plastic orange

That's why I made my Kwik Fit comment as this was one of their tactics. Pete

Refund received and the second set of struts are now working fine, so I've essentially got them for free (minus postage costs) as their admin doesn't seem to realise they'd sent me another pair, but such is life. Pete

Very busy in north of Scotland just now due to the popularity of the NC500. Accommodation may not be easy to find unless pre booked. Smidge is what's recommended as protection from midgies. Pete

Sounds like a Kwik fit style of report, not what I'd expect of a Lexus dealership. Pete

I'm thinking of an SC at the moment too as a replacement for my LS400. Pete

Refund on it's way apparently. Pete

I sent them a video too, so I've got to agree that something is wrong. If this post serves to raise awareness of the issue then fine. I now have 2 sets of rear struts, so I may send 1 back and see what happens regarding a refund. Pete

I decided that I had to bite the bullet and contact SGS about rear struts as my wife could hardly pull the hatch down due to the increased pressure. They were very pro-active and sent up new struts to the pressure they say they should be. Unfortunately they still won't power down, but are easier to do manually. I contacted SGS today to tell them and here's the reply: Hello Pete, Thank you for your email. I do apologise, we haven't been made aware that you were operating the tailgate/struts via a motor and expecting the boot to close with this. Unfortunately, we cannot supply struts for motorised tailgates, you will be able to operate them manually but no other way. If the struts are in saleable condition, we can accept a return on these for a refund. Please advise how you would like to proceed? I do apologise for the inconvenience caused. I don't know why they say they were unaware of the powered tailgate as this has been stated in every correspondence I've had with them, and I was under the impression that all RX's had this feature. I'm unsure how to proceed now. Pete

I run Falkens - 235/55 x17 on my dhp as I wasn't going to pay over £200 a corner for the originally specced pirellis which were 245/45 x17. Grip is pretty good but longevity on the rear isn't. Speedo over reads by about 2 - 3 mph at 70 when new. Pete

Mine has had a knock for some time now and I've ruled out the obvious. A very detailed inspection discovered a crack in the bottom of the spring on the N/S, so this is what's causing the noise. As my car is a DHP model, I'm living with it as I can't source replacements. MOT wouldn't pick it up as it's very hard to see, and car hasn't dropped as piece is still in place. Pete

My son's Altezza did the same thing - as he entered his drive with bottom arm landing on the wheel. It was a low mileage jap import with no rust whatsoever and we'd checked repeatedly for an elusive knock without success (including MOT tester). Pete

Oh dear!! Rear hatch opens perfectly now, but it's the reverse problem now - won't power down. However, at least it opens and it will close the old fashioned way which is better. It may lose pressure over time as I don't have a clue what the compromise pressure should be. I may swap one rear strut from daughter in laws RX and see if that works. Pete

I've just had an email from them - struts are on their way and uprated to 850 nm. Pete

Will do. They haven't been exactly quick in sending them though - still waiting. Pete

Sounds good Ruud. Pete

My boot is completely dry - drive unit had light dust on it - that was all. Menu button and other sat nav related buttons are now not working at all, so I think I'll look for a good used unit. cheers for replies. Pete

I'll keep sending them back until they get them right. The guy was pretty unhelpful really, so next time if I have to contact I'll ask for a supervisor. Pete

I disconnected for an hour and it didn't make a difference. However, I didn't need to enter radio code, so the internal battery may not have run down. If it didn't reboot I would have no way of resetting things as the menu can't be accessed when problem exists, so don't want to risk it. Pete

I had to chase up SGS regarding getting the struts uprated. It was a difficult call as they said they'd supplied the recommended struts at 600 newtons (I think that's what he said) and what would I like them pressurised to. I told him that the reason I purchased from them is that they are supposedly experts and that I would be guessing. In the end they agreed to 800 as a guesstimate, but I really don't know. He seemed confused by me saying the door was powered until I explained how it works. We then disputed postage reimbursement, but their take on it was that there was nothing wrong with the ones they supplied. They tried to charge me again for return postage, but I managed to get them to take that hit. I'm not really impressed in all honesty and I'll be surprised if they work this time. It is one heavy hatch without struts though. Pete

Guys, I can live without the Sat Nav, but the on screen menu can't be accessed because it's not working - adjusting clock, mileage readouts, fuel consumption etc etc. Pete

I'm not bothered about sat nav (got a Tom Tom), but I can't access the menu function because of the problem with the sat nav drive unit. Pete

Following up on problems with touch screen on another thread (attached) and having searched in vain for solutions, I now think that the problem lies in my sat nav drive. When I turn ignition on the screen turns to the lexus green screen and then after a short-ish time turns to climate etc. However, if I press audio, the screen changes instantly, and then if I press climate it functions immediately too. Unfortunately when I press menu, then I get the cd rom prompt - open door. My boot is completely dry, but I tried the heating with hair dryer trick to see if it would work, and again no. I would have thought that the menu would operate even if a disc wasn't in the unit, but no. Before I go and purchase a used sat nav drive are there any other functions to try? I think that at 18 years old now, my car is getting to the end of it's life (owned for 9 years) and I'm reluctant to spend a lot on it when something else may be ready to peg out. It is still running great though and I don't know what to replace it with. Pete

The problem with the screen taking a while to boot up developed further during our short break to Skye this weekend (730 miles averaging 30mpg) when I tried to change the clock from winter to summer setting. I cannot access the menu screen as it keeps saying 'please open the door and please check cd rom'. It goes back ok to other functions - climate, radio etc, but maps and menu are now just the main screen display. When I got back home today I took out the cd rom and it looked fine. I even tried an older cd rom I had as a spare, but got the same message. I then re booted the system by disconnecting battery, but still the same - any ideas folks? cheers Pete

I contacted SGS today who told me I've to send struts back at my expense and they will check them over. If there is a manufacturing fault then they'll refund postage and repair. I told them about the other person that reported a similar problem and the customer services person said that they were at quite a high rating already, but that they would work with me. I said that the hatch wasn't much use without struts as the old ones had to be cut off, but she was firm that they must be returned to be checked. I'm not really too hopeful, but will insist on a refund if things don't work out. Pete

Thanks for that. It confirms my suspicions, but the struts I got from them for both the RX and my LS bonnets have worked out fine, hence I went with them for the rears. A phone call on Monday I think. However, my old struts have been binned as I had to cut them off the brackets, so I'll be asking for upgraded items to be sent prior to me sending theirs back. I'll have a look at the motor first though. Pete