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Took the car out on a beautiful spring day. Hit the AC button and Voila! No AC. Instead of a recharge, I learned about air compressors, metal shards and condenser replacement.
So my bank was more than happy to fix this for me, but am curious and asking long time owners and experts - are there any other surprises I should keep an eye out for on a 2003, that I might take care of in advance? Or maybe there is already a thread for this. Thanks much everyone.
Thank heavens for my motorcycle lift. It precisely positions wheel during mounting. No more struggling to lift tire into exact position.
When I was working, I didn't have time to work out and keep in shape, and yes, lifting wheels/tires onto the hub was a *****. However, now that I'm retired and exercising almost every day, it's cake. I hope I can keep going strong into my 70's and 80's. By 90, I'm sure I won't mind paying someone else to do this for me. But, I will miss doing it myself, and thus, ensuring it is done right. Maybe I'll get a motorcycle lift too! Thanks for the tip.
All closed up. Do you see the switches? O you don’t, is your mind racing? Apple play Front camera Now you see them, 2 toggle ant and front camera, black button turns on car play
What I did to my 2002 SC 430 today…
I just brought Beatrice home from having an audio-ectomy. A little back story, there Background, there always seems to be one.
- purchased 3 months ago
- 2002, first delivery 4 April 2001
- 52,000 mi
- $16,686 + you know what
- Millennium Silver, camel interior and that beautiful wood trim
- car looks and drives as just out of showroom
Keep in mind the following: all original Mike Lev audio is as new
- new antenna and motor, now controlled by me
- replaced 6 x 9 door speakers with ML. Don’t ask how I got them, from a man who knew a man whose mother was left handed. Old speakers in door were 5 x 4 , go figure
- all speakers separately balanced from the ML amplifier for max sound enjoyment
- apple car play, turned on by me
- phone speaker at top of left pillar, I must say this the best car phone system I have ever had
- new cd changer
- front camera controlled by me, rear camera automatic on in reverse and show on original screen
As you will see in the pictures below, it looks all original
ALL the steering wheel controls work as new
Took 6 days and a team of 2
She seems happy and has promised me a surprise after going out tonight!
I want to thank everyone who has posted about audio in this group. I could not have known what to ask for this endeavor.
Bea is going in for outpatient surgery May 24, earliest I could get in with my mechanic,
timing belt etc. I figure it has never been done. I have the maintenance records for the last 21 services. I am 2nd owner, 1st owner lived in two places. I have called the two dealers, that are on Car-fax to see if they can run the vin. Has anyone ever tried it, they probably were not real computer savvy back then?
Let me know what you think of my switch placement.
Replaced the struts, control arms, trailing arms, etc... Went with factory struts from LPN and remaining parts are Mevotech from RockAuto. I did go with Figs Engineering for the upper control arms. Discovered that I need to replace the bushings in the axle carriers (knuckle) so I ordered new poly bushings from PSB.
Just now starting to sort out some modifications after two years of enjoying the basic car.
In all candor some of the most recent work documented here I was forced into when last March an absent minded driver bumped into the front of my car while in a parking garage. For now I've wrapped some of the front grill trim and painted the stock grill gloss black. I was hoping that the simpler pre-2006 grill would fit as I prefer the cleaner lines when the Lexus logo is pulled off. My 2004 SC is like that.
I'm still researching a body shop to make a new bumper grill that grafts the newer spindle grill onto the SC cover. To date most body shops and customizers have declined to participate so if anyone comes across a possible vendor please let me know. If I do find someone I'll report back.
I just added staggered 20" wheels and in all honesty I'm unhappy with the ride quality over the stock 18" setup. Feels too much like the flat runs on my 2004. Perhaps I'll get used to it but if not I'll explore different tires with higher sidewalls. Question - would different shocks help smooth out the ride?
Both my 2004 and 2007 SCs have the Injen air intake system. Considering the Magnaflow exhaust system if only for the sound benefit. Car also needs a new receiver with Apple CarPlay, Sirius XM and rear back up camera, maybe one of those electronic throttle boxes.
That's more or less it, for now...
The rear headrest and your own unique wind deflector board are very cool👍
Installed rear axle carrier bushings from PSB Solutions, 4-wheel alignment and compete brake
system flush.
Suspension and brake systems are complete.
Next area of focus is replacing the power steering hoses, reservoir and system flush.
Replaced all of the engine vacuum hoses and clamps with new factory materials from MegaZip. Had to use a Saw-Zall blade (by hand) to cut / relieve the hoses. Can believe how bad they were, glad I did it.
Power steering hoses are next - maybe this weekend.
Hope everyone has a safe and wonderful holiday.
Bought a whole bunch of goodies to replace the bits and bobs that have been irritating me:
New shifter cover from Megazip to replace the one I scratched up when I installed the BlueTooth adapter
New climate control screen cover to replace the one that's cracked.
New door handle cover to replace the one that the stupid carwash removed.
New leather top for the climate control that the hamfisted techs at Pohanka Lexis scratched/broke when they installed the Sirius radio adapter so many years ago.
A replacement clip to replace the one that the same tech's lost to hold the panel under the glove box in place. Goobers....
The shifter cover will take the longest to come in. I'll wait until I have everything and install them all at once.
Just a note. My car is an '07. While perusing the parts and stuff at Discount Parts Monster, an awful lot of interior stuff was listed as no longer available. Such as the shifter cover. Luckily Megazip still has them, but I see this as a harbinger of things to come. Less and less parts availability.
The newest of these cars is 13 years old and manufacturers are only required to supply parts for ten years. So unless a part is used on other cars, I suspect the existing inventory is all there is going to be.
So, if you are waiting around to get something, like I was, you might want to check to see if the parts are still available.
cheers,
Last edited by doobs; 06-05-23 at 05:11 AM.
Reason: Dain bramage
Bought a whole bunch of goodies to replace the bits and bobs that have been irritating me:
New shifter cover from Megazip to replace the one I scratched up when I installed the BlueTooth adapter
New climate control screen cover to replace the one that's cracked.
New door handle cover to replace the one that the stupid carwash removed.
New leather top for the climate control that the hamfisted techs at Pohanka Lexis scratched/broke when they installed the Sirius radio adapter so many years ago.
A replacement clip to replace the one that the same tech's lost to hold the panel under the glove box in place. Goobers....
The shifter cover will take the longest to come in. I'll wait until I have everything and install them all at once.
Just a note. My car is an '07. While perusing the parts and stuff at Discount Parts Monster, an awful lot of interior stuff was listed as no longer available. Such as the shifter cover. Luckily Megazip still has them, but I see this as a harbinger of things to come. Less and less parts availability.
The newest of these cars is 13 years old and manufacturers are only required to supply parts for ten years. So unless a part is used on other cars, I suspect the existing inventory is all there is going to be.
So, if you are waiting around to get something, like I was, you might want to check to see if the parts are still available.
cheers,
Arg.
I got a message from Megazip today that the shifter cover is no longer available.
After 15 years of ownership and 80K miles I have driven the SC, I finally got a rear view cam installed today. Kudos to SC430mods - they worked with my installer to send out a new harness when the first one they sold me failed - seamless to me and no cost. Just an extra 3 or 4 days of waiting. Pleased with how this turned out.
04-29-23, 04:38 PM
I really thought I was done...
, go figure
