New Member 2007 RX400H Fluid leak
04-26-16, 03:06 PM
#1
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: CA
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
New Member 2007 RX400H Fluid leak
New Lexus owner. Avatar picture is my RX400H the day I bought it. This is my first Lexus and first hybrid. For me it's been a roller coaster of excitement and concern. I bought from a private party. The car is very good cosmetic condition, I'd give it a 9.3 out of 10. Mechanically I'm concerned. I already replaced 12 volt battery. The rest I'll save for later. I'd rather not be opening with a mechanical issue but it is what it is. After twelve days I pulled into my driveway from errands and noticed fluid where I had been parked.
It looked like water with a pink trans fluid tinge. About a 1.5 sq ft area and a smaller dried area. I spotted fluid on the plastic dam below the radiator on the right side (passenger). I cannot see or touch where it originates from. It is directly below the overflow tank. I cannot see a hose heading down from there. I cannot see any coolant in the tank nor can I see any full and low marks on the tank. I drove the 400 about 10 miles and the temp gauge rose to half way and no higher. When I resolve the source and fix any leak if necessary I would like to know where to fill the overflow to. Is there a recommended aftermarket coolant that meets specs of the Toyota coolant? Without flushing and replacing? All help will be appreciated and acknowledged.
It looked like water with a pink trans fluid tinge. About a 1.5 sq ft area and a smaller dried area. I spotted fluid on the plastic dam below the radiator on the right side (passenger). I cannot see or touch where it originates from. It is directly below the overflow tank. I cannot see a hose heading down from there. I cannot see any coolant in the tank nor can I see any full and low marks on the tank. I drove the 400 about 10 miles and the temp gauge rose to half way and no higher. When I resolve the source and fix any leak if necessary I would like to know where to fill the overflow to. Is there a recommended aftermarket coolant that meets specs of the Toyota coolant? Without flushing and replacing? All help will be appreciated and acknowledged.
04-27-16, 05:00 AM
#3
Instructor
I'd check the inverter too. That's a pink fluid as well. If it is the inverter there is a tsb about it and depending on your year and mileage it might be covered by lexus. If not I hear it's 10k to replace.... yikes
New Lexus owner. Avatar picture is my RX400H the day I bought it. This is my first Lexus and first hybrid. For me it's been a roller coaster of excitement and concern. I bought from a private party. The car is very good cosmetic condition, I'd give it a 9.3 out of 10. Mechanically I'm concerned. I already replaced 12 volt battery. The rest I'll save for later. I'd rather not be opening with a mechanical issue but it is what it is. After twelve days I pulled into my driveway from errands and noticed fluid where I had been parked. It looked like water with a pink trans fluid tinge. About a 1.5 sq ft area and a smaller dried area. I spotted fluid on the plastic dam below the radiator on the right side (passenger). I cannot see or touch where it originates from. It is directly below the overflow tank. I cannot see a hose heading down from there. I cannot see any coolant in the tank nor can I see any full and low marks on the tank. I drove the 400 about 10 miles and the temp gauge rose to half way and no higher. When I resolve the source and fix any leak if necessary I would like to know where to fill the overflow to. Is there a recommended aftermarket coolant that meets specs of the Toyota coolant? Without flushing and replacing? All help will be appreciated and acknowledged.
It looked like water with a pink trans fluid tinge. About a 1.5 sq ft area and a smaller dried area. I spotted fluid on the plastic dam below the radiator on the right side (passenger). I cannot see or touch where it originates from. It is directly below the overflow tank. I cannot see a hose heading down from there. I cannot see any coolant in the tank nor can I see any full and low marks on the tank. I drove the 400 about 10 miles and the temp gauge rose to half way and no higher. When I resolve the source and fix any leak if necessary I would like to know where to fill the overflow to. Is there a recommended aftermarket coolant that meets specs of the Toyota coolant? Without flushing and replacing? All help will be appreciated and acknowledged.
04-27-16, 12:50 PM
#6
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: CA
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks to all of you. I did check the inverter coolant. It appears to be at or a smidge off of full and no indication of leakage.
I do know about the recall and a quick web check said that my year and depending on month of manufacture should make it eligible. Following a link here I signed in at Lexus owner web site. Vehicle history does not show it having been in on the recall. I have to go to the web page for recalls with my vin and then work with Lexus I think. Also history shows timing belt recommended but not done. Hindsight is so - sometimes aggravating. I could have done a better job negotiating or waiting for a diff. car if I had this research prior...
I did find the full mark on the overflow. That's good but there is still a small amount of fluid on the inside lip of the bumper. I will have it looked at and if I'm lucky it will be minor and not a new radiator problem.
I do know about the recall and a quick web check said that my year and depending on month of manufacture should make it eligible. Following a link here I signed in at Lexus owner web site. Vehicle history does not show it having been in on the recall. I have to go to the web page for recalls with my vin and then work with Lexus I think. Also history shows timing belt recommended but not done. Hindsight is so - sometimes aggravating. I could have done a better job negotiating or waiting for a diff. car if I had this research prior...
I did find the full mark on the overflow. That's good but there is still a small amount of fluid on the inside lip of the bumper. I will have it looked at and if I'm lucky it will be minor and not a new radiator problem.
04-27-16, 02:48 PM
#7
Depending on mileage, the radiators have been starting to fail in the 100k-120k range...so if you are there, don't be surprised.
Timing belt due at 90k I believe. Double check inside engine compartment to see if a sticker indicating replacement is in there. My Toyota dealer did not have in system but mine was done (either by Lexus or Toyota....don't remember which). Worth checking.
Timing belt due at 90k I believe. Double check inside engine compartment to see if a sticker indicating replacement is in there. My Toyota dealer did not have in system but mine was done (either by Lexus or Toyota....don't remember which). Worth checking.
Trending Topics
04-28-16, 05:45 AM
#8
Most likely it is the radiator. You can get a $120 Denso from rock auto and it will be just like the OEM one. If not the radiator check the inverter, transmission (pink coolant can leak from the connection between the engine and transmission) and water pump (check side of engine from pass side wheel well). Radiators fail all the time whereas the 3 other leaks are rare.
If all of these look good then check the inverter cooling system. There is an electric pump in front of the transmission. And then the inverter radiator which is the small 1/2 radiator you see looking into the grille.
The inverter recall was to replace a circuit board and any leak would not be related to this. The board is swapped without opening the inverter cooling system.
If all of these look good then check the inverter cooling system. There is an electric pump in front of the transmission. And then the inverter radiator which is the small 1/2 radiator you see looking into the grille.
The inverter recall was to replace a circuit board and any leak would not be related to this. The board is swapped without opening the inverter cooling system.
04-28-16, 03:12 PM
#10
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post