JDMJoe239

i just bought mine without really looking it over too good. turned out i got lucky. now my friend is looking to buy one, what are some of the major things to look at specific to the sc3/400?

also my friend would like to if anyone would like to donate to the cause, he's kinda brokeish.

Tabaka

iTrader: (8)

You will need an accountant to watch over your bank accounts.

Seriously, almost every piece will need to be replaced on a 20 year old car. Brakes, bushings, shocks, springs, water pump, timing belt, radiator, gaskets, interior...the list goes on and on. Just use the search key when things fail (which they will). Tons of stuff in the DIY sticky section. This site has kept my car alive for almost 2 years.

JDMJoe239

thats to be expected with any 20 year old car, but most of those things will be replaced with aftermarket performance parts anyway.

Tabaka

iTrader: (8)

good, then my only advice is sentence 1 of my first post.

JDMJoe239

my friend wont stop asking you if you want to donate...

sj408

iTrader: (6)

We would all love to donate...... our past experiences and knowledge. Tell your friend if he needs donations then an sc3/4 is not for him. buy a honda.

a couple things to look for when buying an sc.

when was 90k service done if over 90k

door panel condition

Quality of replacement parts.... I only use denso or OEM parts on my car.

Were all toyota fluids used? i.e toyota red, toyota atf etc

If car is modified watch out for chewed up wiring harness, previous turbo or nitrous lines or fittings

biggest thing with these cars is maintainence records man maintainence is KEY

JDMJoe239

money wont be a problem if the gets the job he has an interview for tomorrow. he just wants an sc300 right now. luckily for him i already have an sc300 (with ****ty previous owners.. or at least a ****ty previous owner.) so i know what to look at compared to mine. i have a strong feeling mine was modded extensively before it was sold to me but its drives fine and the motor runs strong so i got lucky. another thing mine never had the tranny fluid changed... still shifts hard now because of that despite us changing the fluid and filter (140,000 miles). that doesnt bother me too much because i will be swaping in a 1jz eventually. i also have an exhaust leak (possibly had an exhaust and they poorly put the stock one back on?). but he is hell bent on getting one of these (my fault really). we're going to go look at a few later this week. thanks for the info.

shboni

iTrader: (2)

Here we go again....here you go:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc-...a-used-sc.html

Awesome thread, wish I got to read it b4 I bought mine

My advise throughly check everything...main things Pwr Steering hose, steering rack, timing belt, ....you know what its in the thread...happy reading

Y isn't this thread a sticky

cmh

or u can buy mine that everyone on here already knows i spent a crap ton of money updating all the parts that go bad with receipts to proove it.

subframe replaced
rack and pinion
lower control arms
starter
new springs nf210
alignment
tires

to name a few lol... its for sale in the classifieds... actually both of my sc's are

brerrabbit

That's what I really enjoy about this board- a lot of folks of varying ages who really enjoy talking about cars and helping each other. I made the mistake of not looking at what I was getting into the first time, and if I'd kept the car it would have needed about $5k in work just to get to the point of being a 4500 car.

This time, I waited and bought a car with fewer miles and issues. And now I find excuses to go driving.

Tabaka

iTrader: (8)

sometimes low mileage doesn't mean snot.

My SC had 117k and I've replaced almost everything mechanically. I've now got 140k and probably spent $5,000 in two years easily on a bone stock GE engine.

OBEY414

leaks check valve cover leaks the seals around the spark plugs those are common leak points

check the trans for torque converter issues

check for low idle usually the FPR or FP ecu go wrong with them

JDMJoe239

thats what it looks like we're going to do, even after doing all of that you ask really fair prices too. and i dont mind driving to miami to take him their either, that is as long as he pays me a lot for gas.

cmh

lol... yup u gotta make that gas money... check your PM... i have a 99 sc300 also blk on blk

brerrabbit

Tabaka, I only meant that MOST times a lower mileage car with a higher price CAN be a better car.

And I did the fixer upper route before and like about cooked to death in my SC with no AC. Damn GA summers!

Grrr...