Tuppence

Thank you Gents for your help re battery charging. Thanks Len for the link to the "traffic light gadgit" Have ordered one, will get garage to put it on when car goes for service.

Hello, I have a an IS 250 SE 2005 think I need to charge battery, have a ctek charger. Sorry for daft ? but do I put the negative on the neg battery terminal or a part of the car's metal-work. Thanks

Hi, I have bought a Creader 319 OBDII Scanner Used it and got the following: PO304 1/4 Generic Current Cylinder 4 misfire detected PO300 2/4 Generic Pending Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected PO303 3/4 Generic Pending Cylinder 3 Misfire Detected PO304 4/4 Generic Pending Cylinder 4 Misfire Detected Have set out each screen more or less as it was. Didn't try to clear the codes. Have tried to look up about this, seems bad? How bad is it going to be (a) to drive it locally a little for things I need shortly (b) to drive it maybe up to 2hrs to get to my favoured garage? and maybe back? Thanks in advance.

Thanks I'll order one then, can get it by Friday apparently.

OK. Thanks. Will have to get to the garage to get the codes read. LATER: I have been looking up Obd2 code readers. Can get one from Amazon but description seems to say only emissions related problems, although in other parts they are talking about lots of error codes. Don't think my problem is anything to do with emissions.

OK. Thanks. Will have to get to the garage to get the codes read.

Thanks ever so much.

Hi For ages my boot has not been closing properly, causing the trunk open light to be on when car is switched off. So have to check that and keep shutting boot till it catches enough to shut light off, otherwise flat battery. On driving off, boot will quickly unlatch itself again. Alternatively, on the about once a year it closes properly it is then very difficult to open. Should any garage be able to mend this situation? i.e. is it something straightforward? (IS 250 SE [2005]) Thanks.

The check VSC warning display came on yesterday (after a car wash visit) with a malfunction light that looks a bit like an engine block (over on the left) and the little "slippy car" traction light over on the right. Today all this came on again after about 1 min driving. For a short time the "engine block" light was flashing then just went back to just on. This can apparently mean: malfunction in engine control system or in electronic throttle system. Anybody have any views? Garage would be at least an hour, maybe hour and a half away, can I drive it? The last twice the check VSC and slippy car has come on it was an O2 sensor, drove it for a little while till fixed. Could it be" just" one of those again? Anything gratefully received. Thanks in advance.

That would be because you don't know the history of this garage with my car, and as I said, they like to do more than is necessary, not the simple solution, what's the most expensive solution. But have heard dealers in UK do that also.

UPDATE Got the car back on Friday 26th, so just over 3 wks. They seem to have replaced a Relay (Integration No. 1), 2 fuses and maybe a bundle of wires (doesn't seem to translate properly even with dictionary). The relay and the wire bundle were quit expensive. Just over 3 hrs looking for the problem was €253. Replacing the bloc (? couldn't translate that either) and the bundle of wires was €182. Total was €976. Not able to tell if I was cheated as usual, they usually do more than necessary. Was telephoned when it was ready, not before with costs. Couldn't get help from anybody to speak to them, either Gov regulated auto experts who you pay, they didn't answer email, nor did Eng garage who has looked after car in past who I offered to pay to keep them under control. Asked me what was wrong with the car etc and then didn't reply. Anyway, glad I've got it back.

Thanks for that. They are the only one for miles. Foreign vehicles not that popular in France so always been difficult to find a garage to deal with and only this one Toyota and one Mazda (used to have Mazdas before my late hubby bought this rubbish object). It is only recently garages say "all makes" for repairs, as does the 1st one it went to but they can't cope very often. Am going to try to find a auto expert type person they have here to sort out problems in case one can help, also there is a retired UK Toyota workshop manager around, have asked a contact if I can phone him for advice, don't expect him to get involved and of course people don't want to, understand that. He'll know a reasonable time to "look" for the problem. Maybe what it might be. He did confirm to be a few years ago when I did take the car to him that they were trying to cheat me and probably had with what had gone before. (only 12K).

It's difficult due to my lack of French. Then there's them. He is just going to continue to look and will phone me when he's found something. End of conversation. So not counting the fact that I don't know anybody I have to try to find someone who can/will at least advise, would prefer someone who speaks Fr and Eng and knows about cars. Not much to ask!!! Your comments above have given me some pointers about what to ask them etc. They like to be difficult and not use email which is easier for me I could understand that more than tel.call and have time to work out a reply. They are nasty with a smile I feel when you go there.

So I plucked up the courage to phone them today. They have had it a week tomorrow and they have not found the problem, they are continuing to look. How long should I let them "look" for and given it won't start I am just stuck with paying for them to "look" forever. As well as living in the countryside.