I wanted to ask others' thoughts regarding the Touch Free Power Rear Door.

There is a thread already where many have expressed their frustration with the operation; and yes, I have and continue to experience this myself. It finally dawned on me that I go through the 'hovering' and placement dance all the time. A friend was watching this the other day and asked if there wasn't just a button; I noted that there was one about six inches away that is very reliable. After that day, I quit using Touch Free.

I think that I was going through all those gyrations because I didn't want to admit that I had wasted $200 ! But now, I admit it.

I saw the cool "use your foot" when your hands are full that other brands offer, and just assumed that this would be just as good. It's not. So, anyone else wish they hadn't wasted $200 ?

 

The sensor is within the upper portion of the emblem. You need only to hold your hand steady over that portion for about a two second delay and it will open every time. I don't get all this waving stuff you heard of.
That thing will open the hatch even when I am drying the car with a towel or like today when I lifted my shirt tail up to fluff off a couple smudges off the emblem. There went the beeeeep and opened the door. It does work if you do it the way I described.

 

Why would you bother with the no touch if you have a free hand anyway? It's there for when your hands are full, otherwise the button will always make more sense (or even the fob)

 

Radio88, glad that things are working for you...

But, I know there are many people experiencing issues: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...or-issues.html

My point is that even if it works, it's not much different than the button, while a 'foot sensor' actually offers useful additional function.

Maybe, I need to start 'flashing' the sensor

 

Works fine for me. When I have no hands available I can just rest of elbow on the top of the emblem and it opens just fine.

There is no need to hover at all unless you are trying to keep your hands clean. You can simply touch the top of the logo with anything and wait for it to beep.

 

Just have them change the sensitivity level.

 

Works great for me once I learned on the forum to hover over the top half of the emblem. 100% reliable and great for when your hands are tied up. Otherwise, button is fine and quicker...or when walking up, i like the fob because i dont have to wait for the hatch to open. Not a waste IMO. Foot would be better, but i think someone holds a patent on that setup.

 

It is very interesting about the large variety of experiences with this. I have personally found that the touch free either works perfectly, as noted above, or, at other times, will not work regardless of how hard I try.


I wonder if there are some other condition(s) that have to be present before this feature works? e.g. Do the other car door(s) have to first be unlocked? How close/nearby does the key FOB have to be?

 

I had a loaner Explorer once with the foot sensor. It was terrible. It kept detecting my foot as I was loading things in the back and closing on my head. I'm fine with a traditional button...but at least the Lexus approach shouldn't shut on your head.

 

One thing I learned is that it must be in park. When I cold start in the morning, I roll in neutral out of the garage to the dip at the edge of my driveway, and the dip holds the vehicle while I warm up. I tried opening the rear door at that point and it did not open till I put it in park.

 

It's not that great. I have found that i do need to tap the L logo to get it to open reliably. Just holding my hand over the emblem doesn't work reliably enough. Hitting the little button near the license plate light is not that difficult even with my hands full, so i see little value in this option.

 

Heh, I've had my F sport for a little over a month now and I learn just this second, there is a button to open the trunk...... I was always annoyed with the touch free thing and even avoided putting things in the trunk and opting to put stuff in the back seat because of the touch free thing being such a hassle.

 

Worked every SINGLE time on the RX loaners Ive had

I even used my head to do it - just bow down and itll open - makes me feel like im in a Bruce Lee film!

I believe there is a sensitivity adjustment in the menus too so make sure you play around with that.

 

The dealer's technical rep and I were having trouble opening the touchless rear door with our hands. Then we tried it with our elbows. It opened every time. Try your elbow. You don't have to touch the emblem, just place your elbow above it.

 

I can image the look on someone face as you do this in the parking lot! They are probable like...