LenT

So a good result in the end Mike. Certainly looks like there was a bodge job on someone’s part in the past. But now you have four good valves and you’re not going to have to worry about their batteries for a good few years. And considering the valve cost and the labour involved for four wheels, that seems a pretty good price for the job. Being brand new valves I presume that the dust caps are plastic. Because unless they’re heavily greased, metal dust caps will corrode on to the valve stem and the valve stem will snap off when an attempt is made to remove it. I speak from experience!!

If you go to Lexus.co.uk and sign up to My Lexus, you should be able to download the manual/manuals for your model - unless they don’t go back as far as 2008. Still, worth a punt!

A very good point, Steve. There have been some devastating fires - and fatalities - that have been tracked down to a hot catalytic converter and a car badly parked on dry vegetation. More common in, say, California than here in the UK, which is why it can be so easily overlooked.

Hello Nick, I noticed that you’ve not had an answer yet from an expert, so I thought I might offer some suggestions until one comes along. And my answer is: possibly…. If by an occasional eggy smell you actually mean the stink of rotten eggs (or stink bombs, as we used to call them) then you may well have a problem. That will be hydrogen sulphide, which means that the catalytic metals are no longer able to convert the sulphates in the fuel to sulphur dioxide, which only faintly smells of eggs. So it depends on how sensitive your nose is! However, the fact that you’re detecting excessive heat is a more positive sign, because the process involved is vigorously exothermic and when a cat is doing its business it can work up to 1000C degrees. Fortunately a failing cat does offer other clues. For example, you may hear rattling noises from it as the internal ceramic structure degrades and bits fall off. In fact the internal structure can be quite fragile - especially when it’s hot. So if the exhaust system has had a bang that could cause internal damage. Starting and fuel consumption will both deteriorate and the exhaust smoke will darken in colour. The problem is caused because the car has mainly done only short journeys and the cat hasn’t got hot enough to kickstart the reaction needed to remove the combustion products that have collected in it. So one possible cure is to take it for a long journey, keeping the engine revs at least above 3000 I would suggest. Easy enough if it’s a manual but you may have to use the gear select option if it’s an auto - I don’t know your model. Once the catalytic reaction starts you will notice a burning smell and the heat from it if you stop. Do that a few times and it may improve the situation. But if the cat has suffered permanent internal damage then, unfortunately, replacement is probably the only cure. One final thought: I don’t know your model but my IS250 actually has three catalytic converters of two types - one up by the exhaust manifold and two under the car. I hope this helps.

That must have been a fascinating project to be involved with - and they’re still sending back useful data. Richard Dawkins, although generally called an atheist, also maintained that one should really be agnostic until an evidence-based conclusion could be established. But I would suggest that he, like Sagan, were pointing out that if a ‘higher being’ did not exist, then the evidence of its existence would not be testable and thus could not be falsified. Yes, that’s clearly the case, isn’t it. But of course that doesn’t preclude future researchers from refining their knowledge and getting closer to a definitive answer. My question at this point is….who cares? It’s a bit like the debates involving fairies, dancing and pin heads. In fact I think Douglas Adams summed it up rather well…. “Space is big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist's, but that's just peanuts to space.”

Well that’s what reading does to you, John! Better to watch the tele…for example at 9.00 tonight you can see the first of Cox’s new series on BBC2 called ‘Adventures in Time & Space’. Not sure if Lexus gets a mention…..

Not being a Bible expert, I stand to be corrected, but as far as I am aware Carl Sagan’s oft quoted statement re stars and sand is not a biblical quote. It is an intellectual exercise that has entertained astronomers, astrophysicists, mathematicians and suchlike for decades - if not centuries. Recent developments regarding the Hubble Deep Field images, for example, have begun to redefine estimates as to the size and age of the Universe. In fact they add further support for this particular statement. And incidentally Cox and Sagan don’t (and in Sagan’s case didn’t) have to disprove the existence of a higher being. It’s always up to those who make claims to provide the evidence to support them - evidence which can then be examined, tested and falsified.

Well my Flabber is Ghasted, Jacob. If you were near Towcester in Northants I could tell you the tyre retailer who fitted the replacement. I've just checked the receipt and unfortunately all it says is 'One TPMS valve' which is accurate as far as it goes but a bit non-specific. One possibility is that you source the TPMS Valve yourself and get a tyre retailer to fit it, as long as they can code it in. As I said, the local place in Towcester had no problem coding the valve Here's one supplier I found - the TPMS Warehouse. Lexus GS 450 2006-2011 Replacement TPMS Sensor | TPMS Warehouse But I can't believe that Manchester can't muster one company that can do the job! So I think calling around is probably the answer. Good luck...

No John. It’s still only Thursday.

NOW will you get yourself a dashcam? 🙂 I take it that no-one left a note! Is there any CCTV available? A small scrape you might just shrug off, but whoever did this must surely have noticed and deliberately driven off.

Bizarre behaviour! I presume you discovered this after the mechanic had left and been paid? Sounds like a stiff email is called for. And find another mechanic. After all, the question arises as to what else they may have forgotten to do! Many years ago I picked up my wife’s Citroen 2CV after a service and brake overhaul. Driving it back home, the pedal travel started to increase alarmingly. When I checked, one of the rear bleed nipples hadn’t been tightened up and fluid was pumping out. That resulted in a blunt, albeit rather one sided, telephone exchange with the Dealer.

And yet there’s no reason why every dealer shouldn’t be equally competent. Whether you’re dealing with customers or clients, selling a product or a service, the basics of the relationship remain the same. It maybe that the smaller selling marques attract a more interested seller and a more interesting buyer. No doubt the footfall through a VW dealership is far greater than a Lexus one. So the ‘We Try Harder’ effect becomes a factor. When we bought a Suzuki SX4 four-wheel drive from a Northampton dealer, the sales people couldn’t do enough. When it came to the first service, they could barely be bothered to do anything at all! A shortsighted view as we moved to another Suzuki dealer - who provided excellent service for a number of years. I’ve had that feeling as a potential Buyer! I rather fancied a Ford Probe - a two seater coupe launched in the early 1990s to compete - I believe - with the Honda Prelude and Toyota Celica. So I went into a large local Ford main dealer that had one on display. Apart from myself, the only other living creature was a girl tucked away behind a Reception desk. After some ostentatious mooching around the Probe, I approached her and asked if there was someone who’d like to sell me one. She kindly offered to go and find out. Some moments later she returned and said “He’ll be up when he’s finished his cup of tea”. I told her to go back and tell him not to rush on my account, because I was sure there was another Ford dealer nearby who might be more interested! When even the Sales side regard customers as an irritant, what hope for future Service?

Might be useful for other owners if you could post this ‘ insider’s trick ‘ here in case they have the same issue, as it wasn’t in the Manual.

On a point of information, Linas - and accepting your generally jaundiced view of The Establishment - I very much doubt that you can find even one of our 650 MPs who didn’t have a “formal education of any sort”. However, I’ve always thought that it is a career that attracts far too many people who think that a PPE degree - of any sort - is the ideal qualification. I do agree that it attracts far too few who have what is termed a STEMM background - science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine. In fact the most recent assessment (2017) puts it at just 106. And just a handful of them at ministerial level. It maybe that such people feel they can be more productive and earn more in their chosen careers than risk exposing themselves to public opprobrium as an MP. Whatever ones political view, Margaret Thatcher was an exception in that she had a BsC in Chemistry, worked as a Research Chemist and later qualified as a Barrister, specialising in tax law, before becoming the first woman PM. But of course the Electorate can only elect those who are prepared to stand.

Local auto repair shops report significant examples of asymmetric wear of tyres and brake pads for this very reason.

My apologies in advance as I've posted these observations before, but having had a Lexus for only four years, and Hondas for the previous twenty one, I couldn't resist another opportunity! So there I was, some 21 years ago, strolling between adjacent dealerships, when I saw this two-door coupe that I didn't recognise. Turned out to be a new Prelude. One test drive later and I'd bought it. Over the years I kept thinking I should replace it, but it suited me perfectly. Never let me down, it was a pleasure to drive, only ever needed regular servicing by an excellent Honda dealer and aged possibly better than I did. But after fifteen years and 120K miles I finally met with persuasive arguments for a change. Namely, my Wife no longer wanted two doors. She wanted to put her shopping on the rear seats rather than in the boot. (No me neither! So don't ask!). Mind you, she also sometimes found the big doors quite difficult to open. Also it was coming up for a major service, so as good a time as any. Naturally, I went to my Honda dealer and there saw an Accord. Another short test drive confirmed my choice and once again it proved to be a delight to own. In fact I thought this will probably be the last car I buy. And it very nearly was! After six years of incident-free motoring, we encountered an HGV on the M25 which decided to change lanes after previously overtaking on the inside. You can see the tyre mark on the nearside rear wheel arch! The result was that we were spun around in front of the cab and pushed along the motorway. We got away unmarked. The Accord less so. Nevertheless, thanks in part to my dashcam footage, the HGV driver's insurers, Allianze, paid out without too much in the way of a quibble and I went to order another Accord - only to discover they were no longer sold in the UK. Later I happened to be strolling through a Lexus dealership.... So, ironically, I owe my Lexus ownership to a Romanian lad driving a Spanish registered Iveco truck...badly! PS. Oh yes, we've had a Honda mower for the last ten years too! Now if Lexus made mowers.....

I don’t know if you’ve made your choice yet, Phil, but I’ve also installed these Osram’s with excellent results. But I just thought it might be worthwhile pointing out that automotive bulbs are one of the favourite items for poor quality rip off merchants. if you go to the Osram site you will see that they list recommended suppliers who will be selling the genuine article. I got mine from AutoBulbsDirect - but other sellers are available! I’d be very upset on your behalf if you were disappointed with the performance of your Osrams but had unknowingly bought fakes because you’d been guided by price alone.

Yes, that’s two in a row, John!🙂

If it’s a new battery, then you’re probably right! Actually I’ve just replaced the ‘comfort’ lead with the ‘indicator’ version. This has a traffic light LED system that claims to give an ongoing indication of the battery charge level - although you have to let the battery stabilise after switching off to get an accurate indication. So at least you can keep a check on it. The one I have is a MXS 5.0 Test & Charge which, it claims, is OK for AGM batteries - which I don’t have. So I can’t comment on conditioning cycle. Mind you, I haven’t used that yet either. The other info I’ve gleaned about AGM batteries is that they don’t like being overcharged (Well, who does?) And the CTEK does claim to have built-in protection against that eventuality. But if your manual isn’t clear on anything, the website ctek.com seems to have more tech info and offers ‘customer support’. I hope this helps!

According to my CTEK it can be left connected without any risk of overcharging. The charger does do a voltage check and indicates the percentage of charge, although how it does that may vary with the model of charger. Mine also has a conditioning function but I have yet to use that. Do you have a manual for it?

Milton Keynes, John. It may be tempting fate, but in nearly 60 years of car ownership I would rate them the best I’ve experienced. Probably closely followed by Honda MK and Toyota in Leicester, when I had an MR2. NB Other Dealers are available…I expect.

Just replying Damian because no GS300 owner seems to have yet! But I can compare it to mine, which could be had with either 17” or 18” wheels. Actually I’m not sure your model was available with 19”, but you’ll know better than I. Anyway I’m sure the basics would apply - which you probably know anyway! Namely, 17” would be considered to give a smoother, more comfortable ride but with slightly more body roll in hard cornering. 18” would have to be with low profile tyres to maintain the same rolling radius, and would theoretically give a firmer ride with superior handling when driving in a spirited fashion. Of course if you generally drive in a relaxed manner, you’d probably prefer the smoother riding qualities of the 17”” wheel. Which also has the additional benefit of not exposing the rims to kerbing in the same way as a low profile tyre! Having said all that, I’m not sure the the real life difference would be that significant in every day use - apart from the kerbing, about which I speak from experience! Oh, and you would also have to advise your Insurance of a change of wheels.

Your experience is one of the built-in sales features of the Lexus. My buying experience pretty much mirrors yours. I came to Lexus from a Prelude and an Accord - both from new - and had received excellent service from Honda MK. The Accord was written off on the M25 and I was all set to buy a replacement…when I discovered it had been discontinued in the UK. So I decided I’d spend a day touring the ‘usual suspects’. My first call was to the Lexus dealer - but only because it was the first off the bypass. The sales guy (person) was - and indeed still is - a delightful chap (person) who, on being told I wanted to replace an Accord, said ‘we have just the one’. And he was right first time. The test drive confirmed it, but I felt I should still do the Tour. After all, who buys the first car they see!! So I went to MB, where the lad on reception finally acknowledged me and, on learning I wanted to replace an Accord, suggested I had a look around the showroom and see if anything interested me. Audi, BMW and Volvo were not that bad but still didn’t compare favourably with Lexus. When I got home I found a detailed email from the Lexus rep. together with a personalised video tour round the car. Frankly all that was left was to arrange to take my Wife to see it and complete the formalities. Unlike some other dealers - my Wife’s Suzuki, for example - the same level of interest has been maintained after selling the car. Vishal still greets me by name when I bring it in for its annual service, and keeps in regular contact hoping to sell me a new Lexus. Unfortunately he did too good a job the first time! I’m sure your Lexus experience will be as rewarding as mine has been. Of course if you’re a dealer, then having a product to sell that’s renowned for its reliability, comfort and longevity is very reassuring. But the basics of Customer Service are not difficult to master. And they do make the difference.

I think it’s a good move to return to clarify that point, Peter. I too didn’t gather that you were referring to vandalism as opposed to superficial reaction. But I suggest that if that’s your concern, then where you take your car is at least as much a factor as what make it is. Sadly, we have fellow citizens who will leave their mark on a car simply because they don’t have one! I think your other points about reliability and maintenance costs would rate higher in terms of buying decisions.

Interesting report in today’s paper concerning Bamford. In 2019, apparently, they launched an example of a hydrogen fuel cell plant. Last week they demonstrated a hydrogen powered JCB digger, based on their impressive Diesel engine experience. They believe that eliminating the cost, complexity and weight of the fuel cell battery component could make this a particularly attractive technology. Maybe reports of the death of the ICE are a little premature? Of course that also relies on the development of hydrogen pumps, either in gas or liquid form!