2002 RX300 saved my life!
04-30-13, 01:17 AM
#1
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2002 RX300 saved my life!
Skidded across the road, down a 200' embankment, through a barbed wire fence, landed on passenger side in the middle of a cow lot!
This side looks pretty good...
This side...NOT so good...
I was just taking it in to Lexus for the VSC and ABS lights on. I had taken it to Lexus about a month and a half ago...$2,500 worth of work to eliminate engine light on, VSC light, ABS light...they replaced sensors, rotors, this and that,,,and since the car had 130,000 miles I said...what the heck, lets replace the timing belt, get the engine tuned, blah blah blah...
Well, last week the VSC and ABS lights came on, so I was taking it in to get fixed...again...it WAS NOT RAINING..it had rained, but the road was not abnormally slick...a car was coming around a curve, swerved into my lane, and I gently tapped the brakes...guess what? The car swapped ends...the rear end swerved 180 degrees and I was powerless to stop this 'Wild Ride Of Mr Toad'...
I'm OK...a bit sore, ambulance ride to hospital, and x rays notwithstanding....I'm ok,,,but now I'm in the market for another suv. I LIKE the RX...what say you? Were the ABS and VSC systems failures the culprits?
Keep in mind that I've driven mountain roads with black ice, devilish switch-backs, nasty weather et al...but I've NEVER had a car react so...well...NOT REACT AT ALL!...Still...I thank my lucky stars that it held together like a little tank! Fire Crew got me out through the sun roof, which actually worked while the car was on it's side, lights on, stereo playing...me hanging in my seat belt praying that no gas would leak onto the engine...and burn my hiney up!
This side looks pretty good...
This side...NOT so good...
I was just taking it in to Lexus for the VSC and ABS lights on. I had taken it to Lexus about a month and a half ago...$2,500 worth of work to eliminate engine light on, VSC light, ABS light...they replaced sensors, rotors, this and that,,,and since the car had 130,000 miles I said...what the heck, lets replace the timing belt, get the engine tuned, blah blah blah...
Well, last week the VSC and ABS lights came on, so I was taking it in to get fixed...again...it WAS NOT RAINING..it had rained, but the road was not abnormally slick...a car was coming around a curve, swerved into my lane, and I gently tapped the brakes...guess what? The car swapped ends...the rear end swerved 180 degrees and I was powerless to stop this 'Wild Ride Of Mr Toad'...
I'm OK...a bit sore, ambulance ride to hospital, and x rays notwithstanding....I'm ok,,,but now I'm in the market for another suv. I LIKE the RX...what say you? Were the ABS and VSC systems failures the culprits?
Keep in mind that I've driven mountain roads with black ice, devilish switch-backs, nasty weather et al...but I've NEVER had a car react so...well...NOT REACT AT ALL!...Still...I thank my lucky stars that it held together like a little tank! Fire Crew got me out through the sun roof, which actually worked while the car was on it's side, lights on, stereo playing...me hanging in my seat belt praying that no gas would leak onto the engine...and burn my hiney up!
Last edited by 03LexusGS; 04-30-13 at 01:32 AM.
04-30-13, 03:36 AM
#3
Lexus Test Driver
First off, i'm glad to see you made it out alive!
The tire's don't look like they have a lot of tread left. It's possible you drove over a spot on the road that had oil on it, which of course is very slick. Also, roads when they are just beginning to get wet are the most slick, rather than when it is continuously raining.
The tire's don't look like they have a lot of tread left. It's possible you drove over a spot on the road that had oil on it, which of course is very slick. Also, roads when they are just beginning to get wet are the most slick, rather than when it is continuously raining.
04-30-13, 06:50 AM
#5
Lexus Champion
Wow!! So glad that you are okay. I think what happened is your ABS system was not functioning due to the cell/code you had going on. So when you reacted, you were at a disadvantage with out the abs system.
04-30-13, 08:18 AM
#6
Moderator
Glad that you are OK and have not lost your sense of humor. The fireball is film exaggeration. It rarely happens and when it does the tank has to crack.
Have you ever have RX misbehave in handling under similar condition? My '98 GS400 generates audible alarm ... but it has more sophisticated system. While '95 SC400 has to be driven just right. I never push my RX and only rely on ABS traveling straight on and loss of traction on both the front wheels.
I would not be in a hurry to pass a judgment on what was the root cause. The possibilities are more than ABS not working (some CEL conditions would lightup the ABS light but the problem can be unrelated to actual ABS). How are the treads in the back? The front one is off the rim and if that happened in the early stage, you will end up off the road.
People only think about hyroplaning (standing water) due to rain, but mostly the problems are due to moving oil-slick and puncture causing debris that is moved into track where people drive.
Finally, ABS are a great step forward in safety, but remember that Physics rules all the time.
I wish you a quick full recovery. If you opt for another SUV, you are compromising on overall stability.
Salim
Have you ever have RX misbehave in handling under similar condition? My '98 GS400 generates audible alarm ... but it has more sophisticated system. While '95 SC400 has to be driven just right. I never push my RX and only rely on ABS traveling straight on and loss of traction on both the front wheels.
I would not be in a hurry to pass a judgment on what was the root cause. The possibilities are more than ABS not working (some CEL conditions would lightup the ABS light but the problem can be unrelated to actual ABS). How are the treads in the back? The front one is off the rim and if that happened in the early stage, you will end up off the road.
People only think about hyroplaning (standing water) due to rain, but mostly the problems are due to moving oil-slick and puncture causing debris that is moved into track where people drive.
Finally, ABS are a great step forward in safety, but remember that Physics rules all the time.
I wish you a quick full recovery. If you opt for another SUV, you are compromising on overall stability.
Salim
04-30-13, 09:17 AM
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No airbag deployment...it only has front airbags and I was more or less sliding down the hill...and there was no front end impact as you can see in the photos.
Well I'm wondering if it was the VSC or vehicle stabilization control? That front tire off the rim is brand new, just bought it. The curve was not that sharp, it had been raining on and off for a week so that wasn't an issue, and no alarms went off. The audible alarm does go off like that on my '03 Lexus GS300 if the car slips a bit.
I just got a call from a salesman from Lexus who has a 2004 RX330 Bamboo Pearl with tan interior, back-up cam, navigation, larger engine, 80k miles and HE said that they would put a new timing belt in the engine (I guess the belt is inside the engine) and put brand new tires plus spare on the vehicle.
He said it has Mark Levinson stereo upgrade, DVD player (Whatever that is)...and Heated Seats, and they'll put new brake pads, check rotors etc etc etc.
19k from the same Lexus dealer that performed the work on my 2002. I'm going to go look at it today and I'll give you a report tonight!
Well I'm wondering if it was the VSC or vehicle stabilization control? That front tire off the rim is brand new, just bought it. The curve was not that sharp, it had been raining on and off for a week so that wasn't an issue, and no alarms went off. The audible alarm does go off like that on my '03 Lexus GS300 if the car slips a bit.
I just got a call from a salesman from Lexus who has a 2004 RX330 Bamboo Pearl with tan interior, back-up cam, navigation, larger engine, 80k miles and HE said that they would put a new timing belt in the engine (I guess the belt is inside the engine) and put brand new tires plus spare on the vehicle.
He said it has Mark Levinson stereo upgrade, DVD player (Whatever that is)...and Heated Seats, and they'll put new brake pads, check rotors etc etc etc.
19k from the same Lexus dealer that performed the work on my 2002. I'm going to go look at it today and I'll give you a report tonight!
Last edited by 03LexusGS; 04-30-13 at 09:25 AM.
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04-30-13, 11:10 AM
#9
No airbag deployment...it only has front airbags and I was more or less sliding down the hill...and there was no front end impact as you can see in the photos.
Well I'm wondering if it was the VSC or vehicle stabilization control? That front tire off the rim is brand new, just bought it. The curve was not that sharp, it had been raining on and off for a week so that wasn't an issue, and no alarms went off. The audible alarm does go off like that on my '03 Lexus GS300 if the car slips a bit.
I just got a call from a salesman from Lexus who has a 2004 RX330 Bamboo Pearl with tan interior, back-up cam, navigation, larger engine, 80k miles and HE said that they would put a new timing belt in the engine (I guess the belt is inside the engine) and put brand new tires plus spare on the vehicle.
He said it has Mark Levinson stereo upgrade, DVD player (Whatever that is)...and Heated Seats, and they'll put new brake pads, check rotors etc etc etc.
19k from the same Lexus dealer that performed the work on my 2002. I'm going to go look at it today and I'll give you a report tonight!
Well I'm wondering if it was the VSC or vehicle stabilization control? That front tire off the rim is brand new, just bought it. The curve was not that sharp, it had been raining on and off for a week so that wasn't an issue, and no alarms went off. The audible alarm does go off like that on my '03 Lexus GS300 if the car slips a bit.
I just got a call from a salesman from Lexus who has a 2004 RX330 Bamboo Pearl with tan interior, back-up cam, navigation, larger engine, 80k miles and HE said that they would put a new timing belt in the engine (I guess the belt is inside the engine) and put brand new tires plus spare on the vehicle.
He said it has Mark Levinson stereo upgrade, DVD player (Whatever that is)...and Heated Seats, and they'll put new brake pads, check rotors etc etc etc.
19k from the same Lexus dealer that performed the work on my 2002. I'm going to go look at it today and I'll give you a report tonight!
05-01-13, 07:26 AM
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I just got a call from a salesman from Lexus who has a 2004 RX330 Bamboo Pearl with tan interior, back-up cam, navigation, larger engine, 80k miles and HE said that they would put a new timing belt in the engine (I guess the belt is inside the engine) and put brand new tires plus matching spare on the vehicle.
He said it has Mark Levinson stereo upgrade whatever that is..., DVD player..and Heated Seats, and they'll put new brake pads, check rotors etc etc etc.
19.9k from the same Lexus dealer that performed the work on my 2002.
I GOT IT FOR 17k! Plus new brake pads, rotors and all fluids and filters changed! Gotta' love MY LEXUS! CarMax report is flawless, single owner vehicle with all maintenance done by my local dealer!
I'm Sooo excited guys! Lexus is really taking care of me!
Last edited by 03LexusGS; 05-01-13 at 07:52 AM.
