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I will recount an experience I had just a few miles from where I live. I was driving my Avensis with winter boots on to work Northbound on the A5 being closely followed by a Focus. It was about dawn and around freezing, otherwise good weather. I was wary that there may be black ice around so I had lopped 10-15 mph off my normal speed and thus had the close attention of the Focus who probably thought I was holding him up. We passed through Fosters Booth and descended a slight hill with some gentle bends and the Focus overtook when clear of the village. He got to about 30y in front of me and lost the back end to the right, over corrected and the rear end fish tailed the left, clipped the grassy bank and barrel rolled 2 1/2 times. I then had to avoid where his car had come to rest on it's roof, broadside to the road, on the left with the driver in it. I managed to pull up under complete control without ABS cutting in, flicked my hazards on and reversed back to near the brow of the hill to give traffic some warning of the semi-blocked road. As I went to the car I had difficulty keeping my feet due to the black ice. I called to the driver and he said he was ok but couldn't open the door. A lady managed to stop and I asked her to call the police but move on in case she got hit. An artic. came down the hill jack-knifed but with great skill the driver straightened the rig up and passed the stranded car. After breaking the window, I helped the driver out and we walked up to my car and he sat in it. He had only cut his finger, otherwise fine. The police traffic car arrived about 25 mins later apologising for his delayed arrival. He stated he was only 12 miles away but the roads where "deadly". Tell me about it!! The driver was fine and I left my details with police and left....slowly. I was very pleased I had my "braces" fitted that day. :) I believe that the road surface is at its slipperiest at or around freezing point. When it gets much colder it actually gets grippier. Ironically, after I had thought this through, this tale supports CharlieFarlies' decision as three drivers, I assume without winter boots, managed to avoid the crash. They were undoubtedly driving with common sense, recognising the conditions. I don' t know if I would have stopped under control without the winter boots though, I had less time to react. A 4x4 may not have helped in this situation, it may have been harder to stop because of the increased weight. But as you can imagine this is something I will not forget and perhaps, in part, explains my decision to continue to fit winter tyres Andy

Totally agree with the driving with common sense bit, no matter what tyres are fitted. It sounds like we have made our choice. I hope others, through our discussions are now better informed to make theirs. :bookworm:

Hi all, Started working for Toyota in 1995 and fell in love with the Celica. My first car as a car salesman. Wouldn't it be nice if they made a convertible for the UK market but alas it wasn't happening in 1995. So now 18 years later I have just bought one, JDM model, but Imam in love. Bought it 5 weeks ago and already got it through its MOT. Need to sort the electric roof out, motors working, but no action, may need help here. Rear o/s window needs new regulator. Now this may seem stupid to some,but I have picked up front GT4 bumper and bonnet that I want to put on, is that a sin??? Also got full leather interior to put in. Should all be done for the arrival of next years sun. Looking forward to sharing all with the forum, may need some help along the way.

Andy please don't misunderstand me I entirely agree that winter tyres are brilliant !! There can be no doubt that the Germans and other country's are correct in demanding them on all cars certain times of the year.. I was overtaken on the motorway last winter in the early hours by a clown in a Focus... Blimey are they all mad. .. The road surface was dreadfull and I was going quite slowly in my Rav on winter tyres.. Couple of miles down the road matey wax to be found facing towards me in lane. 2. .. I wonder if he had winter tyres would ha have still lost control and still spun. .. In some ways I think the choise should be taken away from us and winter tyres should be compulsory ....

I agree with all of Charlie's comments but as David implied you need to measure them yourself. My dealer has incorrectly measured mine and then measured them again months later and recorded an increase in depth on all tyres! David

I took this one when it arrived home David, it's been in the garage all day undergoing collinite wheel seal surgery, mudflaps fitting etc, will take some more pics tomorrow weather depending. Wasn't sure about the pearl white in the showroom but think we made the right choice now. Keeping to BK's thread, note Bridgestone tyres.

Anti Hijack Interior Switch - that is just stupid naming have to say. Thanks

Congrats Big Kev must admit I have to use the Google Chrome translator to understand your posts!!!!! 4 stars and 4000 posts that is a milestone. Yes I,m still poseing around the Isle of Man in the TT( Audi that is) Regards Clare

Peter, from memory my dealer also stated about 4 hrs (ish) for the work. they were quick to respond and get authority to do the work, it took them less than 24hrs from receiving my letter to getting my IQ booked in to a later date when all the parts were available.

Glad you got it all sorted. ! I got my EGR valve replaced about 9 months ago under Toyota warranty, I recon this is not new re Toyota doing it under warranty. The real issue is that perhaps it should be a Toyota Recall item, which currently it is not.

Agree with Peterkin. I had the same experience - I was a bit concerned at first about the blue light - but soon figured out it was no problem. It should stay on for a few minutes until the engine warms up. Mine stays on a bit longer in winter than it does in summer.

haha - catching up wi me then? When you have a 5 door hinge-ridden RAV4, its easy to post posts !! Did I say we sell posts to post needers? Fence posts, gate posts, and sell thousands of them now ! many thanks fur yer help in supplying monies to increase wur ability to sell so many posts. And if ye need mair posts, we sell at a cheaper price than onywan else..... all in the best possible taste of course - so does this mean, on reaching 8000 posts, ye'll be sportin 8 stars ? (jellyus)

The blue light means engine cold, take it easy. Light out means normal running temperature, off you go. Red means overheat, stop now!

Re EGR Valve problem on early IQ's - A few months ago I completed a UK VOSA safety report regarding the EGR valve problem being a safety issue on IQ's, VOSA have now investigated the issue and reported back to me, a part extract of there letter is below FYI: ------------------------------------------------------ The hesitation and limp-home selection of the engine conditions are a result of the EGR pipe blocking with carbon from the combustion process. Poor driving style, vehicle usage and poor quality fuel amongst other things can contribute the build up of carbon which are factors outside the manufacturers control. However, to mitigate against those factors a Technical Service Bulletin has been issued which changes the position of the EGR pipe in the manifold, thereby reducing the amount of carbon it picks up and thereby reducing the need to select limp-home. The carbon build up can also affect the EGR valve operation. There have been no other reports of such long hesitation, but there are reports of short periods of hesitation and lack of power. Additionally, a search of VOSA s defects and recalls databases has revealed no similar reports. As such, on this occasion, no further action will be taken. --------------------------------------------------------------- As it seems that I am the only person who has taken the time to report this specific safety defect to VOSA in spite of me suggesting you could do on previous posts on this forum. You can now see from the above extract from there letter to me they have decided to take no further action. So those of you who do believe this is a safety issue and should be a Toyota recall item can only blame yourselfs for no action taken by VOSA for not completing the VOSA form and making it an issue to them. I have done my bit and do not intend to take the matter any further, I have more important issues to focus on at the moment. Those of you who have the problem and are out of warranty will just have to pay for the modification yourselfs. The moral of this story for me is that if enough people complain to the right places then action is more likely to be taken, in this case I am the only person that bothered to complain to the right authority (IE VOSA in UK) in an attempt to help others (my ERG valve was already changed) that will also suffer the EGR problem as a safety issue. Positive Regards, Bob Kneale.

There is a thread in the US forum where somebody has fashioned a pulse generator to lock the doors on putting it in drive. We know a clever little black country boffin who could do that Kev.

thinking I might get rid of the tray and but a thin sub box in there instead