The dealer did give me a loaner, another RX400h for the six days they had the vehicle. They wanted their loaner back and because it could take a while for corporate to determine what should be done, I picked up my vehicle. It is functioning OK and no check engine light. It just fails for misfires flagged by the computer. I used a friends scan tool and found out it is due to cylinder number 4 but it doesn't show but one misfire and all of the others show zero. Cprporate said it could take "several days" for the technicial people to look at the scan tool data sent from the dealer. I will post as soon as I learn anything.

 

The number 4 cylinder would be on the front bank (closest to the front of the vehicle), the middle of the three front cylinders.

I wonder if they checked the gap on that cylinder number 4 spark plug. Somehow I remember this was lacking when I last looked at my service manual on potential ignition issues.

 

One full week and I have not heard anything from corporate-just a call saying that I was important to them.... but no information on getting the misfire resolved. I would think that this could be a buy-back issue but none of the other RX400h at the dealer are any better. If I do get a new vehicle, apparently it can't be an RX400h as they all seem to be showing misfires by the computer most likely false caused by the idle stop feature. However I can't get my license plates renewed as long as the computer shows these misfires. This could be a huge problem and will snowball when California starts testing hybrids in 2010 (according to CARB).

 

Thanks- I was looking for something else to worry about.

 

Update. Corporate is sending a technician to the dealer to see the vehicle tomorrow, Monday October 6.

 

Any feedback from Lexus? I'm sure many are interested.

 

Nothing yet. Corp called and set up another appointment for a factory tech to look at it on October 22. Delayed again.

 

isnt it ironic how a hyrbid failed a emissions test.

i wanna see what the big guys say too.

 

I also wanna see what the big guys say too. This is a deal breaker for me. Why do I want to put the cash down for this car if it will not pass this little test?

 

Unless there were other reasons I favored another car over this, if I wanted the 400H I would not let this affect my decision. I believe there is no way that Lexus will not resolve this quirk in the emission test protocol. Would only be a problem if you needed to pass a test in the near future, as is apparantly the case with Bear60 but which would not be a common situation.

 

I have read several reasons why vehicles fail emissions and they are crazy.
1) ICE turned off while testing.
2) Some states have a law that ICE must always run.
3) Car had no exhaust pipe. It was an electric car. Owner put a fake pipe on in order to pass.
4) State tester turned on the check engine light. Happened to one of my employee's he argued and they turned it back off.
I let the dealer take it for inspection at a private shop after the state wrecked numerous All Wheel Drive vehicles testing them.

 

man was told they look into it on OCT 6 then "Nothing yet. Corp called and set up another appointment for a factory tech to look at it on October 22. Delayed again." then more delays who knows but if all the new ones do it also this should have not been the first case bought before them. Lexus is not what it used to be in service. They a getting suck up in that money thing that every other car company has before them and after them will in hard times will and we are the ones who will have to take it in the shorts but not this time not for me on this car

 

Update. Factory tech looked at the car today and determined that it was working as designed. I was told that Ohio should not use a factory scan tool which does show some misfires and instead use a generic scan tool that does not show these misfires. Now I have to go and see what Ohio says.

 

....wow. maybe flipside909 can drop some input.

 

I am sure you are not the first person to take their RX400h in for emissions. Are you sure this is a problem with all 400hs?