Hair Trigger Throttle Response
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Driver School Candidate
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From: NC
Hair Trigger Throttle Response
Our 2010 FWD RX 350 is beautiful in all respects except for a hair trigger throttle response when accelerating from rest. Of all the cars we have owned over the past nearly 40 years, this is the hardest accelerator pedal to manage from a stopped position. Too many times we lurch somewhat abruptly into motion.
I am assuming the throttle is "fly by wire" and not a direct cable arrangement (my 2006 RL is fly by wire). Does anyone know if there is a setting or adjustment Lexus can make to dampen the accelerator action a bit?
Thanks for any light you can shed on this subject.
wstr75
I am assuming the throttle is "fly by wire" and not a direct cable arrangement (my 2006 RL is fly by wire). Does anyone know if there is a setting or adjustment Lexus can make to dampen the accelerator action a bit?
Thanks for any light you can shed on this subject.
wstr75
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Joined: Apr 2008
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From: BC
i'm surprised you feel that the throttle response is too sensitive. when i test drove the 350, i thought was a little sluggish. have you tried asking your lexus dealer about making it less sensitive?
Pole Position
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,838
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From: GA
Our 2010 FWD RX 350 is beautiful in all respects except for a hair trigger throttle response when accelerating from rest. Of all the cars we have owned over the past nearly 40 years, this is the hardest accelerator pedal to manage from a stopped position. Too many times we lurch somewhat abruptly into motion.
I am assuming the throttle is "fly by wire" and not a direct cable arrangement (my 2006 RL is fly by wire). Does anyone know if there is a setting or adjustment Lexus can make to dampen the accelerator action a bit?
Thanks for any light you can shed on this subject.
wstr75
I am assuming the throttle is "fly by wire" and not a direct cable arrangement (my 2006 RL is fly by wire). Does anyone know if there is a setting or adjustment Lexus can make to dampen the accelerator action a bit?
Thanks for any light you can shed on this subject.
wstr75
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 60
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From: Virginia
No it doesn't. Moving from the vehicle I traded in for the RX 350, I thought the accelerator was on the touchy side too. It took me a couple of days to get used to it, and not jack-rabbit the starts.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: MA
Its the throttle mapping, there is no way to adjust it. One usually find this problem in a less refined car like the RAV4 V6, but I was a bit surprise at how touchy the throttle was when I test drove the 2010 RX.
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Lexus Test Driver
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: BC
Our 2010 FWD RX 350 is beautiful in all respects except for a hair trigger throttle response when accelerating from rest. Of all the cars we have owned over the past nearly 40 years, this is the hardest accelerator pedal to manage from a stopped position. Too many times we lurch somewhat abruptly into motion.
I am assuming the throttle is "fly by wire" and not a direct cable arrangement (my 2006 RL is fly by wire). Does anyone know if there is a setting or adjustment Lexus can make to dampen the accelerator action a bit?
Thanks for any light you can shed on this subject.
wstr75
I am assuming the throttle is "fly by wire" and not a direct cable arrangement (my 2006 RL is fly by wire). Does anyone know if there is a setting or adjustment Lexus can make to dampen the accelerator action a bit?
Thanks for any light you can shed on this subject.
wstr75
Just the other day I took my old 1997 RL in to Acura for service and was given a 2009 TSX loaner. It was raining at the time and I almost spun out the moment I touched the accelerator. Now that was what I would called a touchy accelorator!
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Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Michigan
I had an '10 RX loaner, while my ES350 was in for service and I noticed the transmission issue right away. My '07 ES350 has the same "problem" after the transmission recalibration that was performed a few weeks ago. IMHO its not just the touchy pedal, its also this heavy engine breaking, gear hunting etc. The transmission is now very busy, downshifting on light accelerating, etc.
Interestingly enough, when I got my ES350 back, the transmission didn't do this right away.... it went several days in what I would describe "normal" mode before switching back to what I would characterize as "sport shift mode". I affectionately refer to this transmission update as "vista nascar edition" as I do not understand why Lexus would want there drivetrains to perform this way. I'm certainly not impressed and did not buy the car for a sporty busy transmission feel.
Interestingly enough, when I got my ES350 back, the transmission didn't do this right away.... it went several days in what I would describe "normal" mode before switching back to what I would characterize as "sport shift mode". I affectionately refer to this transmission update as "vista nascar edition" as I do not understand why Lexus would want there drivetrains to perform this way. I'm certainly not impressed and did not buy the car for a sporty busy transmission feel.
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Joined: Jul 2009
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From: NJ
Elex, I had an 08 ES350 loaner about two weeks ago and I thought that gas pedal was a little too responsive. Now I haven't noticed the problem on the 2010 RXs I test drove. Maybe I'm used to it.
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Joined: Dec 2006
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From: NY
I had an '10 RX loaner, while my ES350 was in for service and I noticed the transmission issue right away. My '07 ES350 has the same "problem" after the transmission recalibration that was performed a few weeks ago. IMHO its not just the touchy pedal, its also this heavy engine breaking, gear hunting etc. The transmission is now very busy, downshifting on light accelerating, etc.
Interestingly enough, when I got my ES350 back, the transmission didn't do this right away.... it went several days in what I would describe "normal" mode before switching back to what I would characterize as "sport shift mode". I affectionately refer to this transmission update as "vista nascar edition" as I do not understand why Lexus would want there drivetrains to perform this way. I'm certainly not impressed and did not buy the car for a sporty busy transmission feel.
Interestingly enough, when I got my ES350 back, the transmission didn't do this right away.... it went several days in what I would describe "normal" mode before switching back to what I would characterize as "sport shift mode". I affectionately refer to this transmission update as "vista nascar edition" as I do not understand why Lexus would want there drivetrains to perform this way. I'm certainly not impressed and did not buy the car for a sporty busy transmission feel.
The best way to fix this, is simply to change your driving style. I'm not sure what, but whether thats to be more aggressive off the line or be more gentle, the car will fix itself and get that jerk out of its system. I use to notice that on my IS after driving it hard off the line a lot, but it doesn't do that anymore now that I've significantly backed off.