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Lexus RX 330
3939 messages, Last post on Oct 15, 2012 at 9:35 PM
You are in the Lexus RX 300/330/350 Forum.What is this discussion about? Lexus RX 330, SUV
#1257 of 3939 Now Al... by jeffmust2
Aug 10, 2003 (9:23 pm)
...before you get convinced that Lexus and their HVAC (heating-ventilation-air conditioning) vendor, Denso, are the Evil Twins of the Auto World - note the following:a. There was a lawsuit against Lexus about 10 years ago - and the plaintiff lost in court over his claim that the windshield fogging in a LS400 was a deadly design fault and We All Were Going to Die If We Were Dumb Enough to Buy a Lexus etc etc
b. Since that time the same plaintiff has purchased several more Lexus models with essentially the same exact Denso HVAC system - including two RX models; he also claims he is buying a third RX, a 2004 RX330, in the near future
c. Each Lexus vehicle that this plaintiff buys he then modifies with various little electrical bits of this or that, a relay here, a resistor there.
d. Meanwhile, back at Lexus Central, the RX is selling at an all-time record pace with the new 330 model. It's the only current Lexus model selling at or near MSRP at many dealerships with waiting lists.
e. Along with thousands of other long time RX300 owners that watch these boards, I've had not a single problem with my windshield fogging to any degree beyond what all my other vehicles have done in the past and continue to do today.
f. I will give you my Secret Plan - ready?
When it fogs up, I turn on the A/C, set the fan at high speed, hit the button marked Windshield -and guess what? In 20-40 seconds...the fog is gone! A miracle of modern automotive science - how DO they do it?!
Bottom line? If you're interested in saving $20 a year on a $42k vehicle and cutting-up Home Depot furnace filters to replace the factory recirculation one behind your upcoming RX330's glove box, then you have found your leader.
Gosh, sure hope someone can write a post asking about the RX Nav system and then the RX AWD system and the "poison air that will kill us all" - that's the reasoning behind a recent post on this board that "Lexus wants to improve fuel economy so they don't pull enough fresh air into the vehicle so I had to install several muffin fans to get the job done." Inquiring minds have got to know - blueberry or banana?
So next time you read about the Lexus Killer Fog or the Lexus Killer AWD or the Lexus Killer Air Trapped Inside...remember, this same plaintiff has purchased what, 4?...5?...6? Lexus vehicles?
Judge for yourself the likely validity of the fogging complaint... aginst the 300-400,000 RX owners since 1999 that have had no problems.
#1258 of 3939 Are we ... by tidester
Aug 10, 2003 (9:30 pm)
... discussing Mr. West or Lexus?We all bring our cumulative biases and experiences into any discussion including you! Everyone knows how to filter that out so it doesn't require broadcasting.
Let's stay on topic and not discuss each other.
tidester, host
#1259 of 3939 jeffmust2 by bodble2
Aug 10, 2003 (11:46 pm)
A quick question, if you don't mind:How often, roughly, would you say you have to switch on the A/C, not for cooling purposes, but solely to defog the interior? I guess to make my question easier to understand, maybe I should word it this way: Do you find that you have to have the A/C on almost all the time -- for cooling in the summer, and for defogging in the winter?
And in reference to your post #1257, with all due respect, I think it is not surprising that the "problem" with the HVAC does not generate a lot of negative reaction with the buying public. The reason is that for most people, when they buy a vehicle with auto climate control, they have no problem just dialing in their preferred temp, set the system on auto and just leave it for life. But there are some people (I'm one, perhaps Mr. Jennings is another) who don't like the compressor on all the time. The marginally higher fuel consumption doesn't bother me too much. But when the compressor is on, it does dull the car's response slightly, but noticeably, along with a bit more noise and vibration. And that bothers me.
So even though most will say "So what" when they hear the A/C has to be always on, I don't think this issue should be dismissed as only wwest's whimsical fantasy.
#1260 of 3939 A/C and Acceleration by mrrogers
Aug 11, 2003 (4:36 am)
Willard,I remember years ago a vacuum operated switch that would shut off the A/C compressor during acceleration because the vacuum was much less in that mode. This may help the owners who don't want to give up their performance when the A/C compressor is on. Do you remember this switch? I didn't see one in my latest JC Whitney catalog, and my brief web search failed to turn up one.
#1261 of 3939 a/c discussion: auto climate compressor mode by lamken
Aug 11, 2003 (6:12 am)
You can ask the dealer to change the compressor mode. i.e. you can decouple the compressor from the auto button and then you can activate the compressor manually by hitting the a/c button. Ask your dealer for the whole list of options you can program on your climate control, including offset to the thermostat.#1262 of 3939 WOT.... by wwest
Aug 11, 2003 (6:49 am)
The A/C ecu's signal to turn the compressor on passes through the engine ecu so it can disable the compressor at WOT or rising water jacket temps.lampen: Are you really sure about this? I would sincerely wish it so. I would like nothing more than to have the dealer be able to turn the HEAT up when I activate defrost/defog/demist on colder days when the incoming airflow is already colder than the A/C condensor is allowed, HARD programmmed, to go.
#1263 of 3939 The A/C WARS are baaaaack! :)) by gteach26
Aug 11, 2003 (7:53 am)
This sequel seems like most others at the movieplex.. interesting and exciting -- yes; but mostly rehashed stuff from the original.#1265 of 3939 Lexus Driving School by jimxo
Aug 11, 2003 (11:30 am)
If you did not know Lexus has it's own driving school. If you have never been to a professional driving school this is a great place to start. The best thing is for $395.00 you get a full day of driving, great instructors and of course drive Lexus cars.I just completed the class on Aug 9,2003 in Wisconsin and the only word to sum it up is FUN.
http://www.lexusdrivingschool.com
#1266 of 3939 re: A/C Compressor Question by cotmc
Aug 11, 2003 (1:03 pm)
I think it is not a correct statement to say, "there is no way to disable the compressor on the RX330 short of hard wiring in some sort of in-line switch." Maybe we need to debate on what is meant by "disable"? Maybe we need a Bill Clinton definition??My interpretation is that we can turn off the compressor via the A/C Button -- much more simply than modifying the wiring. The caveat is that this button may need to be pushed each time we start the car, if we want to turn off the compressor. To me, no big deal. Another caveat is that the compressor is automatically engaged if you hit the Defog control button. As Jeff mentioned, you can avoid the defog button by setting airflow direction to the windshield and manually adjusting the fan speed.
My wife and I have owned nearly a dozen different automobiles with auto climate control. None of them automatically engaged or disengaged the compressor based on differences in inside/outside air temperature. I guess I am one of the "buying public" who doesn't see a significant problem.
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