Can't talk them into changing the transmission fluid!
 

I recently took my 2006 RX400h to my local Toyota dealer for the 90k service. They are a very reputable outfit and my Lexus dealer is 50 miles away, so I am very comfortable with the service they provide. I asked them to do the timing belt/water pump, flush the engine coolant, change the inverter coolant, change the serpentine belt, change the CVT fluid and the rear differential fluid, and flush the brake fluids. That all seemed OK until I picked up the vehicle and the said that they wouldn't change the transmission fluid as it is a "lifetime" fluid and they wouldn't flush the brake fluid as it is a liability risk. I asked what they do when they replace the brake pads and they said they just bleed the air out.

Am I asking the wrong questions? Not sure why this is so hard.

Is this a service my local garage can perform? Is there any trick to refurbishing the brake fluid?

Thanks, Scott

I had my brake fluid flush done at the local Lexus dealer and they had to use the Toyota Techstream program to do it since hybrid brakes are not the same as doing them on a conventional car. Unless your local shop has access to that software, they might not be able to do it.

The Toyota dealers should have been able to do it since it's the same as the Highlander Hybrid. Try calling a different Toyo dealership to see they say.

i dont see why brake fluid needs to be replaced.

Brake Fluid is hygrosopic (absorbs moisture from the air) and needs to be changed out every 30k miles or 2.5 years. With all the little parts in the ABS system I never had a problem getting the brake fluid changed out on my 2005 330 . Did it once at the Lexuse store and the next time was at the Toyota store never had a problem with the system.

Did they change over the transmission to lifetime fluid in 2006? I had them change it out on my 330 every 30k miles. Just drained it and put in 4 qts. Do you have a dip stick for the transmission on your 2006? I had one on my 2005 and it was type 5 the fluid that is in it . Now both of my 2010 camry's and the 2011 450h do not have a transmission dip sticks and the fluid is the WS which is the lifetime fluid think it is changed out at 100k miles but it is a pain in the butt to do it.

The RX400h has no dipstick, however even in the maintenance manual they suggest changing. That toyota dealership is weird. The Transmission uses WS fluid and is not lifetime. The tranny is kind of like a differential, with a fill plug and drain plug, it takes 4 quarts...the rear tranny takes 2 quarts. As for changing the fluid it is a breeze....no filters, and dont believe the lifetime hype. here is my writeup on changing fluid....
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/hyb...ial-plugs.html

My Dad recommends changing the transmission fluid on a regular basis regardless what Lexus service says. He is a Mechanical Engineer master and told me it will prolong the life of the car.

How many Lexus owners have requested getting the transmission fluid changed on their RX450H's? Just curious what other service dealers are saying.

Based on....?

To sum it up there is no such thing as lifetime, even in their maintenance manual for severe duty they recommend transmission fluid change. I know at 87k mine was very dark brown....since my two changes the fluid is pristine red. I now change every 30k miles or sooner...The rear transmission fluid was in very good shape, probably because the transmission is used selfdom.

Don't know why they would refuse to change either the tranny fluid or the brake fluid, when the procedure is right in the service manual and the brake fluid is recommended to be changed every 3 years if I remember correctly. Try the Lexus dealer instead.

Cruiter, that would make me nervous.....My fluid was brown in the RX400h at 88k miles. Remember the dealer and corporate are trying to sell a no maintenance stance, however no fluid is lifetime....