davepruce

Mr SF - 156k and going strong and I'm doing about 12k a year! This year I'm looking to tow my 1500kg (all up weight) caravan to Arcachon in France for 2 weeks (just to the west of Bordeaux) about 600 miles from Calais and (touches wood gently) dont really foresee any probs. Before then I will have had the engine oil changed (yet again), and this year will probably have the transfluid changed as well but my minds not made up about that one yet, it smells good and feels good (nice and slippery) and theres always the chance of contamination changing it. I could change the car - but why would I want to? Its worth about 2k on a very good day - it owes me nowt and just goes on, what more could one want? I am the cat with the cream :D :D :D :D :D

Maybe I shoudnt tempt fate but my '93 Mk2 LS has just passed its MOT (YAY) with only 2 advisories - bonnet stays (mainly because it fell on his head and he was pi$$ed off), and a slight leak at the base of the nearside cat that was not enough to fail it. No suspension/steering probs, no disc/caliper/parking brake probs! Heres to yet another year of quiet comfortable wafting around in supreme comfort. Just thought I'd share :D :D :D :D

Thanks for the info Chris - I will file it away for a slightly warmer weekend!!

Only slightly OT - Is there a tutorial that anyone knows of that shows how to change the 'O' ring? Or is it so easy that anyone can do it without one?

If you type the webaddress domain name only (ibank.barclays.co.uk) and open the page (all anonymous at this stage) then go to the security link at top right, that whole page is all about how they will NEVER ask for your details via email! edit: it also gives details of how to identify scams!!

Rare (just how I like it!)

Sorry, its just how you 'feed' data to the webpages, like Tescos/Sainsburys etc websites, the items and pricing etc are held in backend databases with a generic html page to hold the data, then you dont have to rebuild the page every time prices or items change. Trouble is Dreamweaver is VERY expensive (assuming you have to buy it), there are some good freebies around, and probably the best of those at www.arachnophilia.com. Try this http://personalweb.about.com/od/websiteeditortutorials/ page for some advice

Try writing ASP.Net using SQL server with DreamWeaver!. I use Visual Studio, but there again its my job and I've always used it. Dreamweaver is probably the best d&d product out there for the 'home' user (not meant to be patronising) who does not need SQL backend databases

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqcDJGlfAGE

RHD instrument cluster scan. Any others just ask Dave

No probs - will scan it and any other pages (within reason!!) and post them tonight Dave

Sounds like the right one, the other one that fooled me the other day looked like it but is actually the 'bulb blown' warning light - check your brake lights. The handbook shows which ones which - if you dont have one I'll scan mine and post it tonight Otherwise could be one of the indicator wires on the pads come off or broken Dave

A friends of my sons has just got hold of an old (mk1 I think) 400 and has decided to put the engine plus 2 turbos in a Supra. He does know quite a lot about jap cars and engines so I assume he knows what he is doing, but...... Will it fit? Will it go like he thinks it will? Anyone got any ideas? Incidentally the rest of the motor will be up for grabs later on (its a green one), he wants nowt but the engine and headers and has offered it to me

The cig lighter idea will take a LONG time to put enough charge in to start it. I'd bite the bullet and get the powerpack or maybe a new battery and you wont need either!!

Last 2 sets have been Vredestein all round. Got 32k out of the last set - good wet and dry.

My wife has an '02 306 GTI - had it just over a year - only thing to go wrong is the exhaust (rotted so replaced it) - goes like a rocket (when I get to drive it!!)

My LS has a builtin cooler as standard which works very efficiently and keeps the whole thing at the correct temperature, not sure if GS's do, but they are easy to spot because there are oil pipes that run from the autobox to the bottom of the radiator.. However when I originally bought it, I checked with Lexus who said that I'd definately need a bigger cooler/radiator etc - I didnt, and have been towing successfully all year round for over 4 years! My theory is that they have a stock answer that they all give to cover their butts (and maybe make some more money!). As the yanks say - YMMV Dave

I got this as one of the many hundreds of cr*p emails we all get all the time and almost deleted it out of hand, then I had a think.... It may or may not be a current 'thing' or a hoax or whatever (Scarface???), BUT could so easily be true ...... SO ....... its a timely reminder to be careful ..... ==================================================== -----ALL CAR OWNERS AND CAR DRIVERS, PLEASE READ Be aware of a new car-jacking scheme. You walk across the car park, unlock your car and get inside, lock the doors, start the engine and select reverse. You look into the rear-view mirror to back out of you parking space and notice a piece of paper stuck to the middle of the rear window. So, you shift back into park or neutral, unlock the doors and get out to remove the paper (or whatever it is) that is obstructing your view. When you reach the back of your car the car-jackers appear out of nowhere, jump into your car and take off. Your engine was running and you would have left your handbag or briefcase in the car. APART FROM NICKING ANYTHING OF VALUE, THEY MIGHT FIND YOUR ADDRESS AND THEY ALREADY HAVE YOUR KEYS! Remember, if you see your rear view blocked like this just drive away and remove the paper later ! It is stuck to your window! THIS SCAM IS HAPPENING IN LONDON RIGHT NOW AND WILL SURELY SPREAD TO OTHER AREAS Be thankful that you read this email and forward it to friends and family especially to women! JUST BE AWARE AND TAKE CARE. IT WILL SOON ARRIVE IN YOUR AREA. ==================================================== Dave

My LS has been towing caravans now for over 4 years (up yours Clarkson!) without a trans cooler and is still absolutely fine. They have a built in cooler anyway (small but works) so I would not be too worried about that side. Just make sure that the trans fluid is kept to the correct level, and both before and after a big towing session (South of France couple of years back with a 1500kg caravan) check its not getting burned - just smell it - if it smells burned then it probably is!!

Hey .... next time - but thanks

Went to Paris for the weekend just gone with a mate and his wife. Went in his beemer 520 estate (works 'van' free fuel!), left my LS and his wifes GS sport behind!! So, had a good time, stayed in a nice hotel (he's a UK rep, gets frequent stayer points in Holiday Inns (platinum card if you understand these things), so we were in The Republique, rate is 487 euros, we paid 40 quid/night - touch!) Anyway, 1800 ferry Friday, so storming down the A1 to Paris in the dark, NO CATSEYS!! You just dont realise how much help catseys are till you dont have them and are doing 80-90 mph on a motorway that twists and turns and undulates! Then you get into Paris and they are EVERYWHERE except on the roads - pavements, kerbs. Also strange - lack of lane markings - try circulating the Arc de Triomphe - room for about 10 lanes - NO markings - but it seems to work. The roundabout outside the hotel was the same, 3-4 lanes space but no markings - difrent strokes..... Anyway, had a good weekend, thought I'd share some observations Dave

GS is a different bag o beans - your analogy is probably correct. Its 3ltr (or 4.3 later models) not 4, smaller (slightly), not much better on fuel I've heard, not my taste in shape I must admit esp the older ones, but ya likes what ya likes! Rangey as you say off road - on, its pants. I had a Disco a while back - a real bag o sh**

Cubic - last thing you can say is a'ditherer' around town. Yes it does induce sedate driving because of its size and the fact that everyone ignores you as it looks like an 'old mans car', BUT, when required it will beat a very quick line to the horizon. After all, when new it was only just over 7 secs to 60 and is probably not much more now, but its getting on in years and I dont like to subject it to such coarseness!!!!! But every day when I leave work I have to turn right uphill onto a quite fast single carriageway road - so it gets a workout then! Get one - you wont regret it!

Had mine since 2001, paid way over then with 83k on the clock (didnt know about this site), but know better now! Luckily I got a goodun! Oil - change it every 10k (others say 6K - your choice). Doesnt sound like anything at all, its just.....quiet! Petrol - 20/21 around town 25-30 at motorway speeds - depends on driving style. Now mines done 157k, sails thru MOT every year. Plipper no longer works - I HAVE to insert the key - bugga. Just replacing ignition barrel (£91 incl rebuild to my key). Replaced HT cables a while ago and cleaned inlet, no hardship, runs better. Just put 4 new tyres on - got 30k out of the last set - Vredesteins. Brake pads last for ever, discs could maybe do with a change soon, and its coming up for a transfluid change. I service it on a rolling basis, ie I dont wait for mileage to come round, I just keep it maintained, takes almost no effort as I very rarely have to do anything! If the above seems excessive, think about what you would have to have replaced on a Mondeo / Cavalier / Jag etc at this age (engine/gearbox/suspension etc)

I was told by a reputable (non lex) auto trans company that as long as the oil is clean and clear and unburnt, then it can be left as there is a possibilty of contamination on changing it. HOWEVER, having said that, there are now a number of auto trans companies that will disconnect your autofluid pipe from the cooler, connect both sides to a pump of some description and change ALL the fluid without contamination. Just what I have been told - I have no experience of the job! Of course a Lex dealer will change it as per servicing schedules - no question