Here is the intro to the New York Times article of 2/15:
"DETROIT, Feb. 15 – Federal regulators have opened a safety
investigation into 2004 models of the best-selling vehicle from Toyota
Motor’s Lexus division, the RX330 sport utility vehicle, after
receiving complaints about failures in its power brakes."
endquote
Transmission lag in the ES series that "works as designed". Failing
brakes in the RX330 that only a few people have problems with. Is this
a symptom of ambivalence on customer safety? Or are some Lexus drivers
just excessively sensitive to lag issues or error-prone? For those of
us with these problems, the answer is clear. Seriously, Lexus, will it
take someone dying in or because of your cars to force you to take
decisive, lifesaving action? I’m sure Lexus did the calculation and
decided the cost of reimbursing for the rare death caused by bad design
was cheaper than a massive recall.
Wow! If you have read the article regarding the Rx330 you would see
that the complaint is soft brake pedel when at a stop that is being
complained about not, the vehicle not stopping when braking. Hard to
have a accident when at a complete stop.
The ES330 concern is only with certain vehicles, under certain
conditions, by a very few drivers and it relates to the computerized
throttle and application when depressed and depends on where the shift
points are. They told me if when depressing the throttle you allow the
vehicle to respond, instead of of constant application of throttle
(which would cause a greater delay) because you are telling the car new
info, the computer is trying to think, it just takes time. Since then I
have had no problems…..NO PROBLEMS!
I was glad they took time to explain to me, but then again I listened
instead of complaining…just a thought!
> Wow! If you have read the article regarding the Rx330 you would see
> that the complaint is soft brake pedel when at a stop that is being
> complained about not, the vehicle not stopping when braking. Hard to
> have a accident when at a complete stop.
I don’t know what article you are reading, but the 2/15 NY Times article
originally referenced here, titled "U.S. Opens Safety Inquiry on Lexus
S.U.V." states (paragraph 3) "The government’s inquiry was prompted by
complaints from 10 Lexus owners who told the agency of brake problems, with
one saying, ‘My brakes went completely out while traveling down a highway at
70 miles per hour.’" A later section reads "Nancy Rosin, 63, of Franklin
Lakes, N.J., said her RX330 was her fourth Lexus but would probably be her
last. The power brakes on her S.U.V. failed when her son was backing out of
a driveway in Vermont in December, she said, and he had to jam down on the
brakes to stop. Ms. Rosin was not among the customers who complained to
regulators. She said a Lexus dealer had led her to believe that the problem
stemmed from using the parking brake, and only later learned about brake
problems in other RX330′s."
Nothing about any problems while stopped.
Oh! I’m sorry I was refering to the TSIB from Lexus regarding soft
brake pedel feel, that has nothing to do with brake failure only "with
a soft pedel at stop on cold starts". I guess the NHTSA will determine
if there is a Vehicle failure or "Driver error" or possibly even
"weather related concerns". I’m sure if we were all there when this
occured we would know the cause.
The thing that I always remember was "unattended acceleration" just
about DESTROYED Audi. When it all came out it was "DRIVER ERROR". Now
that all manufacturers make you step on the brake pedel before shifting
into gear, how many "Unattended acclerations" are there……0. But the
drivers of those cars were convinced that Audi’s had a defect causing
them to slam into their garages, 60 Minutes, did a Big Story on it. End
result, they did not put their foot on the BRAKE pedel…BUT the Gas
pedel…YEAH that would cause you to slam into your garage.
See the local Lexus dealer, it will not be cheap but they are the only ones that can do what you
need.
On 17 Feb 2005 12:20:10 -0800, mowerma…@comcast.net wrote:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
>hello
>just purchased a used lexus and only has one key. the key that i have
>does not lock the glove box. so as far as i have been told this is a
>sub key. i would like to make a spare key and i gathered that i can’t
>cause it is not the master key. any help on this one???? i was told i
>would have to change the computer at a price of $1500.00 if i lost the
>key. so my question is how close to the ignition does this key have to
>be in order for the car to start?? i was thinking i could get a key
>just laser cut and not programed and hide the subkey next to the
>ignition would that work??? try to fool the system? will this work??
>hummm
>thanks
>brian
*****************
Thank You kg…@msbx.net
There is nothing so annoying as arguing with somebody who knows what he is
talking about!
To reply to this email please remove the AT
after the kgs in the reply to address as shown above.
chack ebay for a replacement key and the web for programming instructions.
Also check the newsgroups for previous answers to this (common) problem. Of
course the dealer can provide a replacement if you don’t mind paying their
price. Alittle work on your end will find the desired results.
Do you have a CARMAX near you?
They can make Lexus keys cheaper then the dealer.
>
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
> just purchased a used lexus and only has one key. the key that i have
> does not lock the glove box. so as far as i have been told this is a
> sub key. i would like to make a spare key and i gathered that i can’t
> cause it is not the master key. any help on this one???? i was told i
> would have to change the computer at a price of $1500.00 if i lost the
> key. so my question is how close to the ignition does this key have to
> be in order for the car to start?? i was thinking i could get a key
> just laser cut and not programed and hide the subkey next to the
> ignition would that work??? try to fool the system? will this work??
> hummm
> thanks
> brian
<mowerma…@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:1108671609.975252.105550@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com…
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
> hello
> just purchased a used lexus and only has one key. the key that i have
> does not lock the glove box. so as far as i have been told this is a
> sub key. i would like to make a spare key and i gathered that i can’t
> cause it is not the master key. any help on this one???? i was told i
> would have to change the computer at a price of $1500.00 if i lost the
> key. so my question is how close to the ignition does this key have to
> be in order for the car to start?? i was thinking i could get a key
> just laser cut and not programed and hide the subkey next to the
> ignition would that work??? try to fool the system? will this work??
> hummm
> thanks
> brian
I have had to replace one of these when the key came apart in my wife’s
purse. A new key will cost you about $200.00 and that does not include
programming. We were also told by Lexus that if we lost the masterkey, you
would have to replace the computer. We traded for a Pilot. Honda
apparently does not have the same problem with replacement keys and can
reprogram the computer on the vehicle for a very nominal charge,
Among other reasons, the key "fiasco" is the reason I went to a Cadillac
SRX.
"TWW" <twau…@cox.net> wrote in message
news:v%OUd.4286$2s.3117@lakeread06…
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
> <mowerma…@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:1108671609.975252.105550@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com…
>> hello
>> just purchased a used lexus and only has one key. the key that i have
>> does not lock the glove box. so as far as i have been told this is a
>> sub key. i would like to make a spare key and i gathered that i can’t
>> cause it is not the master key. any help on this one???? i was told i
>> would have to change the computer at a price of $1500.00 if i lost the
>> key. so my question is how close to the ignition does this key have to
>> be in order for the car to start?? i was thinking i could get a key
>> just laser cut and not programed and hide the subkey next to the
>> ignition would that work??? try to fool the system? will this work??
>> hummm
>> thanks
>> brian
> I have had to replace one of these when the key came apart in my wife’s
> purse. A new key will cost you about $200.00 and that does not include
> programming. We were also told by Lexus that if we lost the masterkey, you
> would have to replace the computer. We traded for a Pilot. Honda
> apparently does not have the same problem with replacement keys and can
> reprogram the computer on the vehicle for a very nominal charge,
"Lwags" <lw…@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
news:S45Yd.65519$SQ4.18909@fe1.texas.rr.com…
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
> Among other reasons, the key "fiasco" is the reason I went to a Cadillac
> SRX.
> "TWW" <twau…@cox.net> wrote in message
> news:v%OUd.4286$2s.3117@lakeread06…
> > <mowerma…@comcast.net> wrote in message
> > news:1108671609.975252.105550@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com…
> >> hello
> >> just purchased a used lexus and only has one key. the key that i have
> >> does not lock the glove box. so as far as i have been told this is a
> >> sub key. i would like to make a spare key and i gathered that i can’t
> >> cause it is not the master key. any help on this one???? i was told i
> >> would have to change the computer at a price of $1500.00 if i lost the
> >> key. so my question is how close to the ignition does this key have to
> >> be in order for the car to start?? i was thinking i could get a key
> >> just laser cut and not programed and hide the subkey next to the
> >> ignition would that work??? try to fool the system? will this work??
> >> hummm
> >> thanks
> >> brian
> > I have had to replace one of these when the key came apart in my wife’s
> > purse. A new key will cost you about $200.00 and that does not include
> > programming. We were also told by Lexus that if we lost the masterkey,
you
> > would have to replace the computer. We traded for a Pilot. Honda
> > apparently does not have the same problem with replacement keys and can
> > reprogram the computer on the vehicle for a very nominal charge,
I just had to replace a lost key and I asked what they would have to do if
all master keys were lost. They said that it is no longer necessary to
replace the computer, that they can now reprogram it. Still costs about $500
but I think that included a key as well.
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
>I just had to replace a lost key and I asked what they would have to do if
>all master keys were lost. They said that it is no longer necessary to
>replace the computer, that they can now reprogram it. Still costs about $500
>but I think that included a key as well.
1) that is good news
2) make a backup of your Master key to avoid this trouble. You should
have two.