How important is the rotor/cap/coils/plugs/wires maintenance?
08-03-10, 06:27 PM
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How important is the rotor/cap/coils/plugs/wires maintenance?
My SC is in fantastic condition 95 model with 144k. If the car isn't giving me problems, is it still a good idea to do the stated maintenance of coils, rotor, cap etc.? Unfortunately, I don't have a service history prior to the last owner (Basically, I know the history going back for a about 1.5 years) Should I just do a visual inspection of the items?
08-03-10, 06:35 PM
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I guess I should take a look and see how old the wires etc look. Now to figure how to do that lol
08-03-10, 09:00 PM
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My SC is in fantastic condition 95 model with 144k. If the car isn't giving me problems, is it still a good idea to do the stated maintenance of coils, rotor, cap etc.? Unfortunately, I don't have a service history prior to the last owner (Basically, I know the history going back for a about 1.5 years) Should I just do a visual inspection of the items?
https://secure.drivers.lexus.com/lex...on/register.do
Mine was last at the dealer at 80k miles and last time dealer changed plugs was 60k, I'm at 178k. It's on my list of things to do.
Nice feature on that site is that you can update your own service info. Easier than keeping a folder full of receipts.
08-03-10, 10:09 PM
#6
You can find out what services have been done at the dealer with your VIN#. Or register on Lexus Drivers site and pull it up on there.
https://secure.drivers.lexus.com/lex...on/register.do
Mine was last at the dealer at 80k miles and last time dealer changed plugs was 60k, I'm at 178k. It's on my list of things to do.
Nice feature on that site is that you can update your own service info. Easier than keeping a folder full of receipts.
https://secure.drivers.lexus.com/lex...on/register.do
Mine was last at the dealer at 80k miles and last time dealer changed plugs was 60k, I'm at 178k. It's on my list of things to do.
Nice feature on that site is that you can update your own service info. Easier than keeping a folder full of receipts.
08-03-10, 10:47 PM
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You can find out what services have been done at the dealer with your VIN#. Or register on Lexus Drivers site and pull it up on there.
https://secure.drivers.lexus.com/lex...on/register.do
Mine was last at the dealer at 80k miles and last time dealer changed plugs was 60k, I'm at 178k. It's on my list of things to do.
Nice feature on that site is that you can update your own service info. Easier than keeping a folder full of receipts.
https://secure.drivers.lexus.com/lex...on/register.do
Mine was last at the dealer at 80k miles and last time dealer changed plugs was 60k, I'm at 178k. It's on my list of things to do.
Nice feature on that site is that you can update your own service info. Easier than keeping a folder full of receipts.
right before the 90k mark lol.
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08-04-10, 01:53 AM
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just make sure that the rotor, caps, timing belt are changed (100k kms, 60k mile).
at the same time check the waterpump for any weaping out of the seal.
if so, replace while the front of the engine is apart.
everything else is external and can be changed at anytime
at the same time check the waterpump for any weaping out of the seal.
if so, replace while the front of the engine is apart.
everything else is external and can be changed at anytime
08-04-10, 10:20 AM
#9
Cap and rotor is less than $25 and can be easily installed in less than 30 minutes. Get the required Denso plugs and get new wires.
You think your car is running fine but you never know.
You also need to change ATF and ATF filter, coolant, belts, PS fluid, filters, fuel filter.
My car is running fine too but I wanted to last at least at easy 250K. I spent about 1k on parts just to have peace of mind.
Fuel filter is tricky, it is easy to take off the old one. You think that it will strip but it won't, the first half of the thread seems like it will strip but after the half, it will go all the way in with ease. I think the new fuel filter being installed is supposed to be tight , I guess it's a locking spec made for it? No wonder they don't use Teflon.
You think your car is running fine but you never know.
You also need to change ATF and ATF filter, coolant, belts, PS fluid, filters, fuel filter.
My car is running fine too but I wanted to last at least at easy 250K. I spent about 1k on parts just to have peace of mind.
Fuel filter is tricky, it is easy to take off the old one. You think that it will strip but it won't, the first half of the thread seems like it will strip but after the half, it will go all the way in with ease. I think the new fuel filter being installed is supposed to be tight , I guess it's a locking spec made for it? No wonder they don't use Teflon.
08-04-10, 12:25 PM
#10
I just hit 140k and my rotor went out in a grocery store parking lot.
car sounded like it was running on 2 cylinders and a lot of clicking from the dizzy.
I knew it was old, if I had just spent the 10 minutes and $10 before i got stranded I wouldn't have wasted half a day getting a ride to the auto store.
If you are not sure go out and look at it. take all 3 whopping screws off the dizzy cap and look at the rotor. for the timing belt, take off the timing belt cover (6 or so bolts) and check the belt for cracks etc. you can even crank it over a click at a time with the key to see the whole belt (try not to let it start obviously). if you have an allen key and a screw driver your are talking 20 minutes max to do all of that.
car sounded like it was running on 2 cylinders and a lot of clicking from the dizzy.
I knew it was old, if I had just spent the 10 minutes and $10 before i got stranded I wouldn't have wasted half a day getting a ride to the auto store.
If you are not sure go out and look at it. take all 3 whopping screws off the dizzy cap and look at the rotor. for the timing belt, take off the timing belt cover (6 or so bolts) and check the belt for cracks etc. you can even crank it over a click at a time with the key to see the whole belt (try not to let it start obviously). if you have an allen key and a screw driver your are talking 20 minutes max to do all of that.
08-04-10, 01:53 PM
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I just hit 140k and my rotor went out in a grocery store parking lot.
car sounded like it was running on 2 cylinders and a lot of clicking from the dizzy.
I knew it was old, if I had just spent the 10 minutes and $10 before i got stranded I wouldn't have wasted half a day getting a ride to the auto store.
If you are not sure go out and look at it. take all 3 whopping screws off the dizzy cap and look at the rotor. for the timing belt, take off the timing belt cover (6 or so bolts) and check the belt for cracks etc. you can even crank it over a click at a time with the key to see the whole belt (try not to let it start obviously). if you have an allen key and a screw driver your are talking 20 minutes max to do all of that.
car sounded like it was running on 2 cylinders and a lot of clicking from the dizzy.
I knew it was old, if I had just spent the 10 minutes and $10 before i got stranded I wouldn't have wasted half a day getting a ride to the auto store.
If you are not sure go out and look at it. take all 3 whopping screws off the dizzy cap and look at the rotor. for the timing belt, take off the timing belt cover (6 or so bolts) and check the belt for cracks etc. you can even crank it over a click at a time with the key to see the whole belt (try not to let it start obviously). if you have an allen key and a screw driver your are talking 20 minutes max to do all of that.
08-04-10, 02:26 PM
#12
lol, darn v8's have been getting me lately. I just read SC and i always assume 2j.
that was totally for a sc300, but just multiply everything by 2 and its close to the same.
you have 2 distributors and you can take the covers off and then the caps and check the rotors on both, there are more covers on the 400 but nothing you can't handle.
as for the timing belt, I think there are there are two covers for inspection on the 400, it may even be the distributor cover as I think the belt wraps around the dizzy but im not a 400 expert at all, I just know that toyota always makes it so you can inspect it easily, and there are 2 spots you can do it on a 400.
check out post 13, you can see the belt wrapped around the distributors (the 2 thing with the orange rotors.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...-question.html
that was totally for a sc300, but just multiply everything by 2 and its close to the same.
you have 2 distributors and you can take the covers off and then the caps and check the rotors on both, there are more covers on the 400 but nothing you can't handle.
as for the timing belt, I think there are there are two covers for inspection on the 400, it may even be the distributor cover as I think the belt wraps around the dizzy but im not a 400 expert at all, I just know that toyota always makes it so you can inspect it easily, and there are 2 spots you can do it on a 400.
check out post 13, you can see the belt wrapped around the distributors (the 2 thing with the orange rotors.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...-question.html
Last edited by Ali SC3; 08-04-10 at 02:31 PM.
08-04-10, 02:38 PM
#13
lol just do it... Funny side story on simple maintenance,... I have 1995 1uz I stuck into my MK3 Supra... all was well and then it stopped starting... Well we determinded that spark was coming from the wires... and injectors were firing.. so whats the issue...
I pulled the spark plugs and sure enough... OEM Denso.. Original plugs when the engine first ran... I could not believe it that the previous owner had NOT even changed the plugs. Threw them away, put some cheap copper NGK's to get me rolling and what do you know, the car fires up and idles better than it has ever.
Simple $20 maintenance, kept my car from running.
Do it.
I pulled the spark plugs and sure enough... OEM Denso.. Original plugs when the engine first ran... I could not believe it that the previous owner had NOT even changed the plugs. Threw them away, put some cheap copper NGK's to get me rolling and what do you know, the car fires up and idles better than it has ever.
Simple $20 maintenance, kept my car from running.
Do it.
08-04-10, 02:45 PM
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lol just do it... Funny side story on simple maintenance,... I have 1995 1uz I stuck into my MK3 Supra... all was well and then it stopped starting... Well we determinded that spark was coming from the wires... and injectors were firing.. so whats the issue...
I pulled the spark plugs and sure enough... OEM Denso.. Original plugs when the engine first ran... I could not believe it that the previous owner had NOT even changed the plugs. Threw them away, put some cheap copper NGK's to get me rolling and what do you know, the car fires up and idles better than it has ever.
Simple $20 maintenance, kept my car from running.
Do it.
I pulled the spark plugs and sure enough... OEM Denso.. Original plugs when the engine first ran... I could not believe it that the previous owner had NOT even changed the plugs. Threw them away, put some cheap copper NGK's to get me rolling and what do you know, the car fires up and idles better than it has ever.
Simple $20 maintenance, kept my car from running.
Do it.
08-04-10, 02:46 PM
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lol, darn v8's have been getting me lately. I just read SC and i always assume 2j.
that was totally for a sc300, but just multiply everything by 2 and its close to the same.
you have 2 distributors and you can take the covers off and then the caps and check the rotors on both, there are more covers on the 400 but nothing you can't handle.
as for the timing belt, I think there are there are two covers for inspection on the 400, it may even be the distributor cover as I think the belt wraps around the dizzy but im not a 400 expert at all, I just know that toyota always makes it so you can inspect it easily, and there are 2 spots you can do it on a 400.
check out post 13, you can see the belt wrapped around the distributors (the 2 thing with the orange rotors.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...-question.html
that was totally for a sc300, but just multiply everything by 2 and its close to the same.
you have 2 distributors and you can take the covers off and then the caps and check the rotors on both, there are more covers on the 400 but nothing you can't handle.
as for the timing belt, I think there are there are two covers for inspection on the 400, it may even be the distributor cover as I think the belt wraps around the dizzy but im not a 400 expert at all, I just know that toyota always makes it so you can inspect it easily, and there are 2 spots you can do it on a 400.
check out post 13, you can see the belt wrapped around the distributors (the 2 thing with the orange rotors.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...-question.html
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