Britprius

The gas aerosol I described has a tube outlet that you can push the trigger hose on to after removing the trigger. The aerosol has a push button to control the gas. Look on Ebay for AC sealants other than the STP version as it's not clear if the STP sealant has PAG oil added. There is a sealant called "Xstream" that is very good, and also contains a dye that shows leaks under UV light. John.

If you wish to top up the gas in the system you can use Rothenburge pipe freezer that plumbers use to freeze pipes. This is pure R134A with no oil added, and can be obtained from B&Q, Toolfix, and other plumbing outlets like Wickes at around £16 for 16ozs. John.

Under no circumstances use R134A with PAG oil added. This is for non hybrid cars with engine driven compressors. Hybrid cars have electrically driven compressors that use the same gas "R134A", but the oil used is ND11, The gas and oil in hybrid compressor washes over the high voltage "500 + volts" motor windings, and needs to be an electrical insulator. PAG oil is electrically conductive, and if used or even equipment contaminated with it will cause compressor failure at some time in the near future. John.

Is the top of the dashboard clear of any items near the windscreen? such as parking tickets. The sensor for the lights is in the top of the dash, and if covered the car thinks it is dark. John.

As long as you are not having any problems with the ABS system or getting fault codes I would leave things as they are. You say the rings look worn, but they should not be in contact with anything to ware them. The only connection they have is magnetic. If you start getting fault codes this is the time to look for problems, and if there is a problem the brakes will still work safely as the system is designed to fail safe. John.

If you search Ebay you will find many more. You can buy just the bush without the alloy housing, but you then need a press to push the bush out, and in. You can also buy uprated versions that use a plastic instead of rubber but these can transmit more road noise. John.

Try this. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Front-Left-Lower-Control-Arm-Bush-Fits-Toyota-Crown-Lexus-GS-Blue-Print-ADT38063/173621089404?fits=Car+Make%3ALexus&hash=item286c9f947c:g:dk0AAOSw4O9dxVTs John.

I think at some time or other many of us have been in this situation. At one time a blue screen sticker was issued with a the MOT to show the date it expired as a reminder, but this was discontinued. The cynic in me says this is to increase revenue from fines for those that accidentally missed the date of renewal. John.

From your pictures that appears to be the front lower suspension wishbone rear mounting bush. This is nothing to do with the engine or transmission. John.

The pistons on the front of the GS just push back the same as any other non hybrid vehicle. Disconnecting the 12 volt battery or pulling the two ABS relays will prevent any risk of piston movement. John.

The front brakes on the GS450H are no different to the non hybrid versions as there is no drive to the front wheels. So I do not see the problem of it being a hybrid. If you find a local machine shop, and take the discs to them to be skimmed they will probably charge you less than £50 to skim them. John.

Have you checked with Toyota as this plug or even the pins may be available as parts. The same compressor is used on the Prius. Denso the makers sell them new on ebay for under £650 delivered. Second hand units are available for £40 upwards, and you may be able to change the plugs over if you wish to keep using your own compressor. John.

The RX300 is rated at 1500kg if fitted with the towing package "cooler". However towing a camping trailer under 750kg that has little in the way of frontal area "and therefore wind resistance" will not require a cooler, and further a trailer under this weight capacity does not need a braking system. I would be surprised if you noticed any difference towing such a small trailer. John.

We have all made mistakes "in my case senior moments" when we write or say something different to what our brains are telling us. I have done this several times on this forum. John.

The correct oil for use in the UK is 0w20, and the handbook states if anything else of a higher viscosity is used it should be changed for the correct grade at or before 5000 miles maximum. The correct grade need not be changed till 10,000 miles. It also states using anything other than 0w20 will have a serious impact on fuel consumption. Prius Chat forum bears out this with reports of people getting a loss of up to 15 mpg by using 0w or 5w30 oil. John.

It's not just in this country that cats are being stolen. John.

If you check your tyre pressures you will find which tyre is low. Reinflating the tyre will cure the warning after a short drive. There should be no reason to do anything with the tyre valve unless it is leaking, and is the reason for the low pressure. It could be you have a slow puncture or that the tyre has lost pressure over a long period if you do not check the pressures as you should ar leased every time you fill with fuel. John.

To show someones post just click on the word "quote" at the bottom of the post, and then type in your reply. John.

The CT will not charge the HV battery in neutral. Leving the car in neutral should be avoided whenever possible. In neutral both motor generators are in effect disconnected a legal requirement so that no drive can be sent to the wheels, and also the engine cannot start. If the engine is running when the car is put into neutral it will continue to run until it reaches temperature when it will stop. It can then not restart. John.

Using "B" mode down hill does not fire up the engine. It actually turns it off, and then spins it at speed with MG1 (motor generator 1) the motor used for starting the engine. This uses the energy created by MG2 "driven by the wheels to act as a load to slow the car. If you apply the accelerator in this mode the engine will start but it's speed "RPM" will reduce not increase. Unless you are coming down a very long decent it is better not to use "B" mode as the energy is then directed to the HV battery charging it, and saving the energy. Gentle braking will provide even more regen for the charging saving more energy. John.

Much as I like these lights I do wonder about there legality. Unless they are "E" marked "that I doubt", and still reflect light when not lit in theory they should fail an MOT. I agree that most testers would probably not notice them, but the way insurance companies work they could refuse a claim on the grounds of non compliant lighting, and notifiable modifications. John.

In that case it is probably salt deposits. Salt eats aluminium at an alarming rate, and of course is known for accelerating rust. John.

The strange thing is it also appears to be on the steel components. Do you park in an industrial area where there may be chemicals in the atmosphere that may be settling out. John.

You can now use 0w16 oil for even better mpg John.

The front box is a resonator, and the rear boxes are silencers. Muffler is an Americanism for silencer. John.