Barry14UK

My car was supplied with factory fitted entertainment in back of front seat headrests but it is a 2015 RX 450h so I can't say it would be applicable for your car. However, in the hope that it might help you, the Quick Start Guide that was with my car has the PN:GC1012 Rev C with the narration 'All rights reserved. Copyright 2012 Rosen Entertainment Systems' . Inside it says that for the complete Owner's Manual , please visit Rosen Entertainment.com. although I think this may now be rosenectronics.com Here is a contact form https://www.rosenelectronics.com/contactus/ Interested to learn how you get on. You can probably manage with the Quick Start Guide but it's always nice to have a full manual. NB. I am assuming it was a Rosen unit that Lexus fitted to earlier cars.

What goes around comes around then! Only trouble is everything gets more complicated and expensive to maintain so cars become more difficult and expensive to repair so more readily written off. Some of the old simple 'mechanical' cars which are easy to maintain and lacking a lot of the electronic sophistication are becoming desirable. In any event by 2026 I think a very large number of cars will have electric traction but still too many potential electrical problems.

At a considerable loss of income to the Island though and disappointment of thousands throughout the world, me as a several times visitor included!

I don't know the spec for the IS 300h but the type of battery fitted should always be the same as was originally installed by the factory. This is clearly stated by the leading battery brands (some of whom paradoxically suggest an inappropriate battery for my RX450h). If your car originally had a AGM (VRLA) deep cycle battery , a flooded lead acid battery, EFM, or Gel is not ideal. In addition to what Colin says there are other reasons which are detailed by Yuasa if you scroll down past Stop/Start but of course regeneration advantages don't apply as the traction battery benefits with our cars :- https://www.yuasa.co.uk/info/technical/micro-hybrid-hybrid-vehicles-explained/ As well as being the same type as the original, the replacement should match the Ah, although if there is room a larger Ah battery of the correct type can be fitted. So buying the Lexus battery is the best choice in view of unavailability of comparable alternative - hope this makes you feel a little better!

Don't know if it could help provide a lead but the prototype Concorde was (and probably still is) at Brooklands where it was refurbished awhile back so they probably sought advice from original sources. The guy who showed our party over it seemed to know a lot about it. Maybe if you contacted them somebody could refer you to somebody who could help you. Expect lock down may make this difficult for a time.

While plugs are out I would suggest you take the opportunity to do a compression test as apart from the oily plug there is evidence of carbon build up around central electrode not consistent with deposits on earthing electrode. It could be poor sealing valve guides or excess oil getting past piston rings. I would at least monitor how much oil is being used. There are two schools of thought about using flushing oil. It can get rid of a lot of crud but there is a risk that it can block narrow oilways and some manufacturers advise against it. A good idea of what's circulating is seen in the oil filter.

Picture of plugs could have been better. Replacement plugs seems overdue! Blow by on oily one. Service history/mileage? What does it look like beneath oil cap - dirty indicating inferior oil/ overlong periods between servicing?

£60 is a good price for the Yuasa YBX3005 but unless your Pan battery was indeed a Flooded Lead Acid rather than a VRLA (Valve Regulated Lead Acid AGM one), which I doubt, you have not fitted a compatible battery. Flooded Lead Acid allows the acid to move about freely. The VRLA (AGM) battery contains glass mat which absorbs/holds the acid. The latter has a safety advantage where the battery is located in the boot of an RX450h upturned in an accident if you don't want to risk being sprayed with acid. Even where it is under the hood the VRLA AGM battery is also more suited to the special 12v battery requirements of a hybrid. Batteries are supposed to be replaced with the same type (not necessarily size as originals). The technical information on the Yuasa YBX3005 states that more plates have been inserted to assist Cranking but this is the opposite of what you want with a hybrid which calls for fewer plates and a deep cycling AGM battery. I contacted Yuasa as part of my research and was told they didn't have a suitable battery for the 3rd Gen RX450h I believe what you have purchased will serve but not as well as an AGM battery for the reasons given above. I spent over two full days searching for a suitable alternative to the VRLA AGM original battery in my 2015RX both in the UK and abroad. The only one of suitable size I could find was the HANKOOK AXS55D23L as previously reported in this thread. Unfortunately, the UK main importer for HANKOOK was not interested unless there was an order for 100 of this particular model. I have as yet not received a reply to emails from a main distributor in Belgium who list it but I believe they are affected by lockdown at present.

You have sought advice here and fro somebody who worked for LV for 12 years (not an office junior) and the overall opinion is that you were not refused insurance. What are you going to say in future if the insurers say they see it as a refusal? By asking them you could be inviting the 'wrong' answer in the circumstances. Insurance companies can interpret things differently, for example, I received a NIP for doing 36mph in a 30mph area but this was not proceeded with as I opted for an awareness course offered as an alternative. On renewing my insurance, one company I asked informally about this stated this should nevertheless be recorded against me whereas another company said this was not necessary so they didn't need to know.

Very nice wheels and finish. Some claim this kind of shape is to aid cooling.

That's strange, my CTEK 5 starts with with the last setting used. Could mine be faulty even though it does the job fine and I can cycle through modes if required? I know that some people have had a problem with the mode button but I think this was because the mode button didn't change mode when depressed.

Had Anthracite on my silver Opel Monza GSE many years ago, it being the factory finish. It went quite well although I prefer silver. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder so go with what you like rather than what others think. If you might sell the car before long remember that any modification from standard can reduce the value and desirability of it in general.

One recommendation that has been made when using CETEK and possibly other smart chargers is to avoid using the RECON mode when charging AGM batteries.

Well from what I have read Lexus cars are generally as, if not more reliable than any others on the road but surveys have also shown that when something major goes wrong are among the most expensive to repair. If you don't have warranty cover (which is just a form of insurance) it therefore makes sense to me to put a sum aside for repairs. I have never had an extended warranty on any of my cars over many years of driving. Certainly, I have had problems from time to time but overall must have saved a lot and that includes running the much maligned BMW ! I take a similar view with domestic appliances even Medical Insurance. Some medical treatment abroad did cost me but probably less than premiums which would not have covered the specialized treatment anyway. I have stopped at carrying my risk on the house though LOL! A lot depends on your attitude towards risk and ability to put aside for possible need.

OK, understand your situation. I don't think the solar charger referenced would help much at 3.3W Others have said they needed far more powerful ones than that. Then unless sunny you won't get rated output anyway. Unfortunately, anything readily on view can be tempting for thieves in road. too. I wonder why manufacturers don't fit a thin smart solar panel beneath a fixed section of glass roof- hardly ever open my glass roof. (A fixed one would obviate the need for sun roof drains and potential problems these cause) But perhaps this has been considered and rejected so academic).

They have gone downhill then!

In view of lack of response from Megastore, (battery importers for Hankook in the UK), I chased them today about the possibility of importing the Hankook AXS55D23L for us. They said due to lack of demand for this unusual size they would not consider it unless an order was placed for at least 100, so it looks like that they won't help us which is disappointing. I have emailed the Belgian battery company to see whether they or one of their branches would be prepared to ship to a UK address and if so at what cost and when and whether at a group price to individual addresses. I will post when I get a reply.

Although the Traction battery supplies charge to the 12v battery once car is operational, the process requires that there is sufficient charge in the 12v battery to initiate this which means as a prerequisite the 12v battery is good enough to sufficiently hold a level of charge. Even a new 12v battery will not do this for months without use or by being charged from another source and as the battery ages it will require the car to be used more often or charged another way to A insure car can be used when required without adopting an emergency start and B to help prolong the life of the 12v battery which will last longer if not allowed to go flat.

I think you would have done better to have bought a reasonably priced multimeter and used with tables which would also have also served other modes. Although providing temporary power will get you out of trouble, it is better to try to keep the charge in a battery above the level that it won't start because the more often it needs emergency starts the more likely it is that the life of the battery will be shortened. So a smart charger or similar source keeping the battery charged to an appropriate level pro actively is advisable when car is not being used for a couple of weeks or more. Of course as a battery ages it becomes necessary to check more frequently if the charger is not left in place. I am having to do this weekly now on my RX as it is needing replacement soon and my CTEK is also used on another car's battery.

Several people have raised the matter of having this socket permanently live for various reasons, so I am sure will be interested in how you get on. I have in mind to use it in need for a portable tyre pump (although not for long periods) in view of depleting the 12v battery. When at home I use the pump on AC as it also provides this option.

Might be more of a problem to use solar in the winter. I have pv Solar Panels on my roof and there is a tremendous difference between what these output in summer and winter. Perhaps a possibility for countries in Africa that enjoy a more constant amount of sunshine?

A situation many motorists are finding due to infrequent use at present. I am one of them but by using smart charger once a week am able to soldier on for a time until I fit a replacement, shortly.

Agree very much with this. Choice may reflect your mood and how severely you had been affected over the time. I like classical music and singing, popular songs by leading singers who have almost all passed away now, generally something far removed from the raucous over amplified twangy, repetitive poorly enunciated stuff of recent years! In other words, what I listen to normally.

It would also be interesting to learn whether Lexus charge by the hour or if you wanted a job done that took them 25 mins whether they would say charge for half an hour minimum or for say an hour and a half if the job took 80 mins. I must say that when Lexus Cheltenham serviced my car last year they made no additional charge for custom reprogramming a couple of things I asked to be done at the same time. If I had gone to them just to have this done I am pretty sure they would have charged for the job. Another aspect is whether being a 'Gold Member' might affect the going rate. I think it unlikely that for non standard work all Lexus dealerships would charge a set rate regardless of location. Other 'Premium' car manufactures also charge an eye watering amount!

Herbs, You were right about chair type scooters needing deep discharge batteries as they are not intermittently charged during use, that is unless they are like this guy who wanted something that would produce more power lol.