a full stop or continuing to coastdown has resulted in premature, 70-80,000 miles, failures of many of these early RX300 transaxles.
 
By 2004 Toyota/Lexus thought, apparently, that had solved the problem by using a DBW/E-throttle system to delay engine torque development until the transaxle could be downshifted into the more/most appropriate gear ratio for the "new" circumstances.
 
Problem was that led to many complaints due to owners finding themselves in somewhat hazardous or unsafe situations from the resulting throttle application delay, some said of as much as 2-3 seconds.
 
The first documented evidence, by Toyota/lexus, of this was in the spring of 2003 involving a TSB for the 2002 Camry. The latest indication is that it is now affecting the NEW RAV4, even the ones with the I4 engine.
 
It might be advisable to stay away from any FWD or front torque biased AWD from Toyota and Lexus until they have thoroughly "wrung" out these problems with transaxles.
 
Have a long hard look at the Acura RDX as a perfect example of a well designed, VERY well designed, AWD system.

#8952 of 9497 Re: AC failure [mikey00] by jrdowney

Aug 09, 2006 (6:02 pm)

Replying to: mikey00 (Aug 09, 2006 1:38 pm)
Mikey00,
 Well you hit it right on the head. Apparently a stone or something hit the condenser. Lexus does not want to pay anything and it is expensive. I wonder if you could consider its position a design flaw. The dealer suggested calling the national number to voice my concern/complaint. At a minimum I assume my comprehensive component of insurance should cover after the deductable.
 
Jimd.

#8953 of 9497 Re: '02 RX 300 or '02 Volvo V70 [wwest] by la4mead

Aug 09, 2006 (11:22 pm)

Replying to: wwest (Aug 09, 2006 2:01 pm)
I have one of these earliest models, '99 new from '98. Being a stick-shift fan and normally driving a motorcycle, I'm pretty dialed in to when my RX shifts, and what it's doing. Much of the time, I shift manually out of habit. I have to say, I have never experienced the two issues you outlined above when it's shifting automatically.
 
The only similar situation I can think of is related to wheel slippage and the traction-control system throttle delay. Easily avoided by replacing the tires with grippier rubber than the factory 225-70 Integrity's (and a little restraint with my right foot when pulling away from a stop).
 
The throttle-by-wire system seems to be well matched, if not a bit quick on the draw, to shift the transmission when it senses throttle changes. However, when it was new, Lexus had a TSB for replacement of the transmission valve body to be done at Lexus' expense which a very bad dealer did not do, but was supposed to (they said they couldn't find a TSB after all, and on another occasion they said all was OK, which was not true).
 
Before the warrantee expired, I had another dealer check again. At just under 70,000 miles with only a symptom of a hard 1-2 shift, Lexus (different dealer) stood behind their product and replaced the entire transmission with a brand new unit after trying two rebuilt units also with hard shifting, all at no cost to me. They did not mention any software changes, but there have been many other changes to the RX since the early models, usually making them more reliable, not less.
 
I have a local friend with a 2000 4WD, 120,000 miles, with a flawless (trans) repair history, and his shifts with the same smoothness and precision mine does, and still has pink fluid.
 
What you claim is that an awful lot of RX, ES, Camry's, RAV's, maybe even Sienna's, etc. have transmissions with really obvious and nasty, dangerous design flaws which ultimately lead to premature failure that would be so widespread, no one would want these cars creating a really bad reputation. Is yours like that? If so, your position is understandable. Is there a high percentage of other owners who are reporting this? I haven't heard that it is, except what you pointed out.
 
So far, I guess many are lucky they have not had these problems. Hopefully that might mean they have a long-wearing transmission. I hope your experience gets better.
 
But with all this, I do change the fluid every year, as I notice it gets beat more in this car than others. Also, I added an extra auxiliary trans cooler in addition to the towing cooler to total two, just to be more safe (don't know if it will do good, but I do that on all my cars anyway).
 
Another thing I learned. Try a different dealer for service?!

#8954 of 9497 Re: '02 RX 300 or '02 Volvo V70 [la4mead] by wwest

Aug 10, 2006 (7:45 am)

Replying to: la4mead (Aug 09, 2006 11:22 pm)
To be fair, I only really noticed the weird shift pattern on my 2001 AWD RX300 initially, probably because it was anomalous to my previous experience. These days if I concentrate, "tune" my senses, then I can notice it but otherwise...
 
My RX came with the extra ATF cooler as a part of the towing package and I removed the hitch the day I brought it home. At only ~40,000 miles my ATF was smelling and looking burned.

#8955 of 9497 XM Radio add on for 2002 RX 300 by foona

Aug 10, 2006 (6:22 pm)

Just got a used RX 300. I'd like to add XM satellite radio. Anybody find a good solution yet?

#8956 of 9497 Re: XM Radio add on for 2002 RX 300 [foona] by maximafan

Aug 10, 2006 (8:32 pm)

Replying to: foona (Aug 10, 2006 6:22 pm)
If you have a cassette player in your RX, then
get the Delphi Roady. I believe the latest
model right now is the Roady XT. I have the
Roady-II and I love it! I've had it for two
years now. Before my Maxima got wrecked two
weeks ago, I was playing the XM Roady through
the cassette player. You don't have to worry
about any interruptions(unless you're in a
parking garage, of course!) or tuning into a
station that gets no competition from a local
station, which you can also use the Roady that
way(called the wireless FM modulator).
The sound of the XM comes through great playing
it through the cassette player.
 
Also, whenever I rent a car to go on vacation,
even though the car may not have a cassette
player, I just use the wireless FM Modulator
and tune into one of the list of stations that
the XM manual recommends and get XM music that
way. The only disadvantage to using the wireless FM is when you're traveling, you'll
get competition from whatever local stations
are present as you progress in your travel.
 
But doing it through the cassette player is a
great way to go. All you have to have is
(Everything comes in the package) a magnetic
antenna, power adapter, cassette adapter and
you're set to go!
 
While I'm awaiting the verdict on whether my
Maxima will be a loss or repairable, I'm driving a Nissan Sentra rental car. It doesn't
have the cassette player, so I just set up my
Roady with the Wireless FM Modulator. It's
been no problem at around town. It makes living with an underpowered, boring little
rental car much, much easier!!!

#8957 of 9497 Re: XM Radio add on for 2002 RX 300 [maximafan] by foona

Aug 11, 2006 (2:55 am)

Replying to: maximafan (Aug 10, 2006 8:32 pm)
Thanks for the info. I have a cassette (what a waste of dashboard area... who uses cassettes anymore!). But I'm looking for a better intergration solution. Don't want wires running up the front of the dashboard. Plus cassesset isn't the best audio quality connection method.
 
In my accord I tied in through the aux port on the back of the radio and use XM Commander. Using ground loop isolator and the audio is perfect. Only bad thing is it doesn't display on the radio, gotta use that little xm wired display.

#8958 of 9497 Re: XM Radio add on for 2002 RX 300 [foona] by maximafan

Aug 11, 2006 (3:29 pm)

Replying to: foona (Aug 11, 2006 2:55 am)
As far as the set-up, what I did was placed the
antenna on the roof over the right front passenger door close to the windshield, run the
wire along the door channel and let a small
portion hang so I can put the majority of the
clump of wire in my glove compartment and run
the rest of the wire out of the other side of
the glove compartment. At one time I had the
Roady receiver display mounted on one of the
air conditioner vents in the center, and then
the cassette adapter wire runs to the cassette
and the power adapter runs to the power unit
just below. Hardly any wires hanging loose.
 
The only problem I had was when I wanted to
hide the Roady in the glove compartment whenever I would take the car to the car wash,
it was difficult to get it off of the mount.
I ended up breaking the mount and since then,
just had the Roady sitting in the ashtray on
the bottom of the center console.
 
When I play it through the cassette player, it
sounds almost as good as the CD player and better and louder than the regular radio.
Sorry, but I still like having the cassette
player along with the CD and the satellite
radio. Hey, I've still got some great cassette
tapes that are in good shape that I still listen to!
 
By the way, I just got word that my 2002 Maxima
will be totaled out. I'm strongly considering
buying or leasing a 2007 RX350!

#8959 of 9497 Re: Navigation System Trouble [tedstriker] by stocks12

Aug 15, 2006 (11:58 am)

Replying to: tedstriker (Dec 22, 2005 2:02 pm)
I have a 2002 RX300 and just started with this exact problem. What was the fix? the dealer is trying to sell me a new unit for $2000+.
 
Thanks,

#8960 of 9497 Re: Door not locking/unlocking with remote [mikeyt] by efuji1

Aug 16, 2006 (1:31 am)

Replying to: mikeyt (Nov 15, 2005 1:11 am)
I had a prblem with my remote not being able to open the drivers door on my 2000 RX300, but it would unlock the rest of the car with a double click. Just after opening the door by inserting the key and turning it, the remote would work for a few minutes and then stop opening the driver's door after stiing locked for a few minutes.I also noticed that I had to hold the window switch to get the window to traverse the full travel (driver's door only). I fixed both problems by disconnecting the battery for a few minutes. I assume it rebooted the door computer.

Messages Page 896 of 950

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