Norv

Can you put me down for a Rising Sun, XE-01 please. That will be £40 as I'm #6, that correct? Cheers, Mark.

Finally got round to fitting my new ARB's. After messing around with the sized drop link nuts for a while I finally managed to get them off. I found the best way was to hold the ball joint side close to the roll bar with some small needle nose mole grips while winding the nut off (after wire brushing it up and soaking it in WD) the nut get tighter and tighter. But once it is off a bit you can get some of the mini normal head mole grips onto the ball joint piece to get a better grip, when it starts to get tight soak it up in WD and wind it back on for a bit. When the nut is nearing the end of the thread you should be able to squeeze a set of big mole grips onto the ball joint piece to stop it turning and remove the nut. I used a set of thread chasers to clean up the threads on the ball joint and the nut. When putting the nut back on use loads of copper slip to help it off next time. Bit of time and effort and no need to buy new drop links! The difference with the new ARB's is phenomenal. Drives like a different car in the corners. It seems to stay completely flat even when pushing it hard. Most of the body pitch and roll has gone too, £300 well spent in my opinion. Now I just need to get the lowering springs fitted and get it WIM'd to feel the full benefit. Mark.

Just what I was after! Thanks a lot, will make life much easier! Mark.

Had a quick search but didn't find a guide to fitting my TTE lowering springs. Hopefully do it on Sunday. If there isn't one already I will take some pics as I go along. Anyone got just a quick written guide they can do so I don't go taking too much apart? Got the dash lights and the ARB's to do at the same time, but these are the easy bits! Cheers, Mark.

Can you link to the supplier you used please? And how many of each,just done my headlights so would be nice for dash lights to match! Cheers, Mark.

These are the cheapest ones I have seen (with front and rear ARB bushes included) thogh I haven't done tons of research... Mark.

I just ordered myself a set of these. I will let you know how they handle once fitted, so hopefully not too long! Mark.

I used to do some off roading. My tips would be, if anywhere near bonnet height, keep a steady speed enough to get a nice bow wave going, it massively reduces the depth of water to your engine bay. I wouldn't worry about the electrics getting wet too much unless it cuts out. You dont want the engine to take in any water, thats when the damage happens! If it was me in my Lex I'd go around! Mark.

Ideally you need a wiring diagram to see which circuit triggers the relay to power up the ECU. Not sure on Lexus but on Mercs (vans) the immobiliser reads the key code, if it is programmed in it will then tell the engine ECU to enable the engine to start. The ECU switches one of the relay trigger wires to earth which clicks the relay over. So for it to be clicking would indicate a possible fault with the alarm/immobiliser which won't be recieving the signals it is expecting to. I'd check the plug connections on the ECU for any signs of water ingress or corrosion as they could cause a high resistance. Normally if a relay fails it will stick either on or off, so the clicking is a sign that it is working, may be worth swapping it for a different one to rule it out though. Hope this helps, Mark.

Could you take a picture from the side? I have a platinum ice IS and wanted to see what it looks like with your window tints, they look mild and suit the car well. One day I want mine to look like that! Mark.

So where do you get the dual circuit bulb holders from? They the ones from the standard position stop and tail lights? I think it looks smart with the fogs as side/brake lights... Mark.

This is a fairly common problem with HGV entitlement. They say the only thing you can do is argue your licences BEFORE you send them off so they can check up on your records and agree that you have them before hand. Even a photocopy isn't enough to prove you had the licences. They even say that unless they have the pass certificate on file they won't honour it. Hopefully you will resolve yours but I know many who haven't. Mark.

While this probably doesn't apply to Lexi. Coolant isn't just coolant. Some engines with Ali heads can react with your standard coolant and block up the water ways. Mitsubishi Canters for example can't use normal Mercedes coolant for exactly this reason, Mitsubishi stuff is required. Mark.

Not MoT failable, but its contruction and use if the police pull you over. 3 points per tyre not covered by the arches i believe. Mark.

A little birdie told me that a magnet on the digi tach sender on the gearbox may or may not affect the reading causing the RSL not to operate.....!

Could be something as simple as a stone stuck in the tread of the tyre. Best bet qould be to jack it up and spin it by hand to investigate..... Mark.

Nothing to do with the Merc electrics causing bulbs to blow. Its just the filament in the bulb that goes. Maybe try a different brand of bulbs? The old 312D's go like stink. They eat the new 315CDi's for breakfast. I'd sooner have a 311 than the 315 to be honest, the twin turbo system is hardly ideal. It's just a test run for the cars really. The new sprinters do drive very well with weight on board. They also are a lot more comfortable than the old ones!

Of course! Unless it's terminal I may well be able to help!! Rar occasion seeing an Actros be towed away though. Mark

I'm a Merc truck and van mechanic working at a main dealers. May be able to help with any faults on Sprinters, Vito's etc... Mark

This was in an Extra in Salisbury. Also heard that Swansea have it too. Might be just in the promotions bit, it was stacked by the doors and not in the beer isle if that helps! Mark.

Just doing some shopping in Tesco and saw 20 440ml cans of Stella for a tenner! Score. Can't beat that for the bank holiday weekend! Mark.

Looks to be very similar to the cheap kit http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/UNIVERSAL-CARBON-FIB...%3A1|240%3A1318 Had one of them fitted to my previous car, made a nice roar but the only reason I went for the inline type kit was for sealing it up to be used a snorkel. Hope this helps, Mark.

The car has the standard 215/45R17's on it. Even if it takes the speed from the gearbox the final drive will still make the overall vehicle speed incorrect. Before the Lexus I had a Suzuki SJ which had much bigger tyres than standard and made the speedo go way out, I wasn't expecting the same with the Lex! Most cars as you say have about 10% over reading on the dash, just can;t understand why it is so far out... Not a common problem then? Also yes please for the Contact details for Swindon. Thanks for the help, Mark.

Hi there, I am new to Lexi and the LOC only got my IS200 last tuesday, a week today infact! A few little niggles, firstly the speedo is ready 10mph out compared with my sat nav. I know there is normal a slight difference but its doing 30mph when its reading 40 and gets to about 13 mph out when you get to higher speeds. My car is a 2001 Y plate IS200 S, with lots of optional extras I'm told. It originally had 16" rims but now has some 17's on it, I cant see that this small difference in tyre size would cause this. Also, my 17" 5 spokes are getting very shabby and the car is in pretty good nick, few small blemishes. I have a few small mods planned for it but ideally want ti to be kept imacculate, are there any wheel refurb people you would recommend? Or even someone selling some tidy rims? I will get round to posting some pictures of it soon, Platinum Ice colour, looks like every other IS200 at the moment! Cheers, Mark.

Best bet is to use a 6 point socket, usually stops them rounding off so easily. Other option is to warm them up, wither run the engine so the exhaust is hot or use a blow torch. Failing that, just cut them off! Mark.