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Confused. You say the “steering wheel does not have sensors.” But then you say it “feels the weight,” and that “it is very sensitive.”
So, how does it feel the weight and be sensitive without some sort of sensors?
It's likely a torque sensor in the steering rack. The wheel itself doesn't have sensors (like touch sensors that feel your hand touching specific areas of the physical wheel). I know that Tesla owners used to put weights on strings on both sides of the wheel to simulate the weight/torque of hands on the wheel. I know for me, I just have to have my hand on the wheel, lightly holding/guiding it and the system doesn't complain. But if I go completely hands off, the warning will come on after the allotted time.
Last edited by Sparkling; Feb 11, 2025 at 10:22 AM.
It's likely a torque sensor in the steering rack. The wheel itself doesn't have sensors (like touch sensors that feel your hand touching specific areas of the physical wheel). I know that Tesla owners used to put weights on strings on both sides of the wheel to simulate the weight/torque of hands on the wheel. I know for me, I just have to have my hand on the wheel, lightly holding/guiding it and the system doesn't complain. But if I go completely hands off, the warning will come on after the allotted time.
It is my understanding that the 5th gen RX does have capacitive sensors in the steering wheel.
If it used only torque sensors (older vehicles do) you would have to "jerk" the wheel for it to recognize you're holding it. With the RX you can just lightly "touch" the wheel without applying any torque and it knows you're holding it. It's a much nicer experience.
I've used this feature driving for thousands of miles. When the reminder light comes on you need to move the steering just the smallest amount - a half to 1 mm.
It is my understanding that the 5th gen RX does have capacitive sensors in the steering wheel.
If it used only torque sensors (older vehicles do) you would have to "jerk" the wheel for it to recognize you're holding it. With the RX you can just lightly "touch" the wheel without applying any torque and it knows you're holding it. It's a much nicer experience.
I don't think that's right. You don't have to jerk the wheel because the torque sensor just has to feel the resistance against the active steering the car does. It's same effect on my two Priuses with TSS 2.5 (and there is actually different levels of active steering between the two MY of my cars there). The steering wheel has capacitive sensors for the touch/thumb controls but I don't think they have it on the wheel circumference to detect the hands.
I don't think that's right. You don't have to jerk the wheel because the torque sensor just has to feel the resistance against the active steering the car does.
You don't have to agree. I've owned several vehicles with torque-only sensors and others with capacitive steering wheels. The RX manual doesn't seem to specify one way or the other, but my observation is that the behavior is consistent with other vehicles that I had confirmed were capacitive. I can just "touch" the face of the wheel (literally one finger applying zero torque or resistance) and it doesn't nag me. Every other torque-only system I've used has required physical resistance to register.
You don't have to agree. I've owned several vehicles with torque-only sensors and others with capacitive steering wheels. The RX manual doesn't seem to specify one way or the other, but my observation is that the behavior is consistent with other vehicles that I had confirmed were capacitive. I can just "touch" the face of the wheel (literally one finger applying zero torque or resistance) and it doesn't nag me. Every other torque-only system I've used has required physical resistance to register.
My neighbor down the street works @ the Toyota Tech Center in Ann Arbor and is a manager in the Assisted Driving Technologies group there. Soon after we bought our 2023 RX in March 2023 I asked him how the system detected whether your hands were on the wheel. He confirmed that it is a torque sensor in the steering column.
My neighbor down the street works @ the Toyota Tech Center in Ann Arbor and is a manager in the Assisted Driving Technologies group there. Soon after we bought our 2023 RX in March 2023 I asked him how the system detected whether your hands were on the wheel. He confirmed that it is a torque sensor in the steering column.
Yes, there is a torque sensor as well. That doesn't mean the wheel is not capacitive. They are not mutually exclusive. But it doesn't matter. Agree. Don't agree. I'm done with it.
I am thinking of buying a new RX, and am curious about hands-free capabilities on long highway trips. In particular, how long can you go with the Lane Tracing Assist without having to touch the steering wheel? My Audi A4 requires a twitch of the wheel every 15 seconds or it pops up a nag screen. My Genesis GV80 will go for many minutes, depending on road conditions and traffic.
I should preface by saying I've been a long-time Toyota/Lexus fan until I purchased a 23 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy. I then recently purchased a 24 RX Premium + with all available options (I did not want the problematic pano roof) and I suspect you will be disappointed in the Lexus technology. I'm sad to report that it is far behind Hyundai in many respects. I love most things about the RX, but I much prefer driving the Hyundai - it is far safer technologically speaking. For example: Missing from the Lexus: blind spot notification in HUD, lane change warning if another vehicle is in the adjacent lane, no auto-brake during rear cross-traffic detection, the front cross-traffic warning is too aggressive in the Lexus, driver attention is annoying in Lexus, only driver side mirror auto-dims in RX, Android Auto randomly disconnects for no reason. If you have a Genesis, you'll understand (and be disappointed)! I wish I would have researched more, but I never anticipated Lexus would be so far behind Hyundai!
RX500h → The steering wheel has, according to ChatGPT :-) ! , capacitive sensors.
I claim that the capacitive sensors are integrated in the lower area, but from the sides to the top, only the torque sensor responds!?
Maybe we have a Lexus technician or a service manual.. ?
RX500h → The steering wheel has, according to ChatGPT :-) ! , capacitive sensors.
I claim that the capacitive sensors are integrated in the lower area, but from the sides to the top, only the torque sensor responds!?
Maybe we have a Lexus technician or a service manual.. ?
From my experience it seems that the capacitive sensor is only in 3 and 9 o'clock positions. Not bottom.
Add long asI touch 9 o'clock with a touch only it won't complaint.
