Notices
RX - 2nd Gen (2004-2009) Discussion topics related to the 2004 -2009 RX330, RX350 and RX400H models

Spped limit? Or not?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 20, 2006 | 07:58 AM
  #1  
Nick123's Avatar
Nick123
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: NJ
Default Spped limit? Or not?

Dear forum members:
I shipped few btrand new RX350s to my friends overseas and they confronted me with this question, maybe anyone can help:
Some cars can go beyond 120 m/h, some don't. For those which don't: when the speed riches 120 m/h gas pedal sinks to the floor and speedometer stops. Other cars go 140 and beyond with no problem (apparently they use them for racing ).
I spoke with Lexus service, they say it's a computer program/microchp and it cannot be adjusted. When I asked them 'then why some cars go faster the others?' they had no clue.
My friends would like to have this limit removed (even via programming) but they don't know where to look to.
Help, anyone?
Reply
Old Sep 20, 2006 | 09:14 AM
  #2  
salimshah's Avatar
salimshah
CL Community Team
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 16,583
Likes: 1,397
From: Austin, TX
Default

Nick:

I would not question the sanity of trying to go beyond the speed governer limit (specially on a SUV) ... if cought on public street, it will surely land ppl in jail.

RX does not apply brakes to slow down, it essentially stops providing more fuel/energy to create more power. Newtonian Physics still applies and drag + terrain along with the tolerance (lack of precesion and calibration) gives you the spread.

You are correct, the limiter is contolled by the chip. I dont know of any replacement chip or a process to circumvent the limitor.

Salim
Reply
Old Sep 20, 2006 | 09:34 AM
  #3  
Lexmex's Avatar
Lexmex
CL Community Team
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 17,337
Likes: 213
From: Miami, Florida
Default

There used to be a V-Max chip from TTE for the RX300 that did what you are asking, I do not think they have come out with one for the RX330 or newer.

That being said, HKS has something called a Speed Limit Defencer, http://www.hksusa.com/products/?id=781

However, you would have to ask them if it could work on the given vehicle.

Yet, the tires on the RX can only support a given high rate of speed for so long, I am pretty sure none that I know of come with Z-rated tires new.

Second, I have taken my RX300 up to a GPS tracked 120.9 mph (above the 112 mph cutoff) by ramming it down a hill on a non-patrolled toll road not to far from where I live.

You have to be very, very proficient in handling an SUV at high speed, have it modified (lowered would be recommended).

Going in a straight line (like I do on a drag strip) is nice or even on a straight stretch of highway, but when a dog, wild driver or some other act of god comes into play, that RX will not handle like a car.
Reply
Old Sep 20, 2006 | 07:42 PM
  #4  
tfischer's Avatar
tfischer
CL Community Team
25 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,873
Likes: 396
From: Ohio
Default

I have not heard that there is a limiter on the RX, but if it's at 120 I would not be too concerned, as that's a little bit of a high speed for cruising in such a tall vehicle.

My SC has a limiter at 150 (the European versions hit 160 or so) and I have not quite hit that yet.

Isn't this all pretty academic? The RX cruises nicely at 90, but I would not be very comfortable runing it in the tripple figures.

. . . Unless, of course, you intend to be running from the law.
Reply
Old Sep 20, 2006 | 10:47 PM
  #5  
crosborne's Avatar
crosborne
Rookie
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 56
Likes: 1
From: ga
Default

I'm more interested in your shipping of these vehicles overseas. Where overseas? Why can't they buy them from where they are?
Reply
Old Sep 21, 2006 | 06:45 AM
  #6  
Lexmex's Avatar
Lexmex
CL Community Team
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 17,337
Likes: 213
From: Miami, Florida
Default

Originally Posted by tfischer
I have not heard that there is a limiter on the RX, but if it's at 120 I would not be too concerned, as that's a little bit of a high speed for cruising in such a tall vehicle.

My SC has a limiter at 150 (the European versions hit 160 or so) and I have not quite hit that yet.

Isn't this all pretty academic? The RX cruises nicely at 90, but I would not be very comfortable runing it in the tripple figures.

. . . Unless, of course, you intend to be running from the law.
It is actually 112 mph with the cutoff, but the intertia going down hill meant the car was still accelerating afterwards to hit the 120.9...took me several tries to do this.

You can get away with a lot in terms of speed down here, but in the U.S. I take it very easy (no need to rush on those beautiful and open highways).
Reply
Old Sep 27, 2006 | 01:08 PM
  #7  
Nick123's Avatar
Nick123
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: NJ
Default Thanks

Thanks to everyone who replied to my question, especially to Lexmex!
While I'm still trying to get to the bottom of it, to all who asked I can tell this:
i. SUVs were shipped and are being driven in Ukraine where no Lexus dealers available.
ii. I told them all (my friend and his friends) that they'll kill themselves on those beaten-up and dirty roads with such speeds. No avail - in order to understand "why?" you have to understand misterious russian soul, which I don't.
iii. I'd appreciate if anyone who comes accross a solution to speed limiter e-mails me at mytriptokiev@hotmail.com as I'm not frequent to this forum.
Thanks!
Reply
Old Sep 27, 2006 | 02:20 PM
  #8  
Battousai's Avatar
Battousai
Driver School Candidate
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 39
Likes: 1
From: HI
Default

I am not too comfortable with your question on taken out the limiter on the RX350. It sounded like to me that your friend maybe up to something fishy over there.
Reply
ClubLexus Stories

Celebrating Lexus & Toyota from Around the Globe

story-0

2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport Review: The Last of Its Kind Still Rocks

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

Top 10 Most Confusing Things Lexus Has Ever Done!

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

2026 Lexus ES Review: Lexus Re-Embraces Founding Principles

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

10 Lexus Bargains That are Cheaper Than a New Toyota RAV4

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

8 Weirdest Things Lexus Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

10 Lexus Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

8 Tips for Improving Your Hybrid or Plug-in Hybrid's Efficiency!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Best Lexus Models No One Remembers

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

TRD Off-Road Premium: Best 2026 4Runner, Except This One Thing

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

Top 10 Lexus & Toyotas to Drive Before You Die!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Sep 27, 2006 | 03:17 PM
  #9  
TunedRX300's Avatar
TunedRX300
Lexus Champion
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,447
Likes: 9
From: CA
Default

Originally Posted by salimshah
Nick:

I would not question the sanity of trying to go beyond the speed governer limit (specially on a SUV) ... if cought on public street, it will surely land ppl in jail.

RX does not apply brakes to slow down, it essentially stops providing more fuel/energy to create more power. Newtonian Physics still applies and drag + terrain along with the tolerance (lack of precesion and calibration) gives you the spread.

You are correct, the limiter is contolled by the chip. I dont know of any replacement chip or a process to circumvent the limitor.

Salim
RX350 sold in the US has the speed limiter set at 112mph as the fuel cutoff point because OEM tire is S rated, which is specified to handle exactly 112mph as the max speed.
Just use a better tire, RX should handle above 112mph in a controlled environment (such as a track) if not fuel controlled by speed limiter.

RX350's 2gr-fe is far more powerful than RX300's 1mz-fe, why would Lexus not up the limit accordingly? Is it because Lexus is so concerned of your safety? Then why would ES350, using the same 2gr-fe engine, has a speed limiter of 137mph? ES owners are more aggressive than RX owners or physically and emotionally better prepared to embrace higher impact in a high speed endeaver?
Another food for thought, is pushing 112mph any less crazy than traveling at 137mph? Or traveling at 105mph safer than going to 112mph?
The real reason is Lexus can reduce the cost of goods sold by using cheaper S tires, summer tires rated V such as those in ES cost a lot more. Lower cost means higher profit margin. It $, not design or concern of safety at the end of the day.

Last edited by TunedRX300; Sep 27, 2006 at 10:19 PM.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
JProdun
RX - 2nd Gen (2004-2009)
13
Nov 16, 2014 07:21 PM
BigBang
Car Chat
30
Oct 18, 2011 03:50 AM
tcr101
CL of Southern California
5
Apr 9, 2008 08:51 AM
allisonb1013
GX - 1st Gen (2003-2009)
24
Jan 10, 2006 08:32 AM
KyleSozah
Performance
5
Aug 7, 2003 11:33 AM




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:57 PM.

story-0
2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport Review: The Last of Its Kind Still Rocks

Slideshow: the 2026 IS 350 isn't all that new, and that's why we love it!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-04 14:35:23


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Confusing Things Lexus Has Ever Done!

Slideshow: 10 most confusing things Lexus has ever done.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-04 09:40:55


VIEW MORE
story-2
2026 Lexus ES Review: Lexus Re-Embraces Founding Principles

Slideshow: Our First-Drive Review of the 2026 Lexus ES!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-29 20:30:16


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Lexus Bargains That are Cheaper Than a New Toyota RAV4

Slideshow: 10 Lexus bargain that are cheaper than a new Toyota.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 10:28:20


VIEW MORE
story-4
8 Weirdest Things Lexus Has Ever Built

Slideshow: From hoverboards to luxury yachts, these are the strangest projects Lexus has ever attached its badge to.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-16 11:34:36


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Lexus Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Some luxury cars chase trends, but these Lexus models look better now than they did when they first rolled into showrooms.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-06 17:58:29


VIEW MORE
story-6
8 Tips for Improving Your Hybrid or Plug-in Hybrid's Efficiency!

Slideshow: How to Get the Best Fuel Economy with a Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-05 20:54:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Best Lexus Models No One Remembers

Slideshow: 10 best Lexus models no one remembers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 17:33:28


VIEW MORE
story-8
TRD Off-Road Premium: Best 2026 4Runner, Except This One Thing

Slideshow: diving into 4Runner TRD Off-Road Premium's pricing, performance, fuel economy, features, and amenities!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-23 13:09:18


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Lexus & Toyotas to Drive Before You Die!

Slideshow: the 10 Lexus and Toyota vehicles you need to drive before you die.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-23 10:34:24


VIEW MORE