LenT

Yes, that’d work, Paul. Might not be so clever over speed bumps, mind you. I remember when I had a Citroen DS, the chassis was so low when parked that there was no room for a trolley jack. So it was cat-theft proofed before they’d even been invented.

With all due respect, I can't imagine those planks presenting much of problem to a hefty crowbar. The general advice seems to be that that you'll make things the most difficult for Chummy by parking with the exhaust side against the kerb. Or against a fence or wall. It just makes it that much more difficult to get a trolley jack under the car. Possibly not so effective if the cat is located in the centre of the chassis!

Very neatly done, Stewart.

Good choice, Anthony. And for next Christmas, you could ask for this CTEK accessory connector. It has a traffic light indicator system so that it gives a fair indication of the battery charge at a glance https://www.ctek.com/uk/battery-chargers-12v-24v/accessories/car-accessories/indicator-eyelet-m6

You’re suggesting that a thread you started to discuss the disappearance of a thread that discussed conspiracies might suddenly disappear as a result of a discussion involving conspiracies? Does it involve Bill Gates in any way?

It is not unknown for aspiring thieves to activate alarm systems in the hope that they will eventually be turned off. But if it’s something you’re determined to do - at least until any possible little critter dies a natural death - then maybe consider additional measures if you haven’t already. Such as: Leaving the wheels on full lock. Fitting an overnight steering wheel lock. And depending on where you leave the car overnight: Installing security lighting. Installing security cameras. Fitting security gates - or those neat little posts that can be locked upright to block a driveway. Buy a spray can of some suitable insect killer.

I'd agree. By their very nature, the elderly residents of Care Homes tend to be vulnerable to respiratory infections such as pneumonia - which is normally the more commonly cited cause. During the pandemic, GPs who certify Care Homes were, as I recall, advised that it was acceptable to initially name Covid-19 as the cause if it was actually present - but on the basis that later tests would confirm it or otherwise. If you're referring to the San Francisco fire of 1906 then, sadly, this event is all too true. It rates as probably the worst natural disaster in American history. It was caused by the earthquake resulting from the slippage of two tectonic plates at the San Andreas Fault. There was another, lesser, earthquake at the same site in 1957. The US Geological Survey has predicted that another tectonic slippage event similar to that of 1906 could occur within the next twenty years. Something to bear in mind if you're offered any cheap real estate!

And the relevance of this to your claim that alert warning messages are ‘controlling nonsense’ is……what, precisely?

Just to recap, Eric.... Your original claim was: I showed you that there are annually many natural events that 'trouble the average Briton' whose damaging effects could be mitigated by an advanced alert warning. In our own village there are about 40 homes susceptible to field run-off caused by flash floods. The local Water Authority does a fine job issuing web-based warnings, emails and such-like. But they are scant consolation when you discover torrential overnight rain has left your ground floor ankle deep in water. No-one here is going to feel that being woken up in order to deploy a flood barrier is the devious machination of a controlling Government! However, your answer to that point was to ignore it. Instead you ask: This is not a question many would ask as most people appreciate the distinction between climatology and plate tectonics. However, this event, the rupture at the San Andreas Fault, probably did mark the start of seismology as a science. Along with volcanology, the ability to predict such natural events has progressed significantly and when effective alerts have been issued, lives have undoubtedly been saved. A better example would have been the San Francisco Fire that followed, which destroyed 80% of the City. More importantly, it killed 3,000 people - almost all of whom might have been saved had they had the technology to receive an alert warning message. Apart from those paranoid few, obviously, who deemed them a Government plot to control the population of the City...or something.

A small selection of recent ‘them situations’ which I suggest did trouble some average Britons. I suspect a ‘controlling’ alert warning would have been well received. https://floodlist.com/europe/united-kingdom/flooding-worst-storms-20-years https://floodlist.com/europe/united-kingdom/floods-jonas-gerturde-scotland-england https://floodlist.com/europe/united-kingdom/floods-heavy-rain-snow-easter-april-2018 https://floodlist.com/europe/united-kingdom/storm-dennis-floods-england-wales-february-2020 https://floodlist.com/europe/united-kingdom/flash-floods-peterborough-july-2021 https://floodlist.com/europe/united-kingdom/floods-storm-franklin-february-2022 Many others are available.

It’s usually a white or yellow plastic tool - a little like a clothes peg - tucked into a fuse box in the engine bay. But in a car as old as yours, it’s highly likely that sometime a previous owner took it out and couldn’t be bothered to put it back! In which case, a pair of needle-nose pliers should do just as well. if you still have the Manual, it should be mentioned under ‘Fuses‘. I hope that helps.

My experience of this Milton Keynes based group - at Lexus MK itself - has only ever been excellent. So hopefully this is good news for all Marshall Group customers.

They certainly do! This was the result of driving on damp A roads for an hour or so… And I’d washed the car the day before! So I fitted a set of mudflaps and don’t get this effect anymore. In similar conditions spray build-up is very light and I can put off another wash for days! Personally, I don’t find the look of mudflaps a problem - and more attractive than NOT having mudflaps. I understand that the argument for not fitting as standard is to do with increased drag and fuel consumption. But that’s not a particular concern of mine - and wasted effort in car washing is!

At the risk of attracting opprobrium myself, I think Miles that this is sound advice. I agree that ‘Admin’ appears to have been, at the very least, rather rude in not explaining their action. After all, the LOC is only the sum of its Members and they should be accorded respect. But I was somewhat bemused that a disagreement over a diesel particulate filter could escalate in any way at all! I haven’t seen the posts, but it rather reminds me of film in which Groucho Marks escalates a perceived slight into a declaration of war! 😊 I also suspect that the user about which you complain is personally unknown to you. And you to him. So I would adopt Denis Healy’s attitude to being criticised by Geoffrey Howe, which he likened to being savaged by a dead sheep! (I am also aware that you may have no idea who these characters are!) However, abusive behaviour is clearly not acceptable on this website. On some websites it appears to be the normal form of communication, but that it can be initiated over a dpf may well be unique in the history of the LOC. I think, Miles, that now having eloquently expressed your hurt at this incident, you can now put it behind you. And perhaps the ‘Admin’ involved will respond to your satisfaction in a suitably explanatory fashion. As you are obviously now able to post unfettered, I would continue to do so and I look forward to what I’m sure will be well regarded contributions.

Rain-X was launched in the UK by a company called Mitchell Marketing. At that time the packaging specifically warned that it should NOT be applied to windscreens! I always thought that this was a bit odd, but was told that there was a concern that the action of the wipers might produce a smearing effect. I’ve never used it myself and I don’t think any such warning now appears. But I can see that such a mechanical action might have that effect. And reapplying it might well seem to reduce that smear - only for it to reappear! It may have something to do with the pressure and composition of specific wiper blades, if it only happens occasionally. But the fact that it reappears with the same blades may be a clue.

If that’s your situation, then consider investing in a trickle charger if your location makes it possible. I’d recommend a CTEK - but other makes are available….

I can’t speak for other Lexus models, but in my IS250, the auto folding of the door mirrors is enabled/disabled by pressing the switch labelled ‘auto’ in the mirror adjustment unit in the driver’s door panel. You set it with the ignition on and confirmation pops up on the dash unit. Mind you, some models don’t have this function anyway.. But it’s very useful as it confirms at a glance that the car is locked.

If your friend has decided that he will have his Lexus serviced by Lexus - and a very sensible decision too - then that’s great advice from Herbie. I bought my IS250 when it was approaching three-years old and I’ve just taken out the third service contract. I save even more by paying for it upfront, knowing that any unused balance is refundable. The service contract means the Dealer does everything. They advise me when it’s coming up and even organise collection and delivery for a small fee. As it happens, this Dealer sold the car to the first owner. I’ve now built a good relationship with them - although they do keep trying to sell me a replacement! Unless there’s a local problem with this Lexus dealer - and presuming your friend is buying it from the dealer who’ll be servicing it - cultivating this association can be very useful. If your friend does the deal, he should go to the Lexus website and register the car on the ‘My Lexus’ section. It may well be that he will find all the past service history recorded there. It should also ensure that he is notified of any factory recalls.

And next week…hill starts!

Well, that completes the Test. If you would just drive back to the Centre, we’ll discuss your results.

It’s deja vu all over again! Or Is it Groundhog Day?

And it seems that this is not the first time that the LOC has shown an interest in conspiracies….

Of course, we could always combine the two and reveal conspiracies relating to automotive activities…. https://driving.ca/auto-news/news/6-automotive-conspiracy-theories-you-should-know-and-maybe-believe

I bet you regret mocking David Icke now!

I think Anthony meant his comment as a conspiracy-related joke😉 I doubt it’ll be the last….