evlway

I just bought a 2006 SC430 and have noticed wind noise on the driver's side with the top up. Is this common? I took it back to the dealer and they repaired it. It is less noticeable now, however, I can still hear it. I previously owned an IS250, and also have a 1997 30th Anniversary Camaro SS that runs low 12's with all the mods.

Harold57

Yes, this is quite common, unfortunately. The dealers typically tell you that it is the mirror, but I believe that it comes from higher than the mirror. So I suspect that it is the seam between the rubber seals of the roof, windshield and the door.

Do you know what they did to lessen the noise?

evlway

No, the salesman said they send it out to a repair company with instructions to fix various issues. He did not have the details on what they did to repair it. I told him I could still hear it, so he said to bring it back in next week. This is my first SC430.

tromly

Welome to CL, is your 06 a CPO?? If so stay on that dealer, you paid for the warranty , your new car should be trouble free. Good luck !!

mrblister

Did the dealer say he sublet the job out ? I would not expect my dealer to do that. The lexus dealers have certified lexus specialist's. I would go to another dealer. If the car is in warranty which I suppose it is. I would demand that the dealer fix it, I would never let my dealer sublet any job on my car.

evlway

Yes, it is a CPO warranty. I did not know it had been outsourced for repairs until the salesman told me when I went back to pick up the car. I'll make sure that doesn't happen again.

Now I can see bubbles in the window tint on the driver's side. I kind of regret not buying a new one, now. I have never bought a used car before. Also, I miss the air-conditioned seats in the IS250 plus the iPod connection. I know this car is supposed to be faster, but I am not used to stock Corvettes blowing past me.

scdroptop

iTrader: (1)

Ok, hold on, take a deep breath.

We can make some immediate performance adjustments for you!!!!

First of all on the wind noise-the answer is YES. Virtually ALL convertibles no matter if hard or soft top will give you some wind noise. The mirror excuse is a common one. I pursued my wind noise on my three year old SC430 when I bought it and drove the dealer nuts about it. They replaced the rubber gasket going all the way around the windshield and doors and that helped a little. They also re-insulated the a-pillars and it helped, but at the end of the day, I had to turn up the ML speakers to forget about it.

My best advice/two cents from a super **** guy who has owned dozens of convertibles, lexus cars and two SC's is this: Pick and choose your battles on the noise. If it is really loud and bothering you and feel like they haven't fixed it at all, by all means pursue it. If no one else but you can notice and the radio helps you forget about it, then I'd question your relentless pursuit of perfection and perhaps be at ease with it knowing that we all go through it and it's just a little imperfection.

If it persists or gets worse, try the gasket thing or the a-pillar. I will say this, my Lexus dealer (Sewell) had to send to the bodyshop to re-insulate the a-pillars and adjust the top so perhaps there is special soundproofing stuff or insulation they have at the body shop that they don't have at the regular service garage? Maybe your dealer did this?

Now on the performance piece....

First thing you need to do is disconnect your battery (both terminals) for at least 30 minutes. This will reset your ECU and your car will more than likely be much quicker, shift quicker and respond quicker. Our cars have adaptable learning between the ECU and transmission and if a grandma or light footed individual owned your car before you the ECU might have been very conservative on shifting intervals.

Secondly I would use the manu-matic (you have a 2006, right?) option. I don't have a 2006, but the 2002-2005 you can manaully shift via the c-gate 2-3-4 option and I love it. I test drove many 2006 cars and was bored to death in Drive but moved the stick over to manual and loved it.

Once you reset your ECU, drive your car like you stole it the first week or so and it will be trained more aggressively.

Lastly, if you still are very unhappy and expect Corvette type performance from this car, maybe it's not the car for you??? Totally agree that the IS is more fun, but then again how many IS sedans do you see out there? $29k sedan vs $67k classic roadster. We have debated the IS-C vs the SC as well on here and many of us were tempted at first but ended up staying put. I sold my first SC looking for a Porsche and almost bought a 993 2005 C2 Cab for same price as my 2005 Pebble Beach SC430 but obviously ended up back home where I belong . Try doing intake/exhaust/headers that may do something for you as well throttle controller too.

Or how about a SL63 AMG? Okay, maybe a little more than the SC in price. How about used a 2003-2005 SL55 AMG? 400HP lots of issues though. What else would you get? Trust me this has been debated a lot on this forum. The SC is truly unique. Wait and see. You will love it more the more you drive it. The less I drive mine (garage queen), the more I think about selling it. As soon as I get in it and drop the top the more I stop thinking about that!

fotch

For what it's worth, I just went through the same thing with my dealer. They actually located a noise on the passenger side that I didn't since I 'm never in that seat. It was around the mirror trim piece which they replaced, they also realigned the door. After I picked up the car I notice the initial noise I heard was still there so I took it back and went for a test drive with the tech, my first time in the passenger seat, no wind noise. However, the driver side noise was just as noticeable from the right seat. The tech and I discussed wind noise and turbulence and sounds that might be inherent with different body styles, yada yada yada. So he took the car back to the shop, checked the seals, window and door alignment and couldn't find anything wrong. We decided to compare my '06 with another SC they had on the lot an '08 PB. I didn't say anything to the tech, but noticed right away my '06 was much quieter all around, even with the pronounced noise I hear above my left ear. The tech came to the same conclusion, so we left it at that, but I was assured that Lexus would take care of the noise if it worsens. Given the nature of the beast it being a convertible, I've accepted that it's not going to be 100% quiet. Now before I get hate mail from the PB owners, I'm not knocking the car. As a matter of fact it was a '09 PB that I saw at a car show that got me thinking about a new car. I never thought I would replace my beloved '93 SC400, but my granddaughter is happy that it becomes hers on her 17th birthday. But as they sit side by side in my drive way I'm still drawn to the style of the '93... but I love driving and everything else about the '06.

evlway

Good information. I did not think about retraining the PCM. I did take it back to the dealer regarding the wind noise, but the mechanic said he could not hear the wind noise, so I will have to drive with him in the car so he can hear it. Notably, the noise is not as loud in town, but once out on the highway, becomes quite loud. Supposedly, they made a slight adjustment, however that seems to have actually made it louder now.

I am becoming more attached to the car as I drive it. It is noisier than any car I've had, except for my 1997 30th Anniversary Camaro SS. I don't think I will change anything in the way of performance on the SC430. I went through too much expense with so-called "performance shops" that went in and out of business and bankruptcy in a year. The pursuit for RWHP is endless. And the experience of having Craig perfectly-ported heads stolen kind of ended it for me.

It is interesting that a few other people have had the same experience with the wind noise.

And, scdroptop, I also am very **** about my cars. I think that comes from being a computer nerd. Again, thanks for your suggestions.

Harold57

If your car is "noisier than any car" that you've had before, you have other problems also. While the SC430 isn't whisper quiet or as quiet as the LS, it should be quiet enough to hold a conversation in a normal speaking voice. It shouldn't even be all that bad with the top down going 60 mph, unless there is a lot of traffic or overpasses around.

BTW, welcome to the forum.

scdroptop

iTrader: (1)

oh regarding noise-get rid of your run flats! Most CL drivers do either two things: get non run flats and do a spare in the trunk (do a search for spare kit for SC430) or they "chance it" because they have roadside assistance and just do the non RFT 18".

The other population like me, puts 20" wheels on it, non run flat tires and the staggered look, which really makes this car look aggressive.

In summary-your RFT's could be making a lot of road noise too.

evlway

Okay, after three trips to the dealership and going without my car for about two weeks total, I have to just give up here on the wind noise. The last repair attempt was to replace the gasket all around the windshield at the top where it meets the convertible top.

I think it actually made it worse. When there is a cross-wind, it is much more noticeable.

I am taking your advice and just turning up the stereo. Price you pay for a convertible!

terrain

I was a bit shocked when I drove my first 08 SC with what it was lacking technology wise to say the least. Folks who love their SC are willing to overlook the fact that Lexus did not keep this car up to date over the years. You did the right thing by buying a 4 year old CPO -- just think if you had paid anywhere near what a new one cost and you would still have a car equipped like an early 2000 car.

evlway

You're right. No push-button start button, brushed aluminum console, no iPod jack, bad cup-holders, no compass (except for the built-in navigation unit) these are all things I dearly miss from my IS250. However, when I put the top down (which I did yesterday, since it was 77 degrees in Dallas) it is a much more fun car. Also, fuel economy is gone. Still, I think I will be a lot more popular with my friends this summer. Until it gets up to 100 in June...

evlway

Oh, yeah, and I forgot the air-cooled perforated leather seats.