Lazyj321

New to the Hybrid cars, Looking to perform some of the maintaince myself. Wondering where to start? any recommendations on service books, scan tools, other resources for maintaince.
Looking for a good source for picking up parts?
Took the car to the dealership have about $7k of repairs if I let them perform repairs!

Brakes front and rear
Brake Fluid change
Rear struts
Lower A arms
Cooling Plate Leak on hybrid cooling system

I don't mind performing this kind of work, the hybrid and newer systems are something I need to learn, just don't want to screw somthing up.

thomas1

First how many miles on your vehicle? Everything is possible, but what leak is the Cooling Plate leak on hybrid system.? Welcome aboard...

maseace

Brake fluid change requires a special bleeding procedure using the special Lexus/Toyota ODB cable and software (and a laptop to install it on). You can get it on eBay for under $30.

Example: http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Mini-VCI-J2534-OBD2-Diagnostic-Tool-Code-Reader-for-Lexus-Toyota-Techstream-/321761289092?hash=item4aea77a384&item=321761289092&var=&vxp=mtr

Lazyj321

My vehicle has about 140,000, 2006. The cooling plate is a very slow leak, that just keeping a eye on and topping up occasionally should keep me from making it my priority repair. It's buried in the front right side of the motor, Lexus is quoting 8 hrs to make the repair,no real parts involved it just tough to get at.

Thanks for the tip on the computer cable👍🏻. Where should I get the software?

I have seen a online download repair book for my vehicle for about $16 dollars. Thought I would start there, and make my front brakes the first place to start. Any recommendations on brake pads. I think it must be a record 140k and the first pad change.

Then move on to the rear struts, I have watch a couple of videos on you-tube on those, looks like the highlander hybrid is similar.

thomas1

Remember the brake pads last extra long on the hybrid as most of the braking is done by the motors during the regenerative cycle of the stopping. Stick with Toyota OEM pads for the vehicle, they lasted a long time.
I too have to do the struts and mounts on my RX400h, I am at 166k miles. Hey you could do mine after yours if you are in northern California.

Lazyj321

Well if finally started my first repairs to the RX 400h. Now have service manual, obd connector (eBay). Order up Akabono Brakes, Toyota soap base grease, watched one video on YouTube re the brakes.

140k front pads were gone, rears still had some life but not much, turned the rotors, reused the hardware -stainless clips, cleaned the crap out of them-brake clean and laqouer thinner, would have been a lot easier to buy new, some brake manufactures include that kind of stuff, I wasn't sure with Akabono. I also adjusted the E-Brake tightening up the drum and backing off the adjuster about 6 clicks. Cleaned and rotated the wheels also,have the 18' chrome alloys-78 ft pounds torque seemed kind of light for mounting the tires went to 90.

I used a clamp to push the Pistons back in the calipers, sop as far as I know. Letting no fluid out. After job was complete, started the car,no lights on the dash- cool. Stepped on the brake-not so cool, every light on the dash came on! VSC, Brake, slip warning light. Thinking to myself crap! Now I'm going to have to take it to the dealer to have this thing turned off, luckily i had that obd cable and software, loaded it into a old laptop I have, and literally stumbled thru it, this took awhile wish I could have a class in this, getting tha car to sync with the software , making sure the the car is running, I got the ABS System to cycle and cleared the codes. The Cable is mentioned in a post above. This kind of stuff is new to me, glade I saved a trip to the dealer, job turned out good.

NateJG

Well here's a link to some fun stuff: http://avt.inl.gov/vehicles.shtml#L

Check out the documents under Lexus.

This will provide hours of infotainment.