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Lexus RX 330 Maintenance and Repair

1741 messages,  Last post on Dec 01, 2009 at 4:44 AM

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What is this discussion about? Lexus RX 330


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#1625 of 1741
Re: Buying a 2004 RX330 AWD [wwest] by jodar96
Nov 25, 2008 (11:41 am)
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Replying to: wwest (Nov 25, 2008 11:03 am)

Thank you for your comments. I had a 96 Camry XLE V-6 auto. I drained the transmission fluid every other year using the pan drain plug. I did the same with our 2001 RX300 FWD. Never had transmission issues. I never pull anything with these FWD transmissons anyway. For towing, I use my 2003 Explorer.
 
I know the AWD in a FWD lay out design is kind of useless. I much rather get a FWD RX330, but this one appears to be an excellen used RX so I will take the AWD part.
 
My biggest complaint with our RX300 was its lousy turning circle.
 
Do you know if the oil filter mount is changed to vertical position or is still horizontal like it was in the 3.0L engine?
 
Joe
 
Joe
#1626 of 1741
Re: Buying a 2004 RX330 AWD [jodar96] by wwest
Nov 25, 2008 (12:13 pm)
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Replying to: jodar96 (Nov 25, 2008 11:41 am)

Personally, I love and treasure my wife too much to trust her to ANY FWD or most F/AWD (SH-AWD system being the sole exception) vehicles during the winter months. I consider the RX series to be the worse of the bunch.
 
1. The transaxle downshift delay can occur, unpredictably occur, in the worse of circumstances, potentially putting everyone's life at risk.
 
2. Same goes for the sudden windshield fogging.
 
3. The TC braking method is not adequate, CLEARLY not adequate, to provide truly functional F/AWD capability in many common wintertime circumstances.
 
4. Even the RX owners manual will advise you that a higher traction level at the front vs the rear can too quickly lead to an accident due to loss of directional control. Yet for the RX tire chains or cable chains are to be used ONLY at the front. Absent modification no traction devices can be used at the rear due to the low clearance between the rear tires and suspension components.
 
My '01 AWD RX300 has 1.5" wheel spacers all around so I can use rear chains FIRST, and then add the front chains only if required.
 
For my '01 there were two (maybe three for the newer RX330 series) c-best options that the dealer can set to help alleviate the problem of sudden windshield fogging.
#1627 of 1741
2004 RX330: Moisture in one HID headlight by jodar96
Dec 01, 2008 (2:28 pm)
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The 2004 RX we picked up has slight moisture in passenger side headlight. It appears that the moisture amount varies with outside temp. Anyway, it is not normal nor acceptable. The RX has 36K miles but it is four months over its 4 year warranty.
 
When I took it to my local Lexus dealer, he said it costs $1488 to replace it. I never liked the HID just for their replacement bulb/headlight cost. I stayed away from these when I was looking for my 2001 E430. With RX330, there are a lot more out there with 18" wheels/HID headlight than with 17"/halogen headlights.
 
Has anyone had similar problem with 2004 HID headlight moisture? This one was built 6/2004.
 
Does Lexus have any kind of good will gesture on these expensive headlights after their warranty runs out.
 
Thanks,
Joe
#1628 of 1741
Re: 2004 RX330: Moisture in one HID headlight [jodar96] by modfather
Dec 01, 2008 (4:40 pm)
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Replying to: jodar96 (Dec 01, 2008 2:28 pm)

Yes, ours (2005) just started doing the same thing and it's funny (or not so funny ) you should comment how expensive it is to replace the lights -- that same thought went through my mind. Ours is just out of the 3 yr. warranty (it's 3, not 4, right?). I'll take to the dealer anyway and see if it's covered somehow.
 
The only thing I think they may say is that it is caused by someone backing into us and causing gasket to fail -- allow moisture in.
 
Best of luck with yours.
 
Tom
#1629 of 1741
Re: 2004 RX330: Moisture in one HID headlight [modfather] by jodar96
Dec 01, 2008 (6:35 pm)
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Replying to: modfather (Dec 01, 2008 4:40 pm)

NO. Lexus warranty is 4 years 50K miles. You should be good with your warranty.
 
Take it to the dealer right way.........
#1630 of 1741
Re: 2004 RX330: Moisture in one HID headlight [jodar96] by wwest
Dec 02, 2008 (10:55 am)
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Replying to: jodar96 (Dec 01, 2008 2:28 pm)

Since many owners upgrade to the HID headlamps after purchase there appears to be a "surplus" of the normal halogen headlight assemblies on Ebay...
 
On the other hand if your vehicle sat outside on a lot unused for a period of time the accumulated moisture may go away with a few weeks of regular use of the headlamps. The resulting heating/cooling cycles will tend to "pump" the moisture out of the assembly.
#1631 of 1741
Re: 2004 RX330: Moisture in one HID headlight [wwest] by jodar96
Dec 02, 2008 (11:20 am)
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Replying to: wwest (Dec 02, 2008 10:55 am)

I need some links or website that can show me how to go to halogen headlight from HID. I don't know how that works since the connectors going to ballast is different and even if i am able to find the right connector for halogen low beam bulb, I am not sure what kind of current is coming to the connections.
 
I have thought about taking the high beam and side marker and parking lights out and run a hairdryer through the high beam opening. For close to $1500, I will look at any option here.
 
Joe
#1632 of 1741
Re: 2004 RX330: Moisture in one HID headlight [jodar96] by jensad
Dec 04, 2008 (11:01 am)
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Replying to: jodar96 (Dec 01, 2008 2:28 pm)

Our 04 rx330 also had moisture inside the rt front headlight. Fortunately they replaced it on warranty. We had 32 k on the car.
 
I got rid of my rx because I got tired of the warranty work due to various problems: rattle on dash under speaker, plastic around the outside window flying off while I was driving, mulitiple computer chip malfunction, headlight stuff, and I read here about the rx300 transmission guck that Lexus put out a bulletin about it. I guess owners were beginning to replace their trannys about 60-80k at what the people here wrote, $ 6000-8000.
 
We have had five Toyota brand cars and about 4 hondas, and now 3 Acuras. Never until Lexus did we ever had a big repair, and indeed just tune ups and that was it.
 
Finally, the future cost of maintenance at where we live, currently $ 200 an hour, was not worth to keep.
 
Good luck to all and stay safe.
 
jensad
 
 
#1633 of 1741
Re: 2004 RX330: Moisture in one HID headlight [jensad] by donsfan
Dec 06, 2008 (2:51 pm)
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Replying to: jensad (Dec 04, 2008 11:01 am)

We have a 2005 RX330 - dealer said moisture inside headlight not covered by warranty - getting steadily worse.
#1634 of 1741
Re: 2004 RX330: Moisture in one HID headlight [donsfan] by jodar96
Dec 06, 2008 (5:07 pm)
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Replying to: donsfan (Dec 06, 2008 2:51 pm)

This is odd as the moisture inside the right headlight is constant water now and water droplets are not going away. The entire front bottom part of the headlight is yellowing.. The driver side is fine and does not show any sign of issues.
 
I don't understand how the dealer can say warranty does not cover it. The problem WILL go away with a new headlight assembly. How can they claim that this is not covered under warranty. Go around the dealer and write to Lexus with photos of your problem. I can send you photos of my headlight to show them how bad it will get when your warranty runs out.
 
Joe

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