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Hybrid Vehicles Lexus RX 400h Lexus RX 400h: Driving Tips & Tricks
110 messages, Last post on Sep 10, 2007 at 8:21 AM
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Does anyone know if it’s normal for the RX 400 to shutoff if you stopped for a length of time. I pulled over on my street to talk to a neighbor about our new car. During what I guess was 15 minutes the engine came on two or three times. My guess was to briefly charge the batteries. At end of what I guess was 15 minutes the vehicle entirely shutoff. I restarted it right away. Only the battery seemed to be on. About 5 minutes later the car shut down again. I started the car and was able to drive it home.
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Replying to: rocky7 (Apr 28, 2005 5:52 am)
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Replying to: sinepman (Apr 28, 2005 6:22 am) If the engine came on periodiaclly to recharge thesupplement the battery drain or recharge, that makes sense. Not to have the vehicle shut down entirely first after 15 minutes and then aftrer 5 sdditionl minutes.
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Replying to: rocky7 (Apr 28, 2005 10:25 am) This does not sound normal, does it? Have you talked to your dealer about it? Interesting... Hong. |
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You can avoid the extended warm-up by turning the climate control completely off. Even if there is no heat "demand" the engine water jacket is still used to heat, moderate, the A/C's cooling level. I think I have seen a note pertaining to our Prius that says you can set the A/C to run in "demand" mode wherein it does not need the re-heat pass through.
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Replying to: wwest (May 01, 2005 8:48 am) I don't know how upset I should be at this point. I filled up my tank at 301 miles and checked to see I am only getting 23.4 mpg. This is downright horrible for a hybrid. I don't understand it. I am not running the car hard and am accelerating as I would under 'normal' driving conditions. I spoke to my car dealer and they said to allow 1000-2000 miles for a breakin period. I don't recall reading this in any of the reviews, as it appeared that everyone else was getting 27-31 mpg right 'out of the box.' I don't know what to do at this point? Should I sit and wait another 1000 miles to see, or should I contact Lexus and 'demand' they take the car in and see what the heck the problem is. My miles are a mix of highway and light traffic... I have a few topics of interest: 1. The electric motor rarely if ever runs on its own. Any acceleration and the motor kicks in....and I'm not gunning it...if I'm under 5 mph, maybe it's only the electric...but otherwise, unless coasting, it seems like the motor is running... 2. The battery meter is NEVER full...ever. 3. The V6 seems seriously inefficient...whenever I accelerate, it looks like I'm under 10 mpg...my 1997 Infiniti does better than this! I had such high expectations for this vehicle and I am so disappointed. I simply don't know what to do and everytime I get in the car, I'm stressed out with the crappy mileage my hybrid is delivering. Had I known it'd be so low, I would have opted for another vehicle. I am not impressed with Lexus at this point...this is my first one...at this rate, my last...I would like to get the posted mileage so I can really feel like buying a hybrid was well worth it.... Any good advice out there for a disgruntled new Lexus owner?  Thanks, Headless
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Replying to: headless (May 01, 2005 10:32 am)
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Replying to: cyclone4 (May 01, 2005 12:22 pm) I was soooo excited to get mine but after driving it now 300 miles, I have yet to see any of the hybrid benefits... The salesperson keeps telling me to wait for the breakin period of 1000-2000 miles, but I'm finding it harder and harder to believe I'm going to go from 23 to close to 30 mpg...just seems like a leap of faith...and every time I get in the car, I'm stressed to even look at the mpg...I'm simply NOT a satisfied customer up to this point in time! She (the salesperson) said that they (Lexus) cannot do anything with the car until the engine is broken in...however, she also assured me that if the car does not get the mileage that was posted by Lexus, they'll 'dissect' the car, and re-assemble it until it does what it's supposed to do...she remarked Lexus stands behind their products 100%... I know Lexus is number 1 and has been for years...but that's not helping me right now...I'm just really stressed out that MY particular RX400h is performing well-below standards...almost like the Murphy's Law thing...here I was telling everyone I was going to get good performance and good mileage in my hybrid and my friend's Honda Odyssey is killing my mileage...I'm embarrased to tell anyone I got the hybrid...that's how pathetic it is (at least in my mind...23 mpg...come on!) I feel 'stuck' right now...frustrated and angry that my 50k+ hybrid SUV is barely performing better than a RX330. I feel, to this point, I have wasted a lot of money. Anyone else there with the same problems? I read EVERY review on the car...not ONE ever stated a breakin for good mileage...in fact, every review remarked mileage around 30 mpg. I'm NOWHERE even remotely close to that...as I said on earlier post, I feel, at this point, I've wasted my money...and am pretty bitter about it, if you can't tell... I just need some reassurance that my car is going to get the mileage Lexus stated...as of this point, Lexus has not done much to assure me other than to tell me to drive it a few thousand miles before worrying about it...is this consistant with hybrid thinking? It sure isn't making me feel better about my over $50k purchase... Headless!
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Replying to: headless (May 01, 2005 12:51 pm)
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