LenT

Rain-X was launched in the UK by a company called Mitchell Marketing. At that time the packaging specifically warned that it should NOT be applied to windscreens! I always thought that this was a bit odd, but was told that there was a concern that the action of the wipers might produce a smearing effect. I’ve never used it myself and I don’t think any such warning now appears. But I can see that such a mechanical action might have that effect. And reapplying it might well seem to reduce that smear - only for it to reappear! It may have something to do with the pressure and composition of specific wiper blades, if it only happens occasionally. But the fact that it reappears with the same blades may be a clue.

If that’s your situation, then consider investing in a trickle charger if your location makes it possible. I’d recommend a CTEK - but other makes are available….

I can’t speak for other Lexus models, but in my IS250, the auto folding of the door mirrors is enabled/disabled by pressing the switch labelled ‘auto’ in the mirror adjustment unit in the driver’s door panel. You set it with the ignition on and confirmation pops up on the dash unit. Mind you, some models don’t have this function anyway.. But it’s very useful as it confirms at a glance that the car is locked.

If your friend has decided that he will have his Lexus serviced by Lexus - and a very sensible decision too - then that’s great advice from Herbie. I bought my IS250 when it was approaching three-years old and I’ve just taken out the third service contract. I save even more by paying for it upfront, knowing that any unused balance is refundable. The service contract means the Dealer does everything. They advise me when it’s coming up and even organise collection and delivery for a small fee. As it happens, this Dealer sold the car to the first owner. I’ve now built a good relationship with them - although they do keep trying to sell me a replacement! Unless there’s a local problem with this Lexus dealer - and presuming your friend is buying it from the dealer who’ll be servicing it - cultivating this association can be very useful. If your friend does the deal, he should go to the Lexus website and register the car on the ‘My Lexus’ section. It may well be that he will find all the past service history recorded there. It should also ensure that he is notified of any factory recalls.

And next week…hill starts!

Well, that completes the Test. If you would just drive back to the Centre, we’ll discuss your results.

It’s deja vu all over again! Or Is it Groundhog Day?

And it seems that this is not the first time that the LOC has shown an interest in conspiracies….

Of course, we could always combine the two and reveal conspiracies relating to automotive activities…. https://driving.ca/auto-news/news/6-automotive-conspiracy-theories-you-should-know-and-maybe-believe

I bet you regret mocking David Icke now!

I think Anthony meant his comment as a conspiracy-related joke😉 I doubt it’ll be the last….

Well, in my case it was fairly easy. The valve had been snapped off so the whole unit had to be replaced! In your case, a tyre retailer will have a handheld sensor that picks up the TPMS signal. So they can check the battery and signal levels of each one. Depending on use, the batteries generally have a life of between seven and ten years. Which suggests you’re on your second set. I suggest a tyre retailer rather than a garage because it’s the sort of job they’re doing on a daily basis. They will also bulk buy the valves so they can retail them at a better price. I would also suggest checking your Manual regarding the reset procedure. Good luck!

Not complaints about conspiracies, surely? In my relatively recent experience of the LOC, the main offence seems to be straying from the topic. At least that did not appear to be the case here. So perhaps the complainer(s) would care to explain the complaint - and why it was not expressed on the thread itself.

I presume you’re referring to the TPMS valves. Are you proposing to fit them yourself? It does take special equipment, after all. When I needed to replace a broken TPMS valve I drove round to a nearby large tyre retailer. They had one to match the OE valve and supplied and fitted it was £65 inc VAT. Perhaps ringing round local tyre retailers might be a good place to start? Certainly cheaper than the Lexus offering. And if any tyres need replacing, you could probably negotiate a good deal as the tyre has to come off anyway!

We’ll all be thinking of you, Sean. 😊

Now that you know how to resolve this particular problem, you might consider a future investment in a trickle charger (a CTEK, for example) or even a Power Pack (a NOCO, for example). After all, they might come in handy for your other car. 😊

While I’m always interested in responses to my posts, I do wonder, Eric, if this latest conspiratorial attack on Governments and Oil Companies - whatever its merits - has any relevance to my analysis of ‘Paul’s’ article that you offered in order to support your implication of criminal activity by Bill Gates? Is it possible that you flagged up the wrong post? If you re-read my post, I’m pointing out that trying to justify your choice of ‘evidence’ against Bill Gates by conceding that the author is not ‘strictly wrong’ is very far removed from it being right! Indeed, as I noted, ‘Paul’s’ article takes care to avoid any allegation of criminal activity on the part of Gates. It has nothing to do with your latest response claiming conspiracies on the part of Governments or Oil Companies. It’s do to with the quality of evidence that conspiracists present. I suggest that citing an article that’s so easily dismissed only serves to damage the credibility of the proposed conspiracy.

As you’re referring to the article you cited by ‘Paul’ as providing evidence of illegal activities by Bill Gates, being not ‘strictly wrong’ is tantamount to not being exactly right! Which tends to discredit the accusation. Why this matters is that this post is ostensibly about the intricacies and nuances of EVs and their battery technology - a subject about which I have scant knowledge. I therefore will be guided by the better informed opinions of others here. Now I can only speak for myself, but if there’s an attitude to ‘evidence’ that an acceptable standard is that it’s not ‘strictly wrong’, and even a suggestion that those opinions may be tainted by prejudice, then it’s not going to get the consideration it might otherwise merit!

I presumed that the article by ‘Paul’ at ‘Critical Sway’ that you offered as evidence would provide the answer to this vexing question. Having read it, my conclusion is….. Philanthropist. So let’s have a look at that article. Before ‘Paul’ even discusses Gates he proceeds by describing the actions of Al Capone, who actually committed acts of both philanthropy and criminality. He introduces his Gates’ item by writing: 'Men and women, guilty of varying degrees of overt criminality, have long understood the value of the philanthropist’s playbook. Let’s take a look at a modern-day philanthropist - William Henry Gates III.' This is known as ‘Guilt by Association’. However, in the 1600 or so words that follow, he does not include ‘crook’, ‘illegal’, ‘criminal’, ‘criminality’ or even their synonyms. He even fails to provide any examples of ‘overt criminality’. In fact, 'Paul' makes no allegation of criminal behaviour by Gates of any kind. At one point he states: ‘I'm not begrudging another man's financial success. ‘ And yet that’s clearly what he is doing! In simple terms, it seems that the fact that Gates is continuing to make money overrides the reality that he is also giving much of it away. But there’s nothing illegal about that. What seems to inflame ‘Paul’ is that Gates is being given credit for his acts of philanthropy but not getting any poorer! In fact, many would say that it is the making of more money that provides the opportunity to indulge in philanthropy. After all, if charities were forced to rely only on what the likes of ‘Paul’ could donate, I suspect they would be facing very lean times indeed. Let’s take an example with which you might be more familiar. You have on occasions cited The Guardian as a source. So presumably you regard it as reliable, authoritative and independent. And yet – as I have observed before – The Guardian freely acknowledges and enthusiastically welcomes the decade-long financial support that it has received from Bill Gates. So….is The Guardian the complicit recipient of a crook’s largess, or the grateful beneficiary of a generous philanthropist? You decide.

Thanks for the extra info, Steven. Normally you wouldn’t expect a battery in good condition to go flat after just two weeks, unless there was an unknown source of a current drain. But the activity you describe was obviously sufficient to tip it over the edge! As you are a flat dweller I can see that access to a three-pin socket may be a bit limited. Maybe there’s a Caretaker with a handy cupboard that you can run a cable in to? My apologies but I’m not much help there, unfortunately. 🙁 This Model of NOCO Power Pack is the one I have and it’s an excellent bit of kit. I haven’t had to use it on the Lexus, but our other car - which only did 100 miles one year and I’d forgotten to connect the trickle charger - did benefit. I actually got one because I witnessed an AA mechanic use one to bring a car back to life with a battery so flat that not even an overnight trickle charger had improved it. Neighbours have also benefited. In fact, I keep it in the boot in case I can rescue some stranded stranger and thus feel that my day has not been without purpose! I’ve not tried it myself, but you can also use it to charge up phones, tablets and such like. Every six months or so, if I remember, I check the charge level but its hardly diminished. As for your predicament - and I’ve no idea if this is possible for you - I like to drive out to a nice country pub for the occasional lunch and thus recharge the battery on the way! As someone who grew up in London and worked in London for many years, I always looked forward to getting away from it!

Glad to hear that your power pack has got you going again, Steven. But they are an emergency solution and not something a battery should regularly need. So you may wish to consider what caused the problem in the first place. If it’s the original battery then it may well becoming to the end of its useful life. It may also be that you’re not doing sufficient mileage to keep it charged - or that the charging rate is down. You don’t mention it, but in case you don’t have one, it’s always worth investing in a good trickle charger that will maintain and even condition the battery. I use a CTEK - but others are available.

I don't know how effective this stuff is, but it may do the job for the small areas you have in mind. LEXUS ALLOY WHEEL SILVER TOUCH UP PAINT REPAIR KIT, STONE CHIPS, SCUFFS | eBay

Thank you David, for sharing this very sad news with us. Like many here, I feel I have lost a friend that I never had the pleasure of actually meeting. I joined in June 2020 and it soon became clear that John was one of the stalwarts of the LOC. I appreciated his wit and wisdom - and in exchanging PMs discovered that we were not dissimilar in backgrounds and age. He was what we used to describe affectionately as a ‘Gentleman and Scholar’. In the last PM we exchanged exactly one month ago, he shared with me the news of his deteriorating health. I too extend my sincere condolences to Margaret and his Family and very much hope that they see this Post and thus appreciate how much he was admired by strangers whose only connection was that they owned a Lexus! One thing that amused us both - and that John would gently point out - was that the answers to many of the questions raised could be found in the car’s Manual. But that didn’t stop him from helping a fellow owner. I - and the LOC - shall miss him greatly.

I have indeed pondered that myself, Alex. For example, my rear camera displays when reverse is selected, but could be recording an image continuously - with the rear sensors powered to activate the system when parked. What occurred to me is that the current cameras are located at low levels - typically, under the boot lid and above the front bumper or at the base of the windscreen. Dashcams, however, are invariably positioned at the highest point of the front and rear screens. So I wondered if this was because technically - and evidentially - this was the most effective positioning for recording purposes.

I’ve always used the same excellent local auto electrician on the basis that installing dashcams is something he does for a living and on a very regular basis.