I installed the EBH using the instructions from Efusco many months ago. Nice to have so much detailed information prior to the install. I was unsucessful in removing the studs. When I put the socket on the studs they rounded off somewhat so I was left with using them as they are. the original nuts from the studs went back on as well. No problem, good seal. Someone else mentioned they had the same stud removal problem and used the nuts also.
Good luck you should not have any problems otherwise.

Lenny

 

Great news, as that seemed to be the most challenging part, even with the proper star socket which I have. Steel into aluminum binds up very easily.

Thanks, Lenny.

Pete

 

I've also noticed this in my RX400h (07). I hate going back to the dealer because of the attitude they give you. I do appreciate the responses since it's been a minor concern of mine.
r6264

 

I just purchased my 08 HH Limited and since the vehicle will have to live outside and I live in the Great White North (1 hour east of Toronto, Ontario) I had the block heater option installed as part of the purchase.
I am a volunteer ski instructor with a disabled ski program so it will be interestin to see how the truck performs in winter. I have already decided that the rims will be coming off and some proper winter skins will be going on.

 

Have you considered using grid power to preheat your seats rather than battery power?

Or preheat the entire passnger cabin when grid power is available..??

 

I use a cabin heater on a timer from the garage when at home. By doing so it also helps defrost the windows. Being a Power Utility Worker I get my electrons by the bucketful for free

 

The system is supposed to switch from regen braking to traditional in the last few mph (dont' know why), but yes I have experienced it and its very unsetteling. If I hadn't read a review describing this "sybil" behavior, I probably would have taked it back to the dealer a day after I bought it to find out what was wrong. A review of a 2008 model either by the same author or someone familar with earlier model said the effect was much less pronounced than the 2006/7 models. I thought it was interesting that Benton noticed it, but perhaps that change wasn't in the 2008 Lexus, but its hard to imagine it woudln't have been.

However what most of us, including myself are describing I think is different from what you originally said, "locking up". I'd usually interpret that phrase as full brakes for a moment. What I usually experience, and what I have read about, is what feels like a near loss of brakes for a momement. Can you clarify what feeling you were describing when you said "locking up"?

Thanks.

 

 

You seem to know a great deal about the components. I had often hypothised that ABS might completely disengage regen, but never have seen any info which states that it does. Do you know if this can/does actually happen or is this just a high probability guess?

 

So, lets make the case for the brakes feeling, first, as if "locking", a feeling of hard braking effort, quick slowing of the vehicle, and then suddenly transitioning into not so hard. And lets assume the hybrid battery is in dire need of recharging.

So, we apply the brakes fairly aggressively, well beyond moderate, and as a result we get a mix of regen and frictional braking, moreso regen as a result of the battery condition. But now we hit a slippery (pothole, wet..?) spot on the roadbed, the Anti-lock system detects impending wheel lockup and INSTANTLY disables ALL regen capability.

Note that you will NOT feel this initial, one time, ABS activation in the traditional way, no brake pedal pulsing.

To make up the sudden change in braking HP more fluid pressure must now be applied to the brake pistons. Keeping in mind that we now have reason to be suspicious of the roadbed traction there is a good case for the design engineers to have been careful about the reaction, so the increase in brake fluid pressure will likely be slow, somehow metered, so that we do not transition into frictional braking so fast and HARD that ABS is again forced to activate, perhaps needlessly.