Barry14UK

Colin and Herbie - thank you for your input - much appreciated. It gives me options to consider.

I can't recall having seen this aspect mentioned previously but it is a valid point, so thanks for mentioning Herbie. Is there a way I can adopt your suggestion but stop anybody using the external feed socket on my car to draw current from my 12v battery when I am parked somewhere, one way diode or something? This possibility is avoided if the smart charger is in line with the battery within the car but has the disadvantage you mention.

My alarm went off the night before last but I had locked it with windows partway open to keep temperature down for when used early yesterday morning. So just closed windows and turned off alarm. My wife found something crawling on her seat the next morning so likely this was the cause - which reminds me, I must spray the interior - don't want insects populating car and triggering alarm.

Well, almost certainly air got into the system. I have never had a problem when changing callipers or replacing flexibles including with ABS system but maybe have been lucky. I know there are some master cylinders that have to be bled but have yet to check whether this is the case with Lexus. Might be worth seeking view of a Lexus independent who will be aware of any special requirements.

My next project, when I can find the time, is to fit a camper type socket to the rear of my car that would feed 240v supply to the smart charger in the boot connected to the 12v battery. There is a convenient tie down leg at the rear that would be handy. So I will just need to hook this up from time to time to my external power supply. This could also be helpful if the battery dropped to a level that it would not prime circuitry to connect to the traction battery. There are occasions when the car is not used for some time so this could be of benefit.

Also, the RAV uses a 4 cylinder engine and is lighter which makes it more economical but not amazingly so. The next Generation RAV promises to be better still in this regard but you are comparing cars that are a few years old. Somehow the Lexus exudes higher quality and is more comfortable but less agile. Much comes down to the way you drive and what aspects you rate more important for you as an individual. The best way to compare is to have a test drive of both. My guess is that coming from an LS400, you would find the RAV more utilitarian.

I was also under the impression that you only needed Techstream to bleed the rear brakes (but may be incorrect understanding). What method was used to bleed the brake and keep the system pressurized while you were working on the seized calliper? Did you clamp the flexible to ensure no air found it's way back into system while working on seized calliper

As many are only too well aware, the 12v VRLA AGM original Panasonic battery in the third generation is only rated at 51Ah and unless it is regularly charged by one of several ways, it can go flat quite soon, particularly as the battery ages. So the risk of a flat battery increases at airport car parks for extended times for example. Certainly, there are ways to get the traction battery to work in an emergency but the fact that the 12v battery has been allowed to drop below a critical level means it's life will have been shortened. I therefore did a lot of research to find an AGM battery to upgrade the original one. (There are a number of free flow lead acid batteries that could be accommodated within the battery compartment under the rear hatch but I excluded these as I wanted to fit an AGM type like the original). I wanted a battery that met the following criteria:- It would significantly increase the Ah over the original Panasonic one. It would be less expensive than an original replacement, be widely available and have a long warranty. It would not be necessary to cut the actual battery compartment to install. It would be easy to remove the battery and fitted components so the next owner could return to stock if wanted. All of the above was achieved by simple changes to fit the 027 60Ah AGM battery, a size that is available from leading makes. I opted for the Halfords (Yuasa) one, using my Gold Membership 15% discount, as it provided a 5 year warranty. Furthermore, should the battery fail prematurely, there are many branches where it could be exchanged. It was necessary to jack up this battery to help clear the sloping sides of the battery compartment and also to pack each side at the top where the angle of the retaining strap secures it each side. This is critical as there is a correlation between the top and bottom packing and each must be right. You then need a way to get the existing earth strap back over the hump of the battery to its original fixing point. I achieved this by using an auxiliary terminal clamp onto which I screwed a brass post. (I could have used an after market earthing strap with a different end but wanted to retain the Lexus one). So the above are the bits I needed. I tried to make the packing parts complement the original as far as possible by making them out of black polypropylene. I cut the battery tray and let in 8mm of polypropylene to extend it. I must say that I have fused other plastics together fairly easily in the past but found polypropylene is a very difficult material to work with and I would not use it again! I would just omit the tray as it serves no useful purpose with an AGM battery. (I note that on some USA forums members have just cut the ends of each propylene tray and extended the tray by flattening the lip). The advantage with my extended tray is that if an owner reverted to an original battery, it would look very near stock. Even with the extended battery tray I had to alter the angle of the projection at each end using heat in order accommodate the battery clamping extensions. It would have made it easier to cut off these clamping extensions on the battery as they are just in the way, but would doubtless have invalidated the warranty should I have to claim on it. It would have been a lot easier to have made the two packing pieces that go beneath the battery retainer at the top out of wood. The bottom packer could be made of plywood, sloped in at the bottom, best used without the original plastic tray or with the lip at both ends of the tray let down. Cost of project in round figures. Halfords (Yuasa ) 027 AGM battery on offer with discount from local branch £103 Neg earth clamp and pair of brass terminal posts with allen screws , only neg used £ 20 Polypropylene for base and top packer £ 7 Milliput as core for top packers to prevent crushing £ 5 Vent elbow £ 6 Polypropylene DPC used 1 layer below tray and 1 above £ 0* C.T.1 Adhesive/filler thin layer between DPC and tray to take out welding unevenness £ 0* Swear box , should have been more!! £ 1 £142 *Had some of this from another job and not necessary if wood is used instead of polypropylene Well here are some pics showing parts I made/purchased before and after assembly. NB. I did find I had to reduce the length of the top packer on one side as it came up to the Red cover of the positive terminal. I also had to replace the vent tube elbow with a more standard size as the Panasonic one has a larger port. Finally, I had to further relieve the cut away in the compartment cover slightly to allow for the longer battery. If anybody else wishes to do this, feel free to ask any questions including where I sourced the brass post and auxiliary negative earth clamp, the only one I could find that was threaded to take the 8mm Allen stainless screw for the brass post – they are usually 10mm. Hopefully, from the narration and pictures below this should made it clear. 1st Picture - with compartment cover in place 2nd Picture - Parts used less vent elbow 3rd Picture – Installed, and to borrow an Allen Millyard expression ,“It fitted perfect”

Is the dealer offer of £13.8k tied to purchase of another vehicle because if not I would have thought you neighbour would ask you to match the dealer offer?

Not everybody likes the transmission which is not very noticeable with moderate acceleration, but give it wellie and it sounds like clutch slip. To be frank, I prefer a normal auto box but the Lexus one was not a deal breaker. I have a back problem and for me the best thing about my RX 450h is the comfort the seats afford on long journeys. The RX450h compares well with competitors for reliability but spare parts are expensive and for other than service parts, after market parts are not so readily or cheaply available. Some earlier cars developed underbody rust which could be worse if used in coastal area with salty atmosphere. Overall, happy with my car, although it seems to be the exception to the rule in that it needed two new front air struts, at a total fitted cost of circa £2200 by Lexus at 40K miles.

Can't say I'm surprised by result and although I am disappointed, the best team won. They closed down and snuffed out our attacks, were more mobile and found their men better. They were also more consistent with penalties. The England side were overhyped by press, fans and commentators before the game leading to over expectation. I hope expectations are more realistic for the World Cup!

Difficult choice but I would have settled for either given the opportunity. The car choice is easier!

So it looks like you can purchase more comprehensive cover on an older car to a limited age and/or mileage than on say a 5 year old car with lower mileage if I have grasped this correctly - strange.

You don't say from what I read whether you want a new or newer car. If ACC is a prerequisite, be aware that a small proportion of even the third generation 450h cars had ACC - I have driven one though not my current car. Then there is the NX possibility. But as has been said, you need to establish whether you really want an SUV as more choice at less cost in a good near new saloon or maybe a good estate would be suitable. There are so many factors to consider that may apply to a greater or lesser extent to you and your requirements, that it is difficult to advise.

Does anybody agree with me that the game in general has been spoiled by all the shirt pulling and arm wrestling and professional fouls that happen so often now? You have to go back a very long to the days before the likes of Arsenal's Story and Chelsea's 'chopper' Harris set the scene, back to the days of artistry of men like Stanley Matthews who could show their skill. Although England do this spoiling too, I thought Denmark used this tactic overmuch to frustrate England either by tripping, holding, or knocking our team over. Now when I watched games as a lad........................................................but that was along time ago! See also disgraceful behaviour of some of the crowd - very unsportsmanlike :- https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/euro2020/england-charged-by-uefa-over-laser-pointer-and-national-anthem-disturbance/ar-AALURKz?ocid=mailsignout&li=BBoPWjQ

As a BMW owner and forum member I found that the vast majority of drivers changed to non run flats at the first opportunity. Because only run flats were offered on the X3 with no spare, was the main reason I opted for my RX rather than the X3 BMW.

Naturally, I am hoping England will beat Italy on Sunday but I fear the quickness, movement and accuracy of passing of Italy may lead to disappointment. If it goes to penalties, let's hope Kane, supposedly our best penalty taker, get's the ball in the net at first attempt!

You should have put money on it, perhaps you did?

me thinks original poster said this with tongue in cheek.

I can't advise about the hybrid system but it can take quite a number of hours to coax a flat battery to hold a fair charge by coupling to another battery and then charge as here :-

Sometimes you can get a flat battery to charge by coupling up another reasonably good 12v battery to it in parallel and then charging the two together.

Every time you allow the 12v battery to go flat you shorten it's life, the efficiency of which falls away over time anyway, requiring more frequent charging. It seems to me that you need a new 12v battery and then ensure that is charged regularly by one means or another so it does not go flat. Cars should be fitted with an easily seen state of charge indicator as if you have any doubts you need to connect a meter direct to the battery or elsewhere where there is voltage to check level which can be a nuisance.

The planned Gaydon meeting was postponed but as restrictions fall away could perhaps a new date could be set. An all model meet is more interesting so I hope there will be news about this soon.

Is there any significant difference between 2018 model and current one to warrant change? I feel there is likely to be quite a difference between current RX and next generation. I have seen a different chassis mentioned, so maybe an idea to defer until then or next NX.

Oh yes, on reflection I am sure you are right. I would expect that such a vehicle taken in by a Lexus dealer in part exchange would most probably be sent to auction.