Herbie

That's how we end up with a jar of spare screws that we can go to to find one when we need it

If that was a computer monitor I'd suspect a bad video cable connection or bad cable. Before spending any money, take the head unit out and also expose the connectors at the back of the screen and check that the connections are secure. If they are, next thing is to check the video cable itself, which you can do by unplugging each end and testing the continuity of each conductor in turn. Most multimeters will have an audible continuity testing facility, so turn that on and touch the probes together. If it's working as normal you'll hear a tone. Now put one probe on one pin of the cable at the head unit end and use the other probe to touch each pin of the plug at the screen end where, hopefully, you'll hear a tone on one of them, proving that that conductor is good. If any fail to produce a tone then you need a new cable.

I have no idea, but just be aware that even if it's true and it works, you'll still be running 8-year old maps on a 15-year old operating system that was never very good to begin with anyway. Surely, using a stand-alone unit such as a TomTom or even better, useing Waze or Google Maps on your phone has to be more useful?

Never had a CT so I don't know for sure but, most cars usually have a 'plunger' type of switch mounted facing upwards, somewhere around the radiator or the bonnet catch, so that when the bonnet is closed it presses the plunger down. It probably has two wires to it so either just pull them off the switch and connect them together, or replace the switch.

Lexus dealer wanted £399 for GAP Insurance but https://www.motoreasy.com/gap-insurance was about £150 for 3 years cover if I remember correctly. Mind you, this was about 14 months ago before prices started going crazy so it may have gone up a bit since then. Winter tyres - you live in Greater London not the Siberian wastelands and as such, Goodyear Vector 4Seasons or Michelin Cross Climates are great all-season tyres that perform brilliantly all year round in this country. You southern softies don't even get as cold as we do up here in Lancashire

No surprise at all. I live within a mile of Asda and have always used their fuel without any problems whatsoever, which is why I always laugh at the people who say things like "Supermarket fuel is rubbish" or "I never use anything except the Ultra V-Power from Esso" or similar silly things

That doesn't work for everyone though. For instance, only 2015 and onwards (Gen 4) RXs can do this.

The biggest problem is that you can't compare 'like-for-like' any more. I passed my test back in 1975 and insurance really only came in three flavours, the highest level being 'fully comprehensive' and that's what it really meant. Everything was covered in that one package. Now, 'fully comp' only means half of what it used to and the rest is extra. This means that Company A offer a different 'fully comp' than Company B does and both of them are different to what Company C provides. 'Hate' is maybe too strong a word but I intensely dislike insurance companies and their sharp practices.

Some people won't have the opportunity to use anything but the abysmally poor Lexus system but if you have the facility to use Android Auto or Apple Carplay, I strongly urge you to do so. Music-wise, all I have to do is to say, "Play Planet Rock" or "Play Absolute Classic Rock" and it just does it, effortlessly and without fuss. Navigation-wise, all I have to say is, "Open Waze". Once Waze is up and running, "M33 4XX" and Waze answers, "M33 4XX. Got it, let's go" and the route is planned with the map onscreen within seconds. When there are alternatives, the frustration of trying to use the Lexus voice commands is more akin to self-flagellation

Insurance is so fickle that it's basically impossible to compare. It seems to change with the weather or what colour of socks you're wearing, but one thing I can say is that it shouldn't be anywhere mear as high as that, unless your area of Greater London has something to do with it. Mine was about £465 three months ago with full, protected NCB etc., etc.

Never liked the use of any 'sealant' in anything like this. If it can seal small leaks it can also seal narrow bore pipes and stop whatever fluid/gas is in there.

Toyota scales down production further.

I find they last about 12 months and then need to be replaced. Visual inspection shows no obvious rips or tears in the mesh but the continuity is obviously compromised and the signal leaks from somewhere. I check my operational pouch weekly and I have a few spare to go at, but it does make me thankful of my 'belt and braces' approach of also using a big, bright yellow, steering lock. Having said that, wrapping the fob in kitchen foil also blocks the signal, so it's not like I'll ever be without a Faraday cage of one sort or another

Very nice Nicky, enjoy it

I don't know what you're feeling but the eCVT doesn't "shift" and I defy anyone to notice the change between battery and petrol and vice versa. The changes can happen every couple of seconds in certain driving conditions, sometimes even less. Unless your eyes are glued to the energy monitor instead of the road, you'll never know when the changes occur. If you could tell in yours then maybe there was a fault somewhere.

No, no need to do that. The only thing blocked is the entry, not the immobiliser.

I'd say that was just about on the limit; any longer and it would likely have failed.

It does really but as the battery ages it loses the capacity to accept a 'full' charge, so what you're seeing may be the most it can achieve at this point in its life. The chart below shows 'offload' voltages, which, admittedly, doesn't really mean a lot. If a battery is going bad then once you put a load on it that voltage may drop like a stone, which is why a proper battery tester is preferable to just a standard multimeter, as the proper tester will simulate a load. I'm sure there's a formula to work that out but my brain seems to be on holiday today and I just can't remember what it is. However, if you look at the 5th post above this one you'll see an example that may help you work it out. I was hoping that my 'little grey cells' would be triggered as I'm typing this but unfortunately not A very good idea and highly recommended. Yes, no problem.

No idea about the company in Tyne & Wear but as for the seized bolts, I've had great success with this stuff in the past.

All cameras work in all cars, there's nothing at all that's car-specific about them. We had a 2013 RX450h with a Viofo A119s camera fitted. When we traded up for our 2018 RX450h I took the camera and wiring out of the old one and installed it in the new one without any problem whatsoever. When that camera eventually died I replaced it with a dual set, the Viofo A129 Duo available from here and I'm very pleased with them. Like Len above, I'm wondering what's different about your RX that makes you think you can't fit just any camera(s) in there? Oh, and that PDF file is still there, I just clicked on the link a couple of minutes ago to try it and yep, works fine.

Smart Entry does have its uses so if someone doesn't want to completely disable it, you can just turn off the key fob transmitter. On the 4RX you simply press down on the fob 'Lock' button whilst pressing the 'Unlock' button twice. The fob LED then flashes four times to show that the fob transmitter has been turned off. The system will be reset next time you use the car. Personally, I think prevention is better than cure so I also use "a fetching big yellow steering lock" as a visual deterrent that will hopefully make the scrotes think that my car is too much hassle and will move straight on to an easier target.

Even if you have a spare fob you can turn it off on both of them. Sadly though, this only works on the 4RX, not any earlier version.

Like Andrew above, I've never owned or driven an NX and I'm obviously biased towards the RX being as I'm now on my third one, so you can guess what my recommendation will be The RX isn't really a big car and judging the length and width of the vehicle they're driving is a basic skill that all drivers should have anyway. That's not to pour scorn on any of the modern driving aids such as reversing cameras and such; they are of course useful and have their part to play. You'll very quickly get used to the size and you'll know where it will or won't go. Believe it or not, the RX450h is only 18mm longer than a Ford Mondeo - that's less than three-quarters of an inch. If you wanted to, sort of, 'calibrate' the reversing camera to yourself, simply place something on the road or driveway (a wheely bin, a plastic garden chair or even a traffic cone) and reverse towards it. As you get towards the red line just get out and have a look at the actual distance between the car and the object. When the red line onscreen 'touches' the object, get out and look again. Mine still has a gap of 15 inches at that point so if it's sticking out of the parking bay a bit at the front I know I still have a little leeway to play with.

That does indeed make my blood boil. Or, to keep it car-related, it grinds my gears!