DrShockr

It also depends on what kind of bulbs you buy and how many miles you do in the dark when the lights are on. I find the super bright ones last much shorter time than the cheaper and dimmer ones. I had exactly the same problem where I'd change the bulb 3 times a year but now haven't touched it in over a year after buying cheap ones.

Have you lost the original part that goes over that? The same thing happens to my 2014 CT, the handle comes off but it is easy to fit back on if you pay attention to the clips and hooks.

Heating first thing after starting the car on a cold morning will always keep the engine running until it is fully warmed up, to give you the desired heat selected (dialling down the temp indicated on the AC system will allow the engine to turn off quicker). Seat heaters are a lifesaver IMO, they do warm up quite fast and actually stay on - have seen other cars where they automatically switch off and is a pain to constantly switch it back on! If you do short journeys (5-15 minutes) and have the heating on, it will have a drastic impact on the MPG. Personally I do a lot of short journeys (2-4 miles) and my average MPG is around 45, when on a longer run and on A-roads can easily get 60+ miles to the gallon.

Given the message on the dash, I would change the key battery anyway. Not sure about others but I've found I have to change the key batteries much more regularly (~twice a year) with this car than others I've had before (once every few years).

Also remember, if you do remove the battery completely from the car, the locks will no longer work, including the boot lock, if you shut the boot, it will lock and you won't be able to open it unless you crawl into the back as per Colin's post above. If possible, leave the boot slightly ajar so it doesn't engage the locking mechanism

You have to follow the correct sequence of events to stop the alarm: 1. Change the battery in your key before anything else. 2. As the car is dead, unlock the front door using the mechanical key 3. Open bonnet and connect jump cables 4. The alarm should probably start sounding as soon as there is a little bit of charge in the car battery. Press the unlock button on your key fob to disable the alarm. You can then carry on trying to start the car/charge from the front/open the boot and remove the car battery etc.

Fantastic write up! Would've helped me a lot last year when I wired my dashcam in and had to figure all this out by trial and error 😄 Thanks for being the better person and actually writing it up for others to benefit from, unlike selfish me!

Hi, I recently had someone hit the front of mine too and had to replace the number plate holder, it's very easy, just two screws hold it in place if I remember correctly. The only thing you have to make sure is that you position the actual number plate nicely in the middle on your new holder as mine had to be screwed into the plastic and there was no marking for where it should go to make sure it's in the centre. I bought it from here, excellent customer service and dispatch times: https://lexuspartsdirect.co.uk/parts/lexus-ct/lexus-ct-2010-onwards/lexus-ct-exterior-interior/lexus-ct-phase-1-f-sport-number-plate-bracket-post-facelift/ Make sure to check you have the correct part number, you can also message them with your vehicle registration and they can advise you as to the correct one. Good luck!

I'd like to counteract the above, I have two of these installed, one on the CT and another on an Auris hybrid. We recently had a theft of a neighbor's catalytic converter from a Prius, we looked at the CCTV footage and saw the miscreants look underneath both my CT and Auris before moving on to the neighbor's Prius. The neighbor had no plate installed. Yes, the metal may be thin and not as 'secure' or theft proof as the original dealer catlock, but to say 'it is no deterrent at all' couldn't be further from the truth. If they are really determined to cut through all the metal and take the cat, then they will do so, just like they would with dealer fitted lock, perhaps it might take a fraction of the time longer than it would with the aftermarket one, but at that point it's almost a given that the cat's gone anyway. In addition, I know in London, thousands of private hire taxis (usually Toyota/Lexus hybrids - Auris, Prius, CT200h) use the aftermarket plate as the place I had it installed told me they do tens of installs a day, my local independent garage has also started installing these - clearly these must work otherwise these guys wouldn't be selling so fast. At a fraction of the cost, I will definitely take the aftermarket one over the official cat lock. To each their own.

Just wanted to correct my earlier post, what actually happens is that it beeps and goes into 'N' and a little message pops up saying something along the lines of braking and coming to a stop before pressing 'P'.

Hi Jerry, sorry to hear about your cat theft. This has been discussed in quite some depth on this forum. See this thread here for lots more info: https://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/topic/121976-urgent/

I had 4x Goodyear EfficientGrips installed a couple of weeks ago. Definitely a much softer ride compared to the original Yokohamas. Personally went with these due to the quiet sound and fuel efficiency ratings. I'm in London so winter/all season tyres don't particularly interest/apply to me.

There is a speed cutoff above which the parking pawl doesn't engage even if you do press it. I've done it by mistake while at speed and it just beeped and and the car stayed in Drive Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

As above, it wouldn't work as an ICE only car. The battery starts the engine every time it stops, the Toyota/Lexus hybrid system has no starter motor as the electric motor spins the engine up for start which requires energy from the battery. Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

What makes you think that? Is it that different to the official cat loc plate posted above? Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

If you can find one within your budget or just stretch it a teeny bit, I would suggest you go for the facelift model (2014+) as there were a number of improvements made, such as less harsh suspension, newer infotainment system as well as slightly more modern looks, especially the front bumper which I personally think looks miles better than the pre-facelift version. If the car is looked after then it should definitely give you the 5 years you are looking for, if not more. Toyota/Lexus bulletproof reliability extends to their hybrid system which has now been around for over 20 years, the system is solid! We have a 2007 Prius in the family with over 130,000 miles that is still going strong with no repairs needed at all other than routine maintenance.

Sorry just saw this, I had it done via this seller on eBay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283655149593 Their garage is in East London E7 9AE Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

Definitely works, I've done it on my 2014 with the Carista OBD dongle and app. You get a months free app subscription when you buy the original dongle (£14.99) to access the hidden features of the car. After that it can be used as a normal OBD dongle with any compatible app Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

That’s weird, the link is working for me. Search for the the thread titled “Urgent” and there’s the discussion there. Anyhow, the main point is that there is an alternative cheaper (by a lot!) to the dealer catloc which comprises of a large metal piece fitted under the car that covers the Catalaytic converter. Something like the following, but you’d have to buy one that fits the CT: https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F233386255532 Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

There are also aftermarket options available that are much cheaper than going to the dealer, see my post here: https://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/index.php?/topic/121976-Urgent.#entry1111642 Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

I have a 9 month old and we are doing just fine with the CT, pushchair fits nicely in the boot taking up approximately half of the space, plenty of room for shopping etc. It's enough if you know that's what you're getting into and aren't expecting more. The warranty is definitely not 10 years. 15 years for the hybrid battery potentially as mentioned above, if you get the yearly hybrid health check, normally free if you get it serviced at Lexus. The F sport does have memory seats with three options if I remember correctly (mine is not an F-sport but I have been in one when I was looking to purchase a CT). The Toyota/Lexus hybrid system is generally very reliable and nothing much goes wrong with them, we've got three in the household, two of which have over 100,000 miles and are still going strong.

See my post on another thread https://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/index.php?/topic/121947-Cheapest-Option-for-Replacement-Key-Fob#entry1111208 Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

For the eagle eyed, the above photo was taken midway through the install, hence the undone bolt ;) Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

I've had a metal piece fitted by a local independent that serves a lot of the Prius taxis in London, it cost me £70. Not sure how sturdy or resilient it may be against an angle grinder but my hope is that the added time it would take to cut an appropriate hole through it might dissuade any thieves. Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

I also came to the conclusion that the dealer was the only option for a replacement key for my 2014 CT200h after trawling the internet. However, this is definitely not the case! I did a simple Google search for replacement Lexus Smart key and called a few different places to get quotes which ranged from £250-£380, my local dealer had wanted £365. Settled on the £250 guy who came out to my address the next day and programmed and cut a new key. The only difference was that the key he gave was a generic one without the Lexus logo, other than that, it looked like my original key. Everything works, although I have noticed the range at which you can activate the locks using the remote button is slightly lower on the new key compared to the original, however, I hardly use the physical buttons due to the smart key system so I am happy with this considering I saved over £100 by not going to the dealer. PM if you want the number, I can find his website just now! Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk