Barry14UK

As regards brake pads, there is a lot of confusion because several brands can be owned by one Company/Group. One of the biggest is TMD Friction whose brands include Textar, Nisshinko, Mintex, Don, Pagid and Cobreq. Then within the brands there are different qualities. Sometimes the backing plates from one brand can include friction material from another and there is a measure of rebranding. As it happens, I am about to fit new front discs and pads to my RX 450h. The pads 04465-48190 Toyota/Lexus.. The backplates has TEXTAR T4146FF 477-XUL1 TOYOTA stamped into it. The box says made in Japan whereas Textar website says 'MANUFACTURED IN-HOUSE We don’t go shopping for our brake pads; as a global manufacturer of friction products, you can rest assured that Textar has been manufactured to the highest standards at our in-house facilities. All Textar pads are manufactured in Europe.' Incidentally, the pads have fine metal inclusions, whereas for a near identical car in the USA, the discs and pads are different and interestingly, Akosombo, a leading pad brand and said to be OEM, are ceramic and without the metal inclusions. The RX450h is also made in Canada so may have a bearing. Textar are one of the OEM pad brands used by BMW and when a forum member complained about his Textar pads bought from ECP squealing, he was refunded by them having then bought Textar direct from BMW. Regardless of other considerations, there was an obvious difference in as much as in one case there was a gap down the centre of the pad and none from the other. This supports the allegation found on several forums that ECP have an arrangement for a cheaper range of Textar and Pagid pads from those fitted by car manufacturers on their cars as OEM and sold as official replacements. There are very interesting contributions on Mercedes forum from a person who was highly involved professionally with discs and pads. I will try to find and post it.

It's quite usual for some some blood to be in your urine for a couple of weeks and sometimes a few weeks more after a biopsy, particularly a Transperineal one which you appear to be having where more cores can be taken than the TRUS one. The amount of blood will in part depend on the number of cores taken. It is also quite usual for blood and sometimes even small clots to be in semen. This should gradually clear as the Prostate heals. I mention it as not every man who has a biopsy is told about it and it can cause concern. I have had two of these, and my tip would be to rather slouch back rather than lean forward when sitting as doing the latter puts extra pressure on the Transperineal area. You may also find the couple or so days after the day of the biopsy you are somewhat more uncomfortable due to bruising being more evident. Generally, it's a pretty easy procedure.

Some of those filling your car with Petrol, years ago would ask "check your oil sir?" The days when you got service! More recently, I asked at a service station if they had a particular auto transmission fluid. Neither of the men in the store knew what I was talking about and just offered something that was inappropriate telling me it would do, (which it wouldn't). You would think as a motor service station they would know a little about what they were selling but the range of non specify motor goods they now sell means they are just a mini shop that also sells a few motor products as a small addition.

If using a charger for bringing up level in an AGM battery it should not be capable of charging at more than 5amp according to Lexus manual on my RX450h which also means using an appropriate 'smart charger', in AGM charging mode, I read some car models with AGM batteries (but I don't know which), should be charged at a maximum 4amp. AGM batteries are heavier and contain more lead than their free flow lead acid counterparts and as has been said the acid is absorbed within a mat.

Maybe some sort of heat/smoke sensor could be incorporated along with a sounder. It might not save your car but if you were in it, it could give you early warning more time to get out of it with minimal injury. The same could apply in the cargo/battery area of a plane (if not done already) Additionally, at least in this latter situation, hopefully dry powder could be released to help restrain any fire.

Is this the sort of thing you had in mind? Not surprised if it's not in manual.

Toyota announced it will put solid-state batteries in hybrid cars on dealership lots by 2025. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/05/18/solid-state-batteries-electric-vehicles-race/ Toyota have a solid state powered test car up and running.

This has prompted me to get the adjustable one depicted here (not the ones linked to in the posting which are different). Apart from enabling me to reach the top of my car, I will be able to reach all my bungalow windows without using a pole, use the adjustment to reach and trim hedges and decorate internally and as a mobile tool rest when doing jobs. Being 'tight' by nature, I checked the net and apart from one seller who transposed models and another heavily criticised for scamming, Halfords were as cheap as anybody else for the adjustable 79023 model at £109-99 as it's currently on offer. I then used the Halfords discount card provided with my Lexus Gold Membership to get 15% off this price, reducing the bottom line cost to £93-49.

Range and range anxiety seem to be why some people express concern about having BEVs, although this may become less so as more charging stations become available. In winter the range does drop very considerably, a reason why some have reverted to petrol. I am aware that battery technology is improving and may well mean current BEVs suffer heavy depreciation against the newer and lighter solid state battery equipped cars that will be available in due course.

Thank you Dave

Effectiveness of automatic car washes can be variable. I only used one once and it left more marks than before it went in. So never used one since. You take care how you hand clean your car. I have a rigid platform like Herbs and I am 107Kg. However it is kept in a dark shed as plastic has a tendency to crack over time if permanently exposed to sun(light). Must say I like the aluminium one peniole posted, might also enable me to more easily clean my bungalow windows too. Affected by hosepipe ban at present. Are buckets of water and sponge acceptable? Does anyone know if water taken in buckets direct from outlet rather than via hose permitted?

I took a look at the Korean BEVs and was not impressed with the materials and ambiance but their technology is well advanced. I did prefer the Skoda Enyaq for style and interior although to get it to the Sportsline model it is ridiculously expensive for what it is and charging with electricity is showing increasingly less advantage over petrol the way the price of electricity is increasing making the purchase of BEVs a brave choice at present.

I liked the the new NX I had as a loan car for the day while my RX was being serviced about 3 years ago and really it would do all I need with the small mileage I cover these days since full retirement. However, when I got back into the RX, although it felt more bargelike in handling, it felt more comfortable, spacious and just a bit more upmarket which is great for the occasional long journeys I make. I decided that this made the difference in running cost of my RX against the NX worthwhile. But this was buying used. If buying new, I don't know that I could justify the price difference. I did think in about 3 or 4 years from now might look at a full BEV but I doubt the new RZ matches up to the NX, so will look at the revised NX in due course. I read that if you needed to charge a BEV a couple of times en route, it could be more expensive with current electric tariffs than in a petrol model for the journey. (This could change in due course but gives thought for consideration as to the advantage of paying a greater initial price of a BEV being worth it. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/cars/news/electric-cars-will-be-more-expensive-to-run-than-petrol/ar-AA119EGf?li=BBoPJKU&getstaticpage=true&automatedTracking=staticview&index=1 I am really glad I don't have to make a decision on this for 3 or4 years.

I wonder why the rear wiper was not hidden whilst parked as on my RX thereby tidying up the year and as Lexus say being a superior action. Maybe to do with shape of high spoiler. In any case, at least you get one which seems to be omitted on some SUV/Crossovers cars nowadays.

In the absence of independent directly comparable tests over a good distance, the difference could be subjective. Looked at another way, the higher octane or E5 contains less of the dreaded Ethanol which is a problem with some cars and produces less power when added. In other words, the normal unleaded has now been further adulterated. I was under the impression that the super grade, contained additional additive(s) to help clean engine and maximise performance. The difference could vary with the type of vehicle. Some high Octane fuel contains 5% Ethanol while some is Ethanol free. Let's hire a track for a day and do various tests!

I will just add a couple of comments on aspects that have been raised. From those posting on this forum, it would seem likely that very few are female and of those that have posted most come because they look for help with a problem and don't participate in general discussion on a wide basis. I trust those who may just look in from time to time will either ignore this thread or note the essential points if they do follow it. Actually, PCa is also known as the 'Couples Disease' as it can heavily impact the partner of the affected man. It is interesting that on the main UK Prostate Cancer support group we have many ladies who are researching on behalf of partners, family and friends and giving feedback and helping others. Women are in general much more proactive in this respect and it is often they who push men to make an initial appointment with a partner's GP. (Unfortunately, by the time symptoms are experienced the disease has sometimes been given much of a head start). Another question which was touched on in this thread is "would it benefit me to have a particular treatment?' One of the reasons why this is asked is because the person asking the question knows somebody who did well on a treatment thinking that he will work equally well for them. This may well not be the case so should not be assumed. After diagnosis, a man is normally told the treatment options that are open to him. This will mean those for which he is suitable (but may exclude certain treatments that a particular hospital cannot offer), so always worth asking consultant if you are suitable for other options that may be available at another facility. Low or high dose Brachytherapy may be an example. The individual should then carefully consider the pros and cons of various treatments which they all have including potential side effects before making a treatment decision. Sometimes the option of Active Surveillance may be suggested for at least a time. Sometimes a patient may be steered towards one form of treatment but often it is left to the patient to decide. In more advanced situation the more radical options may be ruled out and more direction offered which will involve more systemic options. In short, there are many aspects to PCa and it helps to know some of the basics, remembering your options and outcomes benefit from early diagnosis of this very complex disease. However, as has been said, some men have treatment and suffer consequences of treatment that don't really need it, so is something that needs very careful consideration and hopefully the medical profession will be able to provide better guidance. The foregoing is just a basic summarised start to a subject that has concerns so many men and their families.

Hi Herbs, I am sorry that PCa was responsible for the loss of your BIL. When this happens it certainly brings home what could happen to us males. Home PSA kits serve a purpose but ideally NHS test at local surgery best as they generally use same lab. Having said that, PSA can vary for a number of reasons and you shouldn't have s*x, ride a bicycle or do anything really energetic for 24 hours prior to taking the sample or avoid if you have a UTI. 47 cores sounds too many for the TRUS which I can tell you stings like being flicked by a rubber band when each sample is taken. He probably had a Transperineal template which is better with less risk of infection, under a spinal block (Epidural) instead of GA. With fewer cores and fusion it can now be by deep sedation which I found OK if embarrassing! As regards spread, sometimes the cancer cells are in concentrations so small that they can sometimes cannot be seen as they set up home in bone or tissue. They can also travel through the lymphatic system. Occasionally, they can form a tumour even as far as the Brain. This is then Prostate Cancer of the Brain. There is a brilliant talk by Dr Eugene Kwon of Mayo who covers this on his talk about Oligo Metastases . It still holds up well today although the C11 Pet scan he favors would probably be bettered by a later scan today such as the 68 Gallium PSMA. Anyway, here is a link if anyone is interested. Thank you for your reply. I was aware of the comparatively recent research on helping to establish men more likely to have PCa and of course the need for a better test to replace initial PSA, the drawbacks of which you refer to. I am surprised that more progress has not been made in this area (although likely more challenging). By comparison, new and refined ways of treating have made great advances. So, I am somewhat surprised that so much credence is now being placed on the simple DRE, something I had in 2007 both by my GP and at urology but it raised no suspicion. Thank goodness I also had a PSA test of 17.6 that rang bells and with a T3A staging was glad my GP added PSA test when checked for something else, although I had no symptoms of PCa. With your long involvement in the area, you may remember 'The Great PSA Debate' that took place on 10th November 2009 with the likes of Sir Roger Kirby and Dr Chris Parker of the Royal Marsden, (the latter one of my consultants),. on opposing sides with others for a motion at a great gathering of assembled, clinicians, and interested bodies and lay people. The main motion was that every man at risk of PCa (meaning men over 50, 40 with additional risk), should be encouraged to monitor his PSA on an annual basis. The motion was passed by a large majority but never accepted into practise. Actually, having been diagnosed, my interest like most others on the Prostate Cancer UK and an American forum I am member of, is more concerned with post initial diagnosis and treatments. To this end, I did very extensive research meeting some highly regarded Consultants in the UK and Germany. This also involved reading medical papers, even from Japan, watching lectures and looking for trials in UK and Abroad. I will not go too deeply into this as it may be found to be boring. Suffice to say, knowing how badly men suffer from PCa, I wanted to make men aware of the disease and a chance of early treatment if they accept the risks.

You don't know whether there is cancer in the area that cannot be reached even if this is unlikely but it can and does happen. This is what they say about it on Prostate Cancer UK, the foremost PCa Charity in the UK whose guidance follows that provided by leading consultants. "The DRE is not a completely accurate test. Your doctor or nurse can’t feel the whole prostate. And a man with prostate cancer might have a prostate that feels normal Your doctor or nurse can’t feel the whole prostate. And a man with prostate cancer might have a prostate that feels normal." https://prostatecanceruk.org/prostate-information/prostate-tests/digital-rectal-examination-dre Furthermore, there have been cases posted in the Community of that Charity where the assessment of the GP and hospital Urologist has differed significantly, so this actually happens in the real world. Also, take a look here where four studies are considered and conclusions made rather than the one on which latest UK recommendations were considered. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5985061/#:~:text=Diagnostic accuracy of DRE&text=This was calculated using Meta,89.5–91.8%)%2C respectively.

Always reassuring to to get a clear report. It is true that although PSA tests are a better indicator of the presence of cancer after treatment (but even so by no means definitive), than an initial indicator of PCa, the test is cheap, much more than for example the PCA3 test which was not widely used, though used in conjunction with the PSA test it improved the result. The DRE is something that should be done by the GP in any case along with taking blood for PSA but being done by a finger in the rectum, not all the Prostate is reachable so this is not a good test. Genetic profiling may prove helpful but this has not been widely adopted yet it would seem. So meanwhile, with 12,000+ men dying of cancer a year, the second largest cancer killer of men, it's not clear to me how you check every man who might or might not exhibit PCa symptoms.. You can't rely on a DRE which can be quite subjective. Biopsy, particularly a Transperineal one following a multiparametric MRI and possible bone or PET scan and then appropriate treatment is going to be the way for men with significant cancer, but being expensive really needs justification. So men should not have unnecessary harm from treatment they don't need although they have scans and biopsy. The problem is that with so many men wanting an initial PSA and treatment, regardless if they have any significant cancer, they may want treatment that is unnecessary. Also, this is putting a severe strain on the NHS in terms of clinical time and cost. Professor Mark Emberton, world renowned Focal Expert, has expressed a view that found early, a number on men who want treatment but to avoid most severe side effects, might be suitable for one or more of several types of Focal treatment as an intermediate or final treatment. I have also been persuaded to give a talks to students on this having had both Focal and Hadron therapy, the latter in Germany.

Agree T cut can be harsh. I have used a metal polish (had some old Bluebell or Brasso, can't remember but needs good shake first). A little stronger is Solvol Autosol, now just called 'Autosol I believe. It really depends on how deep scratch is and to some extent where. Sometimes a rattle can and buff will do if you can get a good match and are used to doing this. Even manufacturers shades can differ. A good 'Chips Away' sprayer may be able to do a satisfactory job. It get's expensive if a panel needs to be blended.

Apart from the passage of time which means even cared for batteries eventually either become less effective or can suddenly not operate, the main reason for premature battery failure is due to voltage level being allowed to fall due too low due to inadequate use of the vehicle and or lack of supplementary charging when needed. Indeed, some batteries carry a warning that the warranty is void if the battery has dropped below a certain voltage. The life of a battery can also be reduced by charging at too high a rate so 'gassing' takes place. This is particularly the case with AGM batteries. Lexus say the maximum charge rate should be 5amp. A 'smart' trickle charge that tapers charge down from 5amp as needed to maintain a suitable level of charge and correct battery type model is required As to which battery to fit, batteries generally come in defined case sizes and terminal types regardless of manufacture. Put simply. the main difference is internally due to type of construction, amount of lead used and way acid is contained. For sizes that are sold in greatest numbers, you may find a major manufacturer may sell the same size battery in more than one quality and price and warranty will reflect this. Lexus/Toyota supplied batteries are an exception to this although of good quality and highly priced the warranty is only for 12 months I understand, although in practice last for very much longer. So if you just want a battery that will do the job for the cheapest price albeit with short warranty just compare prices from a local factor or on line supplier. If you want a better quality look at batteries from the better warranted ranges of the major suppliers like Yuasa, Bosch, Varta and Excide. If you want the AGM type as originally fitted, either get the discounted AGM OEM from Lexus Direct or equivalent model from any of the major names I gave through a factor where they do the size required. Remember, that a cheaper well treated battery may last longer than an abused better quality one, although well treated as intended, the better more expensive battery with longer guarantee should last longer. NB. It doesn't have to be a more expensive AGM battery where the main advantage is better acid containment isin the event of an accident.

I am happy for you John. I have been on a support forum since 2007 when I was first diagnosed and we have had men whose PSA has been in the thousands vary from one PSA to another, even without changed treatment, by maybe a couple or so hundred between PSA tests but never seen a variation that has moved so much percentagewise and with lows and an intermediate high such as yours without treatment on successive tests. We have had a man who had a PSA of 80 but despite repeat tests cancer could not be found. I was not suggesting you might have PCa even though 52 is well above normal scale. I would expect nothing else of you than you would have covered all eventualities.

John, Not wanting to elicit information you may wish to withhold or go too deeply here into a very complex subject but was that exclamation mark meant to be a 1, making the last reading 81, because the sequence of readings seems unusual. However, we don't know the time frame for these and any treatment(s) between. For anybody who may be interested but unaware, there are ranges of PSA according to age that are considered normal for most men. However, men with enlarged prostates (BPH), or experiencing a UTI at the time the PSA was taken, can have a raised figure for age and still be considered normal. Conversely, there are situations where a man may be within range but still have cancer for example where he has small cell cancer which is a type that produces low PSA. So except where PSA is initially exceedingly high, it may well not of itself suggest cancer, only that other tests/scan should be done. Men who have been treated, fall outside the above mentioned ranges and although PSA is used in different ways to help monitor development, other factors have to be taken into account such the type of treatment administered and other tests/scans as considered appropriate by Clinicians. I paid for a 68 Gallium PSMA scan at the Paul Strickland Scanning Centre which changed my treatment plan as it can for some.

I was due for a Colonoscopy yesterday but it was cancelled due to staff shortage, fortunately before I started the MoviPrep so now fixed for 3rd Sep. Hoping no cancer is found - have previously had 3 procedures for Prostate Cancer (PCa). It's unfortunate that many men don't know much about PCa, thinking it only affects old men or is always found early due to exhibiting symptoms, neither of which is correct. Consequently, there are many men in UK who are not diagnosed early and too late for radical primary treatment, so are only treated systemically. Having said that, more men die with PCa than of it. Many men are not motivated to sufficiently consider their health and it is often their partners who push then to be checked. If this prompts anybody to look into this further, Prostate Cancer UK do a 'Tool Kit' which details basic information about the disease and various treatments, as here https://shop.prostatecanceruk.org//our-publications/all-publications/tool-kit?limit=100

It would be helpful if we were told a little more about how long you have had the car and whether you bought it from a franchised dealer and what warranty you were given. Who are "they" that did the service you refer to. The foregoing could suggest your way forward. The battery is certainly the prime suspect and the fact that it has repeatedly been allowed to go flat has hastened its demise in any event. A parasitic draw on the system may have led to this situation. You really need a new battery which should be monitored and could well end you problem. Who would pay for this depends on what I said in my first two sentences. If a new battery does not solve your problem, there could be a wiring fault or parasitic discharge that would need to be investigated and sorted, otherwise the new battery will have a short life.