1ton

I know I have read about this malfunction in the past. If anyone knows the thread, please let me know. I have a 2002 SC430 and once in a blue moon the volume will blast very very loudly. Usually when I am near the set button on the steering wheel or touching the volume button on the radio. I remember one time that a lot of people posted about this issue. Is there a resolution to this? It is difficult to get this worked on at the dealer because it is not consistant.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

umm is that a problem? i thnk you just have the volue set to super loud in the "set" mode right? try this. lower the volume to say 5 or so, and then on your steering wheel, pull on the set botton and hold it. a long beep will happen.

now raise the volume to normal (say 25), and then you pull the set button once and let go. the volume should jump al lthe way back to 5 or so.

it's just a preset volume on the system (usually i use it when my phone rings). now you just have it set to very high volume

Bubba

I thought this was just a fluke thing that happened to me only! In my case, I started my car one day and the volume came on so loud that I think I jumped about three feet. The only thing I can think of that I may have done differently is that I turned down the volume on the radio after I turned off the car because I had it up fairly loud, and I turned it down so far that it went to the maximum volume. I know this doesn't make sense logically, but I don't think there is a hard stop for the volume and maybe this is just a quirk.

Speaking of radio, has anyone had a problem with one station cutting out about every eight seconds? It cuts out for only about one second and only with one station (the Wisconsin Public Radio station if that helps). Of course I just discovered this one week after my warranty ran out. I don't listen to the station that often, but I was wondering if anyone else experienced this problem.

JJRHO

i know exactly what you are talking about... not the vol issue but the station cutting out.
it 's not the particular station i don't think
what you do is: turn the manual freq. button away from that station then come back to the same freq. and reprogram the radio button again. it will go away....
my 93.1 was doing that and it drove me crazy until i figured out that by retuning to it and reprogramming that particular memory channel, it goes away.
it's some internal software problem. maybe it gets affected by the rds data or something.
i hope it helps. don't bother with dealers..they are mostly clueless to this issue...

jim R
02 sc430

LeslieRC

The problem is the amplifier in the `02 SC430s. I used to own an `02. Sometimes I would be driving the car with a CD playing on the stereo and the volume would literally explode from the speakers - once it scared the you-know-what out of me. What convinved me that the problem was the amplifier (which was later confirmed by the dealer) was that the sound quality was much clearer when the volume exploded. The problem went away once the dealer replaced the amplifier. [By the way, I have never experienced this problem in my `04 SC430, so I think that this was something unique to the `02s.]

Good luck!

1ton

Bubba and Leslie, that is exactly what is happening. It has happened to me about 10 times now and every time I still jump. I don't know if the dealer will replace an amp since I cannot really prove it is happening. Any thoughts?

LeslieRC

I didn't have to "prove" anything when this occurence happened to my `02. I told the dealer what was happening and what I thought was the cause and they took care of it. Because my understanding is that this is a known problem with the `02 car, I suggest that you try doing the same with your dealer.

Bubba

I reprogrammed the button of the station that was cutting out every 10 seconds, and no more problem. My thanks to JJRHO for the solution!

Once again, I can't believe how helpful this website is to a newbie like me.

kasendorf

Problem is definitly the amplifier. I had it happen to me when the car was brand new in April 01. Took them a little while to figure it out but was definitly the amplifier. There was a TSB issued shortly after my amp was replaced.

greasemnky

kasendorf is correct there is tsib for this very problem, especially with the mark levinson

lenkb

Does anybody know the tsb number for the amp problem? According to my dealer, there was not one issued.

Roofless

Automotive Recall and Technical Service Bulletin Titles for 2002 Lexus SC 430 V8-4.3L (3UZ-FE).

Service Bulletins
TSB Number & Issue Date TSB Title
TC002R-03 DEC 04 Engine Controls - ECM Memory Reset After A/T Service
AC005-04 DEC 04 A/C - Sensor Inspection Procedures
EG013-04 NOV 04 Engine - Rough Idle While Stationary in DRIVE
BO011-04 NOV 04 Navigation System - Door Replacement
BO006-04 SEP 04 A/C - Control Panel Base Sub-Assembly Replacement
EL004-04 JUL 04 Electrical - Trunk Release Intermittently Inoperative
NV003-04 APR 04 Interior - Inside Rear View Mirror Loose/Vibrates
NV002-04 APR 04 Body - Door Wood Trim Panel Vibration
EG003-04 MAR 04 Engine - Drive Belt Chirping/Squealing Noises
SS002-03 DEC 03 Engine Controls - O2 Sensor Monitor Threshold Values
BO012-03 DEC 03 Interior - Seat Belt Extender Applications/Availability
SS003R-01 SEP 03 Engine Controls - ECU Programming Error Displayed
SS001R-01 SEP 03 Engine Controls - ECU Programming Procedure
BO007-03 SEP 03 Interior - Trim Panel Removel/Installation Precautions
NV005-03 MAY 03 Body - Convertible Top Ticking/Rattling Noises
EG001-03 FEB 03 Exhaust System - Sulfur Smell
SS005R-01 JAN 03 Diagnostic Tester - Immobilizer Function
EL011-02 DEC 02 A/T - Vehicle Won't Shift Out of PARK Intermittently
PG012-02 OCT 02 Suspension - Ball Joint Inspection Method
BO005-02 SEP 02 Interior - Seat Belt Extender Availability/Applications
EL010-02 AUG 02 Navigation System - Identification Method/DVD Map Data
PG006-02 JUL 02 Tires (Run-Flat Type) - Repair Evaluation Criteria
TC001-02 MAY 02 A/T - Fluid Requirements
EL004-02 APR 02 Antenna Mast - Service Manual Supplement
PG005-02 APR 02 Tires - Inflation Pressure Adjustment
AU002-02 APR 02 Audio - No Sound From Amplifier
BO002-02 MAR 02 Tonneau Cover - Retractor Bracket Addition
PG004-02 MAR 02 Engine Cooling - New Pink Coolant
EL003-02 MAR 02 Air Bag Wiring Diagram - Manual Update
SS001-02 MAR 02 Drive Shaft - Tool: Nut Chisel
AU001-02 FEB 02 Audio System Amplifier - Installation Cautions
EG002-02 FEB 02 OBD II - Readiness Monitor Drive Patterns
EL001-02 JAN 02 Alternator - Fuse Application
PG002-02 JAN 02 Certification Label - Replacement Availability
PG001-02 JAN 02 Corrections Index - Repair Manual
SU003-02 JAN 02 Front Stabilizer Bar - Abnormal Noise on Turns/Bumps
SU001-02 JAN 02 Rear Suspension Member - Noisy
SU002-02 JAN 02 Stabilizer Bar - Torque Revision
PG003-02 JAN 02 VIN Plate - Replacement Availability
EL008-01 DEC 01 Electrical Wiring Diagram - Amended
SS011-01 DEC 01 Airbag Deployment Wire - Sub Harness
BO001R-01 NOV 01 Seat Belts - Extender Availability Update
ST004-01 NOV 01 Steering/Tires - Vehicle Pull/Manual Supplement
BO013-01 OCT 01 Cup Holder (Instrument Panel) - Available Separately
AU001-01 OCT 01 Audio Sound System - Inoperative/Erratic
BO012-01 SEP 01 Upper Console Panel - Installation Precaution
ST002-01 SEP 01 Steering Wheel - Off Center Adjustment Procedure
EL005-01 AUG 01 Door Lock Remote Transmitters - Programming
BO008-01 AUG 01 Retractible Roof - Operation Cancels
SS005-01 JUL 01 Diagnostic Tester - Immobilizer Functions
SS004-01 JUN 01 Diagnostic Tester - `Customize Feature'
SS003-01 MAY 01 ECU - Error Message During Flash Reprogramming
PG018-01 MAY 01 Tires - Precaution When Adjusting Pressure
PG014-01 APR 01 Spare Tire - Storage Kit Installation
PG013-01 APR 01 Tires - Dismounting With Pressure Warning Sensors
SU002-01 MAR 01 Wheels (18 inch) - Balance Adjustment Procedure
SS001-01 MAR 01 ECU - Flash Reprogramming Process
PG010-01 MAR 01 Compass - Initial Calibration During PDS
PG008-01 FEB 01 Rear Seat Belts - Securing During PDI
PG007-01 FEB 01 D/C Cut Fuse - Installation During PDI
PG006-01 FEB 01 Tire Pressure Sensing Transmitter - Activating Procedure
PG001-01 JAN 01 Front License Plate Mounting Bracket - Installation
PG002-01 JAN 01 Rear License Plate - Installation

lenkb

Thanks Roofless. I appreciate the post

lenkb

Well- armed with proper TSB # I called my Lexus dealer back (who had said that there was no such thing) and now am getting the amp replaced on warranty. This is a great site.

MNPine

Where can we find the TSBs for the 2004 SC?