Hey, long time no post.
We've been enjoying the RX330 (purchased around December I think) except for a few problems. The transmissions seems to shift very hard at low speeds. I did a search and found something about an ECM upgrade or something. Where can I find more info about this? Also the headlights are aligned WAY to low and the dealer raised them with their computer but they are still to low. Is there another way for them to be aligned like they should have come from the factory (they were higher on my car and on every other car I see with Xenons)? Lastly the automatic hatch has been acting up. A few times it won't go up/down with the button (on the hatch) or with the remote. Are any of these known issues by Lexus or should we still take it in to the dealer? Also is there away to get all the doors to unlock after taking the key out? Thanks alot.

 

LeXusBoy -

Most of these issues have been discussed at length in this forum.

There is a TSIB for updating the ECM module on the transmission, but that has gotten mixed results. Some people have been happy after the update, but others haven't noticed an improvement. A common complaint is a noticable reduction in fuel economy (about 1-2 mpg) after the update. There's also a secondary issue with a hose bumping against the transmission that makes noises, but isn't really a functional problem. The moderator(s) moved a lot of this discussion to the engine and transmission sub-forum.

The automatic back door has also been a big discussion topic. First and foremost, you need to remember that all doors MUST be unlocked before either of the power door buttons (on the remote or on the dash) will operate. Once you get past that detail, some people have posted that they still continue to have intermittent problems with the power door. It's the kind of thing that you need to discuss with your dealer, but often it's one of those things that the dealer can't reproduce easily and therefore there's "no problem found." Someone mentioned that there is a new ECM unit available for the power door, but the dealer has to find a problem with the existing one before they'll swap it. If the door doesn't work at all, then you need to check the power door cutoff switch located inside the frame of the glovebox.

As for the headlights, the service manual does a dreadful job of explaining how to aim the headlights vertically relative to the ground; it doesn't offer a rule-of-thumb measurement. Bear in mind that the HID headlights have motors that adjust them vertically in real-time, so the car must be sitting on a level surface before you can start judging the aim. The motors are designed to keep the headlights aimed low on an incline to prevent them from blinding oncoming traffic.

Finally, the behavior of the power door locks is adjustable. The programming options might be in the owners manual; if not, search this forum for C-BEST settings.

 

Thanks alot

My mom called the dealer and they know about the transmission problem. She will be taking it in tomorrow. I will also do a search on the topic.

The hatch is still acting up and everything is unlocked. Hoepfully we can reproduce it.

The lights were to low when we got the car, they raised them by their computer system but they are still tooo low. We will have them set how they should have came tomorrow.

I will mention the door thing to my mom. She likes it but I hate it because I always have to get things out of the back.

Thanks again.

 

The first press of the Unlock button on the remote will "disarm" the alarm system and unlock the driver's door only.

The second press, if done within a few seconds of the first press, will unlock all of the doors.

If you wait too long between button presses, then the second press will NOT unlock all the doors.

 

Yes I know.

 

My mom's RX330 was experiencing the transmission issue so we brought it to Lexus Of Thousand Oaks (there service is all right but we though Keys was better when we had our RX300) and mentioned we needed the software upgrade. Well they checked and we have the latest version. Uh oh . They cleared the learned transmission memory and the problem went away. Well yesterday it came back so we called them up and told them. They said "bring it in." My mom really didn't have time for this (really busy week) and she told them they should have fixed it the first time and that they need to come to our house and pick it up. Well surprisingly they sent a tech out here (this morning) and he looked at it (Props for that!). He let my mom drive his slightly used RX330 and his has a slight bump where ours has a more noticeable one (between RPM-RPM when pulling off from a complete stop). He said it becomes less noticeable as the transmission learns your driving style. He also said the transmission's memory is erased every time you get gas...is that true? Hope that is helpful to you guys.

Now for the hatch. We have been having the intermittent problem with the automatic hatch not working. I know people have told the dealer what part to order to fix this but the dealer has turned them down saying they need proof it is broken. Well we tried this and they said they have to check the hatch. I guess they found something because they ordered the part for us. Today the tech also checked it out and he confirmed it is a computer problem. He also says if you open the hatch manually (who doesn't) and then try to close it, the computer may become confused....damn computers.

The only bad thing from all this is there is a big gash out of the rear bumper...hum.
Hope this helps, if you have any more questions I will try to answer them.