Temperature control button broken
5th Gear
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 5
Likes: 1
From: TN
Hey Gang,
Yep, now I'm having this problem with my passenger side. Just happened. (Of course, when its now getting cold and you need the heat!). The temp UP function is broken, so its stuck on 70, which is fine in the summer, but not now. First of all, I'm so thankful to this club bc its often a pain in the butt to find solutions to the simplest things. I talked with Lexus on this, including the service manager who I know well, and apparently as good as Lexus is, they were very short-sided on some things----especially on this generation RX. I even mentioned stupid things like not being able to simply pop off speaker grills because the "geniuses" at Lexus decided to make the whole speaker "grill" a molded part of the whole freaking door panel, so if you want to get to your speakers, you have to take off the whole darn panel! (But I digress.) The manager did agree with me on this that yes, Lexus was short-sided on some things, and designing serviceable, pop out, plug in switches and controls was one of those areas. In fact, the Lexus Parts Department told me the only way to have Lexus fix this issue is to go through what they call the "Lexus Exchange Program", whereby their service department, NOT YOU, have to remove the panel and then they would "exchange" it for another one for a low, low price of $1800-$2500! Get that?!
Even if you know how to do it yourself (which I assume we all do here), in order for Lexus to "exchange" it, you have to pay THEIR service department the labor cost of removing it, THEN pay that absurd price for a replacement! I don't know about you guys, but I think they need to rename their "Exchange Program", bc that's not an exchange at all. An exchange would be something like a core on an alternator, etc. The service manager agreed with me that I should try to find the part myself and do the job, or find a replacement panel online.
Anyway, I've read all the posts here and obviously the easiest fix would be just to find a replacement panel and swap them out, keeping the original for parts that might fail in the future. Other than that, replacing the individual switch/part would be the way to go, but I just don't know about price of panel vs. individual part (I've seen the comments about it being way overpriced). I've also read the posts about using a 3D printer, which would be great, but I'd have to find a place that would do such work, and I don't even know where to begin. The post about using a mechanical pencil eraser is interesting, but I'm wondering about rubber vs. plastic, and how you attach/replace the part? Super glue? (I haven't looked at it yet, so I don't know.)
My question to you all is which way to go, but more importantly, any sources, directions, etc., for where to find any of this stuff other than what you've mentioned here. I used the link to that Taiwanese parts supplier but didn't see the availability of the parts. Does it come from Taiwan, or are there any state-side (US) suppliers/vendors available that anyone could steer my way?
Also, are there any 3D printer services that do this kind of stuff that anyone could recommend? I'm asking all these questions up front BEFORE I take the panel off so as to get all my ducks in a row and not have any surprises.
BTW: Mine is with a Nav.System and the Lexus P/N for mine is 86110B.
Thanks for your time!
Yep, now I'm having this problem with my passenger side. Just happened. (Of course, when its now getting cold and you need the heat!). The temp UP function is broken, so its stuck on 70, which is fine in the summer, but not now. First of all, I'm so thankful to this club bc its often a pain in the butt to find solutions to the simplest things. I talked with Lexus on this, including the service manager who I know well, and apparently as good as Lexus is, they were very short-sided on some things----especially on this generation RX. I even mentioned stupid things like not being able to simply pop off speaker grills because the "geniuses" at Lexus decided to make the whole speaker "grill" a molded part of the whole freaking door panel, so if you want to get to your speakers, you have to take off the whole darn panel! (But I digress.) The manager did agree with me on this that yes, Lexus was short-sided on some things, and designing serviceable, pop out, plug in switches and controls was one of those areas. In fact, the Lexus Parts Department told me the only way to have Lexus fix this issue is to go through what they call the "Lexus Exchange Program", whereby their service department, NOT YOU, have to remove the panel and then they would "exchange" it for another one for a low, low price of $1800-$2500! Get that?!
Even if you know how to do it yourself (which I assume we all do here), in order for Lexus to "exchange" it, you have to pay THEIR service department the labor cost of removing it, THEN pay that absurd price for a replacement! I don't know about you guys, but I think they need to rename their "Exchange Program", bc that's not an exchange at all. An exchange would be something like a core on an alternator, etc. The service manager agreed with me that I should try to find the part myself and do the job, or find a replacement panel online.
Anyway, I've read all the posts here and obviously the easiest fix would be just to find a replacement panel and swap them out, keeping the original for parts that might fail in the future. Other than that, replacing the individual switch/part would be the way to go, but I just don't know about price of panel vs. individual part (I've seen the comments about it being way overpriced). I've also read the posts about using a 3D printer, which would be great, but I'd have to find a place that would do such work, and I don't even know where to begin. The post about using a mechanical pencil eraser is interesting, but I'm wondering about rubber vs. plastic, and how you attach/replace the part? Super glue? (I haven't looked at it yet, so I don't know.)
My question to you all is which way to go, but more importantly, any sources, directions, etc., for where to find any of this stuff other than what you've mentioned here. I used the link to that Taiwanese parts supplier but didn't see the availability of the parts. Does it come from Taiwan, or are there any state-side (US) suppliers/vendors available that anyone could steer my way?
Also, are there any 3D printer services that do this kind of stuff that anyone could recommend? I'm asking all these questions up front BEFORE I take the panel off so as to get all my ducks in a row and not have any surprises.
BTW: Mine is with a Nav.System and the Lexus P/N for mine is 86110B.
Thanks for your time!
Driver
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 65
Likes: 16
From: Queensland
Dennis
Thanks for the speedy reply . I did see the just the temperature panel on ebay I might try that. I guess if I do replace it I have to remove the whole ECU unit to get access to the temperature panel ? Thankfully it’s stuck on Max AC because the Texas heat will be coming soon.
Thanks Again
Bill
Thanks for the speedy reply . I did see the just the temperature panel on ebay I might try that. I guess if I do replace it I have to remove the whole ECU unit to get access to the temperature panel ? Thankfully it’s stuck on Max AC because the Texas heat will be coming soon.
Thanks Again
Bill
Hope it helps
8th Gear
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 8
Likes: 5
From: AL
Yeah, I found a mechanical engineer locally that is making 3D parts for me now. I will post when I finish the job. On a side note: My center air vents are broken as well, which is more of an annoyance, since that stupid little cheap piece of plastic "bar" that the fins attach to break, causing the fins to move separately.
Rookie
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 49
Likes: 15
From: FL
Yeah, I found a mechanical engineer locally that is making 3D parts for me now. I will post when I finish the job. On a side note: My center air vents are broken as well, which is more of an annoyance, since that stupid little cheap piece of plastic "bar" that the fins attach to break, causing the fins to move separately.
As far as the vents are concerned, I used a couple of thin copper wires from a Cat-5 cable, stripped of the insulation, to wrap around the posts where the cheap plastic part was. I did this whilst I had the console out trying to mount an Android headend unit that turned out not to be what I wanted but at least gave me access to those stupid vents. I think you might be able to do it without removing the console if “someone” came up with a jig to form the wires into the right shape and then patiently inserting it from the front of the vent. It’s not rocket surgery and just requires a little patience which I’m, unfortunately lacking…🥵
8th Gear
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 8
Likes: 5
From: AL
That CAT-5 wire idea is a good one! I'll have to check that when I open it up later this week. It just has to be something that has the approximate thickness of the original, OR I could rig something of approximate thickness and cut out the slots in it with a Dremel so the fins either snap in place, or maybe secure the fins in place with Gorilla Glue. I DO NOT want to pay $80+ dollars EACH for two new vents.
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