LenT

Checking up with my Manual....it doesn't have a fuse layout for the two boxes in the passenger compartment! Astonishing! But I did a little searching and came up with this: Fuse Box Diagram Lexus IS250 / IS350 (XE20; 2006-2013) (fuse-box.info) I have assumed - possibly incorrectly! - that yours is a lhd Lexus. So although you refer to passenger /driver side, the fuse box with the cig lighter fuse is under the glove box and is shown as No.10. In other words, not the fuse on the driver's side that you identified as the cig lighter. As the fuse box diag. shows, the fuse next to No. 10 is No.11 which is identified as the Power Outlet - which I suspect is the permanent live supply which NextBase recommend is used for a hardwired connection. - as per the NB link I provided earlier. This could be checked with a small electrical screwdriver. It certainly looks like Halford Man has introduced a lead to piggy-back off a socket - and It may well be the cig. lighter. I think Vladimir and I are both of the same mind that your problems stem from trying to run both items off the same power source. If HM has used the cig. lighter than the Power Socket (according to this diagram ) is next to it - so simply swapping the two around will restore the cig. socket to a single outlet and give the dashcam a permanent power supply. Finally, the NextBase hardwire Kit is a £20 extra accessory. I don't think it comes included with the standard 622GW and the difference appears to be that the lead incorporates a Battery protection system that cuts off the camera if the voltage drop too low. It appears to have a small black box attached to it with a blue light that indicates that there's power to the camera. So you should know if you have that or the camera has been installed without the benefit of this kit. Hope this helps a little more! PS: Just seen Vladimir's reply - that's the two fuse system that my installer used with a piggy-back lead. And, to reiterate, it the fuse box under the glove box. PPS: Just seen your reply. So it's still the fuse box under the glove box on the left side!!

I’ve come across a couple of YT vids that might be helpful. One is a NextBase production; the other by a guy using the same NB hardwire kit and making the point that he’s using a ‘constantly powered’ fuse supply. I suspect that the problem has been caused by wiring the dashcam to the accessory socket. Anyway, hopefully these may give you a better idea of what to do. The one problem that occurs to me is that although, apparently, Halfords sell this NB hardwiring kit, it may not have been used in your case. Even if it has, they may not have given you the other parts of it. Anyway, hope this helps! PS: other videos are available! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Wml4-DJ0YuM https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ImX6OEJccwo

The wiring kit I mentioned is stated as being compatible with the 622GW and should therefore protect the battery. In any case, current drain In standby mode is very small. https://nextbase.co.uk/accessories/series-2-hardwire-kit/ I don’t know how your model compares with mine, but I can confirm that my electrician used a fuse box on the left side - as Vladimir suggests. I suppose that having identified the accessory fuse, you’ll see if an additional wire has been added to it - and whether it’s on the switched or unswitched side, which I suppose could cause a problem if both devices are being used simultaneously! Ideally, as I mentioned earlier, you want to use a fused supply point that is ‘live’ with the ignition off - which may not be the case with your accessory socket. I’m a great advocate of dashcams so I do hope you can resolve this. And if all else fails, take it back to Halfords and tell them to sort it!

Well I'm not an autoelectrician - hopefully one will be along soon! - but I've had Garmin satnavs and BlackVue dash cams in several cars for some years. And I wouldn't run them off the same power point. Mind you, I wouldn't let Halfords fit it in the first place - but that's just a personal view! I run the Garmin off the 'lighter' (accessory) power supply because it's only used occasionally and is removable. However, I run the dashcam of a different point in the fuse box that is always live - even when the ignition is off. This is because the dashcam has a 'Parking Mode' which - as the name suggests - will be activated by people, proximity and impact even when the ignition is switched off. In other words, I would suggest that it's the dashcam that should be wired so that it's constantly available, whereas surely you only use the satnav occasionally. Looking at the NextBase website, I see there is a 'Series 2 Hardwire Kit' which I presume is what Halfords would have used. It claims to have a voltage limiter built-in to prevent the battery going flat, so you just need to find a different fuse that you can piggy-back off that is live when the ignition is off. I don't know your model, but there might even be one spare. I suggest that you don't use any supply point that serves something crucial - in case it blows that fuse. Hope this helps until an expert comes along!

I spent my working life in the ad. biz Ken. I too regret the passing of the printed brochure - I was even involved in their production! But the move to a digital format was inevitable- and not confined to the automotive industry. They were expensive to produce, but perhaps more significantly it was not feasible to keep up with all the model variations and language options that modern marketing demands. Far quicker and cheaper to create them only in digital form. Some years ago I had Konica cameras as a client and was surprised that they no longer supplied a printed manual with new cameras. Their reasoning was that they had to be produced in so many different languages that it was not economical- even though it was the same camera. Instead they offered a CD, as I recall. Although how useful that would be if you were on a beach or in a field, say, they couldn’t explain. And this was some years before the invention of the smart phone!

I think, Renato, that by identifying the almost insurmountable complexities that they would have faced in developing a practical pump for dispensing fuel, you may have explained the total absence of any signs of the internal combustion engine in Ancient Rome.😊 Indeed, can it really just be coincidence that where you find most petroleum deposits, you also find Arabic numerals? Just saying…..

I’ve just come across this old thread, but I thought I’d make the point that although that may have been the intention, when you live in the country with no street lighting, a curved, hedge-lined drive and other cars to negotiate, a bit of extra illumination comes in handy. The problem with the one light is that it’s on the nearside. Often I’ve had to put the right indicator on to get a bit more light, even using the reversing camera. Recently I changed the standard bulb for an led equivalent and that has produced a significant and worthwhile improvement.

Not daft at all! Best practice is considered to be to use a metal earthing point away from the battery. Generally you can use the point where the negative lead connects to the body. The reason is that the old style of lead acid batteries could produce hydrogen gas which would form an explosive mix with the oxygen in the air should there be a spark. With modern batteries this is very unlikely, but you will still see experienced mechanics doing it. However, as you have a CTEK, you should do as Paul has already suggested, and get the connectors that fit permanently to the battery posts and then connect to a separate lead from the charger. You can get a connector that has a traffic light system of leds that give a reasonable indication of the battery charge level. I’ve fitted them to both our cars, so I just have to lift the bonnet to check out the battery. You can see them on the CTEK website. https://www.ctek.com/uk/battery-chargers-12v-24v/car-charger/ctx-indicator-eyelet-m8

My wife and I are of similar vintage to yourself, Simon. I have the Lexus insured by the AA - with whom I’ve been a member for over 50 years - and my wife’s Suzuki 4x4 with Saga. Every year each tries to add the other car but they match each other so closely that it isn’t worth changing the status quo. On the rare occasions their claims depts. have been called upon, they have both provided excellent service. So not surprising recommendations, Simon - but recommended nevertheless!

Welcome to the Club! https://www.avrmobiles.co.uk/product-category/parking-sensors/front-rear-parking-sensors-fitted/ Many years ago I bought body coloured front/rear sensors off this company for a Suzuki 4x4 including fitting. This introduced me to a local auto electrician who was so good that he later installed two handsfree phone systems and two lots of BlackVue dashcams - including the current system in my Lexus. So my personal experience of their sensor/phone kits and their mobile fitter has only ever been excellent! I hope this helps.

As I’m sure you’ve already gathered, we’re mainly dashcam fans around here! Definitely go for the rear cam set up as well. You’re just as likely to get rear-ended these days. Nothing wrong with Nextbase - just ensure that it has a Parking Mode, so that it will record incidents with the ignition off. Personally, as you’re already buying a new Lexus, I would get the Dealer to do the whole job. It saves you the trouble and they are responsible for any problems. And surely the cost is insignificant compared to the purchase of the car! The only suggestion I would make is to replace the standard mini SD Card supplied with the largest one the system will accommodate- probably 128 GB - and keep the supplied card as a spare. That way, in the event of an incident, you can safely store the main card as evidence, but still have a working camera. Meanwhile, all the best with your new Lexus. 😊

I’m not sure if this is the answer to your question, but I sourced these D4S Osrams from Autobulbs Direct and they are a considerable improvement over the standard HiD bulbs fitted to my Lexus. I’ve also found the Company to be very helpful with advice and I expect they would answer your question if approached directly. One thing I did notice about these bulbs, as one who suggests owners refer to the car Manual, is that the Lexus manual only states that these bulbs should be replaced by the Dealer! https://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/d4s-osram-night-breaker-laser-xenarc-next-generation.html I hope this helps. 😊

Clearly the action of an inconsiderate driver who has little respect for either the Law or the safety and convenience of. pedestrians - and was rightly punished. But the stereotyping was the act of the Mirror. No doubt they would just as gleefully noted that it was a BMW, Mercedes and such like. The question we might ask is if they might have made such a point of the make if it was, say, a Ford?

I may be wrong, but I was rather hoping that this response might be in reply to my observation that your choice of the Guardian article that appears to demonise BP Shareholders as cigar-chomping capitalists, may rather misrepresent the case. If so, it seems to have been reborn into a comment on Bristol and cycle tracks. I must admit I'm not sure I follow the logic here. Having shown you that Gates has been a substantial financial supporter of the Guardian for at least the last decade, you appear to ignore its relevance as to the possible affect on the integrity of the Guardian - as you would see it. It's just a guess on my part, but I suspect that they look 'favourable on Bill Gates' after pocketing $13M of his 'dodge money' as you describe it. Wherever he's shoved his nose, the Guardian for one clearly enjoys it! Which of course explains why in 2010 they actually went into partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Perhaps you should now bear his influence in mind next time you regard the Guardian as a trustworthy source? https://www.theguardian.com/gnm-press-office/guardian-launches-global-development-site

This characterisation of the BP Shareholder by the Guardian did remind me that you earlier claimed that ‘The mere fact Bill Gates funds the british Government should set alarm bells going off anyway - no matter what his 'noble' cause is.’ An accusation you unfortunately failed to support, but was apparently based on a small donation to an independent charitable organisation (BBC Media Action). From later posts, it’s clear that you hold a poor view of Bill Gates, to say the least. Impugning his motives and slandering his character. However, I think it’s fair to say that you have no such qualms about the Guardian, which you source freely. Now, I’m sure you have noticed that one cannot leave the Guardian website without an exhortation to donate money to this perpetually cash-strapped organisation. You may have even donated something yourself. Have you ever wondered, Eric, who might donate to such an organisation? Well, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is very transparent in this respect. https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/committed-grants?q=The%20guardian%20#committed_grants It seems that Gates has been a significant supporter of the Guardian organisation over the last ten years, to the tune of over $13M. If, in your view, Bill Gates can exert a malign influence on the British Government for a rather modest donation to a charitable offshoot of the BBC, what do you think he might be getting from the Guardian for his $13M? Whatever your reasons for disliking Gates, I’m sure you will conceded that he is not stupid. So whatever influence his money’s ‘buying’, it’s obviously worked for him for the last decade. I can’t help wondering what it is that you’ve been 'buying' from the Guardian for the last ten years that might have been influenced by Bill Gates?

I was intrigued by the illustration and quote you selected from a Guardian article. I may be mistaken, but it seems to be portraying a rather jaundiced view of a BP Shareholder. Are they really – as might be inferred - bloated, cigar-chomping capitalists? And it’s surely hardly surprising that ‘demands for a windfall tax have proved popular’ Don’t they always? I wondered if this rather lazy stereotyping is borne out by fact. Well, it seems that 71.4% of BP’s Shareholders (LSE:BP – Ownership Breakdown 29.12.21) are Institutions; such as Pension Funds, Local Authorities, Asset Managers in charge of Pension Funds and such like. This suggests that – far from it being the exclusive province of the Guardian’s archetypal capitalist - in fact, one way or another, almost every UK citizen is going to have some connection with BP Shares. It certainly applies to my Pensions – and my cigar-chomping days are long over! I note that the article you quote fails to mention that the previous year, BP Shareholders had also ’benefited’ from what was the biggest loss in British Corporate history. Or that around 10,000 people lost their jobs. It fails to mention that the UK Government can only levy taxes on income generated in the UK and much of BP’s most profitable activities have been elsewhere. Or that BP and Shell are investing their ‘Windfalls’ in transiting to lower carbon alternatives and in developing technologies such as offshore wind, solar, hydrogen, carbon capture and electric vehicle charging. Of course, Guardian writers have no obligation to be even-handed in their articles. But I suggest that the reality of the ‘Windfall’ situation is rather more nuanced than many would have it portrayed.

I haven’t done a comparison because I always go to the same BP pump, which turns out to be E5. But then it IS called BP Ultimate so I might as well get their best! Mind you, I suppose it also indicates that that’s the best they’ll ever offer - unless they can develop an Ultimate Plus!

I suspect that this may be a constant problem for you - if it isn’t already! So a couple of thoughts, which you may already have had! Are you a Member of any motoring organisations eg the AA? For a fee they will inspect any car you may be interested in and give you a report and an estimate of its value. At least that will save you a trip and show the Dealer you are serious. Also many Lexus dealers are part of a group and will shift cars from branch to branch for serious buyers. There are also the web-based sellers, such as Carwow and Cazoo (I think) which will deliver a car to you for several days appro. Whether they deal with cars in your budget, I don’t know. Unfortunately, good quality, low priced used Lexus are probably not around in big numbers and tend to be sought after. So a Dealer who has one possibly has less incentive to accommodate a distant buyer. There are also the sections of this site devoted to selling, but no doubt you already keep a close eye on them! Good luck with your search.

My BlackVue is a black tube that sits on the screen in front of the rear view mirror, so it blends in with the back of the mirror. You’d have to be looking for it to see it. I also set it to turn off the various indicator lights when it’s in Parking Mode. The rear camera is much smaller and fairly unobtrusive anyway. The BlackVues don’t have a screen, so they’re inherently smaller and don’t have to be positioned out in the open so that the screen can be viewed. I certainly consider Parking Mode to be essential and wouldn’t have a dashcam that didn’t have it. And as for the basic question of whether to have one, well I’m surprised they’re not yet standard equipment. Incidentally, with regard to the point about them recording your own driving, I think this is something well worth bearing in mind! And for drivers who get upset by the behaviour of other drivers, it’s very calming to know that every bit of bad driving is now on record. It can be very satisfying to know that it’s going to be a shock when the Police turn up later to confront the offender with video evidence!

That’s exactly what I have done since an MoT became a requirement for the car. Now, I expect that some owners may question the need to service a Lexus annually in lieu of a mileage factor, on the basis, perhaps, that the mechanical wear rate is simply not comparable. I contrast that with the added convenience of organising one dealer visit - or collection - and the added value benefit of maintaining a Full Service History with a Lexus dealer for what is still a relatively young car.

All my servicing is done by Lexus MK on an annual basis as I no longer do sufficient mileage. It also means I can coordinate it with the MoT. I appreciate the convenience of being able to plan ahead on an annual basis and, originally, having it done on the basis of a Service Plan.

And on the front it had the memorable injunction to “Stop me and Buy one.” I believe that a similar venture by a peddler of prophylactics with the line “Buy me and Stop one” was less successful.

I am slightly concerned that you may invest time, money and effort in getting this sat/nav system to work as well as it did when the car was new - only to discover that it is slow, clunky and cumbersome to use - and far inferior to, for example, my Garmin or Google maps on a smart phone. I get four free data and software updates annually for my Garmin. As you’ve discovered, getting the Lexus system updated by a dealer, so that they become responsible for its correct operation, is a very expensive business. In any case, presuming that updates are available, I believe they were only done every two years. I regret that where I locate the Garmin blocks the whole Information screen as it’s the obvious location. But the fact that it is so easy, accurate and cheap to use is compensation. You just might want to cut your losses and move on.

And I recall as a youngster watching her baking demonstration programme at the end of which husband Johnny memorably wished the audience his hope that ‘may your doughnuts turn out like Fanny’s’. They don’t write them like that anymore. 😒

As one who made a recent - albeit modest - contribution to the problem of which you complain, it may surprise you to know that I agree with you. In my case it was prompted by another poster making unrelated assertions which I felt should be supported by evidence. Whether I agree or disagree with those assertions is actually irrelevant. The danger, to me, is that if such casual observations are left unremarked then they could acquire the legitimacy of tacit approval. Personally I can cope with a degree of digression- and after 24 pages it’s almost inevitable. But in respect for your concern, I’ll refrain from further such comment…probably. As for the price of fuel….well I do so little mileage these days that motoring fuel cost and consumption figures are not as significant to me as they undoubtedly are to others. However, I have just been told that I may expect a delivery of heating oil in the next 2 - 3 weeks, the price of which will be revealed on the day of delivery! I have already warned the cat of a possible economising as regards his rations.