Adjusting Roof Rack
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 167
Likes: 1
From: Florida
Adjusting Roof Rack
I have the owner's manual, and the instructions (and diagram) states to lift the tabs to a 90 degree position to release them, then slide the crossmembers forward or back.
When I lift the tabs, they go about 60 degrees. I was concerned about exerting any more force for fear I might break them. Do they require more force to disengage them?
Thanks!
When I lift the tabs, they go about 60 degrees. I was concerned about exerting any more force for fear I might break them. Do they require more force to disengage them?
Thanks!
Rookie
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: NC
yes, I was surprised how much force they required when I was moving the one's on my wife's 07 RX. However keep in mind, I was moving them as part of the process of removing the entire roof rack so I really didn't care if they broke or not!
Rookie
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: South Carolina
Same thing happened to me. The tabs should move easily. I had to have my cross bars replaced. The end caps had to be removed to do this, so if you get this done at your local dealer, check the endcaps to make sure they did not break the tabs that hold them in place. They broke mine and tried to get away with it by just jamming them in place hoping they would stay.
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 12,397
Likes: 453
From: GA
If the roof rack cross bar does not work or have difficulty adjusting, they are under warranty with a TSB. AS long as you are within the warranty period, they will adjust-replace them.
I had them do it on mine. They replaced the cross bars.
But they are off on mine, nekkid roofline!
I had them do it on mine. They replaced the cross bars.
But they are off on mine, nekkid roofline!
Trending Topics
ClubLexus Stories
Celebrating Lexus & Toyota from Around the Globe
8 Tips for Improving Your Hybrid or Plug-in Hybrid's Efficiency!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Best Lexus Models No One Remembers
Joe Kucinski
TRD Off-Road Premium: Best 2026 4Runner, Except This One Thing
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Lexus & Toyotas to Drive Before You Die!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Lexus/Toyotas With The LEAST 5-Year Depreciation
Joe Kucinski
Lexus LC500 Convertible Auction: A Preview of Rising Values?
Brett Foote
GX 550 vs TX 550: Best 3-Row Luxury Lexus Family Hauler
Michael S. Palmer
9 Best Lexus Models You Can Buy for Half Price (And 1 You Shouldn't!)
Joe Kucinski
2026 Lexus NX Buyer's Guide: Models, Features, Prices & More!
Brett Foote
Rookie
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 74
Likes: 2
From: Virginia
I have an '04 purchased at an independent dealer and he gave us a bumper to bumper for 3 months/4.5K miles. We discovered this problem almost immediately, and I'm still waiting on replacements from him. My guess is he found the price for replacements and is choking on it.
That said, this is a perfect example of Lexus taking what could have been a very simple design and making it problematic by try to improve the aesthetics by maybe 5%.
Sad.
That said, this is a perfect example of Lexus taking what could have been a very simple design and making it problematic by try to improve the aesthetics by maybe 5%.
Sad.
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 12,397
Likes: 453
From: GA
This roof rack issue had a TSB, if taken in within the warranty period, it will be repaired. Lexus id'd the issue, issued the TSB and the rest is up to us. This was not a safety related issue hence no recall.
After they replaced my crossbars, everything was good. But have decided to be nekkid so the rack is all off.
After they replaced my crossbars, everything was good. But have decided to be nekkid so the rack is all off.
Driver
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 149
Likes: 15
From: Alabama
2007 RX350 Crossbar Adjustment
The crossbar adjustment on our roof rack was not intuitive at all! I lifted the tabs as far as they would go, but the crossbars would not budge. I tried this over a period of several weeks to no avail and was almost going to take it to the dealer to have them show me how to do it or to get it fixed. I tried to adjust them again yesterday as a a last resort, and FINALLY realized the the tab you pull releases the OPPOSITE side of the crossbar!!! What an idiot I feel like, but at least I figured it out before taking it to the dealer and being really embarrased! 
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: texas
Glad I read this before breaking mine
[QUOTE=nwfsnake;6682936]The crossbar adjustment on our roof rack was not intuitive at all! I lifted the tabs as far as they would go, but the crossbars would not budge. I tried this over a period of several weeks to no avail and was almost going to take it to the dealer to have them show me how to do it or to get it fixed. I tried to adjust them again yesterday as a a last resort, and FINALLY realized the the tab you pull releases the OPPOSITE side of the crossbar!!! What an idiot I feel like, but at least I fig up about 20 degrees but I can see the small wire traveling into and across to the other side. I wonder why this is not mentioned in the darn manual?
Thanks
[QUOTE=nwfsnake;6682936]The crossbar adjustment on our roof rack was not intuitive at all! I lifted the tabs as far as they would go, but the crossbars would not budge. I tried this over a period of several weeks to no avail and was almost going to take it to the dealer to have them show me how to do it or to get it fixed. I tried to adjust them again yesterday as a a last resort, and FINALLY realized the the tab you pull releases the OPPOSITE side of the crossbar!!! What an idiot I feel like, but at least I fig up about 20 degrees but I can see the small wire traveling into and across to the other side. I wonder why this is not mentioned in the darn manual?
Thanks
The crossbar adjustment on our roof rack was not intuitive at all! I lifted the tabs as far as they would go, but the crossbars would not budge. I tried this over a period of several weeks to no avail and was almost going to take it to the dealer to have them show me how to do it or to get it fixed. I tried to adjust them again yesterday as a a last resort, and FINALLY realized the the tab you pull releases the OPPOSITE side of the crossbar!!! What an idiot I feel like, but at least I figured it out before taking it to the dealer and being really embarrased!
