Britprius

The CR2450 PCN2 would suit the TPMS modules the best for fitting purposes. Some companies do a tagging service (fitting tags to standard cells) if you ask. Those batteries are a little expensive "but still cheep compared with new TPMS units" as I paid less than that for 5 batteries. If you scroll down to the bottom of your link they do a product called wire glue. This would enable you to fit tags to your own batteries or "glue" the original tags to new batteries bought at a cheaper price, and readily available from other suppliers, and no soldering would be required. John.

I too had a Vittess convertible back in the late 60's. It was the 6 cylinder 1600cc version that was later replaced with the more commonly known 2ltr engine. John.

Maybe he was not warring polarized glasses. I find they make a huge difference the texture pattern reflecting off the top of the dash on the screen all but disappearing. John

I have the same problem with my GS, and have found polarised sun glasses eliminate the problem. Sitting in the car in a car park today I was watching a motorcyclist putting on his crash hat.with my glasses on. I removed my glasses to wipe them, and to my amazement I could not see either the motorbike or the rider through the glare, and replaced and took off the glasses several times to note the effect. John

A PO355 code relates to a faulty ignition coil or it's connections. John.

The lable in his picture of the battery shows 190809 so it is an 09 battery. John

I would certainly get the car into Lexus for them to investigate. I know the CT had problems along with the Prius for occasional very rough, and noisy start up, and Toyota redesigned the inlet manifold to cure the problem. If you can Video the problem with your phone, and take this along as evidence. John.

I think you misunderstand what I was saying. Anyone can see my reg at any time on the road, but they cannot see my name and address. I agree the DVLA will still hold my name and address against my reg number, but passing my name and address on from my registration to anyone other than police or local authority is or should be against the legislation. John

Thanks Lee. There is a paragraph in that article that confirms something I had suspected, but not found any proof of regarding the Toyota/Lexus VVT system. The cold start rattle many have been complaining about is due to a pin failing locking the sprocket to the cam at engine shut down. At start up "after the oil has drained from the VVT sprocket" the sprocket should be locked to the cam by a spring loaded pin stopping any movement. Once the sprocket has filled with oil the oil pressure rises it pushes the pin out of it's locking position and allows camshaft advance. This pin on some GS's is either seized or it's spring is broken or weak not pushing it into the locked position. The result is the start up rattle many of us are getting after the car has stood for a while. Lexus say this is not a problem for the GS450H, and put up with the noise. In the US the GS, but not the GS450H has a recall for this because it can cause the cam retaining bolts to fall into the timing chain. They say it does not happen with the GS450H because of the different starting method, but there has been a report on LOC of this happening. The cure is to replace the timing sprockets involving removing all 4 cams at considerable expense. Alternatively a prelube system that pressurises the system before the engine turns over eliminates the problem. I will shortly as promised give details of building such a system at very low cost. John.

Rayaan be aware although your no claims discount is protected the premium you pay is not. This means your insurer "can" still raise the price of your premium, and give you your discount off the new figure. Very clever or devious depending on how you look at it on behalf of insurers. John.

Names and addresses can be covered by GDPR. Scenario:- A thief wishes to steel a given make of expensive car. He sees the model and color of car he wishes to steel driving down a road, and takes note of it's number. If he is working for or in collusion with anyone with access to the DVLA data base be it a parking company or other. He know has the details of where to find the car to steal at knight or worse car jack. These details should not be for sale. John.

It is unlikely to be the fuse. Fuses rarely fail without a reason, and further the electrics on modern cars are more complicated than of old with simple wiring. It could be the switch on the pedal. The switch tells the body ECU if the brake is applied or not. The ECU then monitors the speed sensor to see if your moving, and works out if if the light should be on, and should an audible warning given. The system is more complicated than this, but it gives an idea of how things work. Almost everything you operate is done via an ECU that communicates with other ECU's cross checking if the operation is safe. On the multi function display "MFD" in the hidden menu I believe it shows if the brake is operated. If it does not show when the brake is applied it is probably the switch. To enter the hidden menu do a search for instructions from the box at the top of this screen. John

The normal procedure with a claim is that you pay the excess to the repairer "body shop" when the insures have settled who was to blame the insurance company return the excess payment to the innocent party. This does not mean the money will be returned quickly. I had a no fault claim when I was with Churchill. I had it in writing from the other party that the damage was his fault, but it still took 3 years to get my excess back after many many phone calls. Ask your insurer if this claim will affect your premiums for the next 5 years "you will have to declare the claim for that period". If it will ask how much, and say you wish to claim that if any as out of pocket expenses. John

Rayaan I feel for you. Not what anyone needs or wants. Fortunately not to much damage that could cause future problems. I hope you manage to get it sorted quickly. John.

Then it's possible they would pass it on. My service book has all the vehicle details, reg no, vin, and first owners name, and address. John.

I am not sure about the 5w30 oil, but the 0w20 oil is only available as a fully synthetic. John

The service book will not be passed on if it has you name and address in it as this now breaches the data protection act. From now on if you buy a SH car the log book will not show the last owners name, and address for the same reason. John.

I could be wrong, but I think your paint code uses a three stage process, a color, a pearl, and a clear cote. They charge circa £10 per aerosol last time I purchased. They will give you all the information you require over the phone. Nothing is to much trouble for them. John.

I would certainly miss the spark plug change. In the Toyota's iridium plugs are inspected at 60K, and changed at 120k miles. Again with Toyota I found the difference between an intermediate service, and a full service was basically just extra checks all of which are carried out in the MOT that you are charged extra for. As you say the servicing cost particularly where only small yearly millage's are concerned do not make sence. To make matters even more complicated does a service history now matter since the dealer does not pass on the service book information due to the data protection act. John.

Seems reasonable. John

Does that mean we get tea, biscuits, a wash, and a courtesy car? John

I always use a company called "R A Romart auto motive" at Lye, Stourbridge, Westmidlands. Tel 01384 891281 They specialise in the refinishing trade products, and mix there paints on the premises putting it into large aerosols with fan spray nozzles if required, and will post the products. Paint matching has always been excellent, and there service is fast. I have nothing to do with this company apart from buying there products over many years. John.

One of the up sides to the data protection act. Parking companies such as Parking Eye can be made to declare what information they hold on your cars registration "owner, address ect", and they have to respond in 28 days. You can also demand the data held is deleted, how and by when it's deleted and be given a list of any companies the data has been passed on to. If enough people do this it will cause them real problems as they must respond. This means they will now have to pay the DVLA for information every time a registration number crops up they will no longer be able to store it. You should also be able to ask the DVLA under the freedom of information act what information they have passed on, and to who. John.

I always use 0w20 oil in my GS450H. I also used it in my previous car a Prius. I have not done a millage comparison in the GS between 0w20 & 5w30, but in the Prius the difference in the fuel consumption I calculated paid for the oil using 0w20 in the 10,000 mile OCI. In theory the savings should be more with the GS even though it holds nearly double the amount of oil to the Prius. John.

The flow rate will be limited by the diameter of the pick up hose "smaller than the dipstick tube", and the viscosity of the oil. If the pump tries to pull hot oil to quickly the pick up tube could collapse shutting off the flow of oil. John