alphacat

I did that before sat nav was invented. Its not what its for. it should improve on that and when compared to other cheaper bolt on's its not as good. So be happy with mediocrity but please don't tell me its worth the money its just not.

Two points... I don't see why a car should look worse in the winter than it does in the summer. That's the first. and secondly its not the size of the wheel that counts its the overall diameter if the wheel and the tyre. So if the wheel is reduced to 17 inch and the car is supposed to have 18 inch wheels the tyre should have a compensating dimension.. If the tyre dimensions are the same certain parameters will be compromised such as the measured speed of the vehicles speedometer. Besides these two points there are actually more now I think about it... 3rd point why change tyres in an English winter when most of the roads are the same as summer as far as grip is concerned. In Scandinavia there is a point but in the UK there isn't, if winter tyres are used they have less grip most of the time and better grip for a limited number of winter days. So its a marketing feature that provides profits there are many advantages to global warming even less need to use winter tyres is one of them. Unless you are going to wake up in the morning and change tyres depending on the prevailing conditions a normal tyre with good wet characteristics is all you will ever need. Now to address the specific issue of reduced wheel diameter if you do this you effectively increase torque at the wheel making slip on wet or snow more likely. If a car is fitted with a 'snow' button for instance like the SC430 is it reduces throttle response to compensate and spreads the torque. Reducing the diameter of the wheel makes that less effective. If you think these wheels fitted with winter tyres are worth putting on your car I think your well mistaken. Its just not clever.

Your having more luck with it than I am.. I certainly don't agree that all GPS is the same it just is not. while it may well have similar methods of identifying your location the way this is dealt with can be very different depending on which system you have. The Toyota system has faults others have overcome. Route selection, deviation from selected route and active detour are all poor on the Lexus to the point of being useless. The so called up to date maps (which I have ) are not correct. Postcode selection is only for the first 5 digits or so etc etc At times its just pointless. Your welcome to it..

You have my sympathy and I am sure that of many of us. I have looked on other Lexus web sites and this issue is not uncommon. As you say why should something wear out that is hardy ever used. On top of that the Sat Nav is so poor I am not sure I would want to repair it. Don't get me wrong I love the SC430 Its quiet its smooth its fast its very economical the sound system is the best ever. But the Sat Nav is primitive and out of date (and I have the an upgraded set 2012 December) full set of Europe (hate that word) discs. They are rubbish in the UK and I wont go to Europe as I hate the place. . and I wish there was a way of replacing it with even say, an £80 Nav Man type I bought 6 years ago for my other car which is far far superior. I mean far superior. It tells me on screen my speed (accurately) it never takes me of route (the SC430 one is just stupid) the screen definition is more than 3 times as good etc etc I could go on. The only reason to keep the Lexus Sat Nav is that you want to keep the car original.

This recall was made public for Mk 1 430Sc s in February last year. It only applies to cars up to 2005 and not to Mk2 (6) speed versions.

It may well be fine in 10 years after being sealed in a waterproof bag and buried, conditions totally different conditions to reality.....no friction (causing wear), very little temperature variation, no vibration or movement or possible contact with contaminants! Exactly and those criteria are caused by mileage not time. See what I mean ??? On the USA Lexus web site they have even bigger problems. Lexus dealers there often insist it needs changing after as little as 50,000 miles or less. I suppose my pessimism is driven by so many known occasions when Lexus dealers (or in fact any dealers) just don't have any other focus in life but making money from car owners. Days of professional pride and customer care are long gone. They would argue black was white if it made them a few extra pounds. I am still convinced the original Lexus recommendation was 100,000 miles and no time limit was advised. If that was changed it wasn't done so on failure recording from what has been recorded elsewhere online it was done on dealer appeasement grounds !! I did read some where that on a casual survey by the US Lexus club not one case of a failed cam belt was recorded. On another that deterioration usually gives some kind of audible warning before the belt ceases to drive. My own belt is now approaching 70,000 miles and the car has had one (out of 3 owners) lady owner who didn't take care of it properly so I will be probably looking to change mine early.. On my recommendation, not the dealers.

Thanks for that. ... Makes sense but I am not satisfied that a car with a perfectly good battery should become unreliable after less than 2 months without having to charge the battery in some way. I often leave the country for weeks and when returning I expect the car to start if its been garaged indoors, at the airport, or with some car parking company and I wouldn't expect to have it started, I am surprised that members seem to accept this is 'normal'. It never was in the past and having security systems modern electronics etc it matters not the battery should be able to cope if it meets its spec. With that in mind I contacted Lexus. At first I had some response from a woman who admitted she wasn't technical but suggested my battery was at fault and I should take the car to a Lexus dealer. I wasn't happy with that and informed them that the battery was fine I have done charge tests and drain tests etc My battery is clean ( terminals and the casing) and I had heard from the lexus club web site that a number of people have this issue and in some cases have changed the battery for anew one to no avail. I also mentioned that if a car cant be left for about two months its not reliable and I believe this issue has been identified on the 430SC because so many of us use it infrequently.. I have just had an e-mail telling me the complaint has now gone to Lexus head office for customer service so I am hoping for something sensible back. They should at least know why we have to trickle charge a good battery after a few weeks. Bad design or whatever. This was a £60000 car from a company that built a rep on reliability and quality. Plugging in little solar panels whenever you go on holiday and hoping it will start when you get back is not acceptable. My car was only 6 years old when I first realised what was happening and had only done 50000 miles. Saying all that I haven't had the problem since last May when I was out the far east for 3 weeks it seems fine but I have used it at least once a week since. I want to know from Lexus why? They must know.... Hi, My wife has had trouble with her SC430 and Lexus has now replaced the battery twice!! I am a retired Radio/Computer engineer and have now checked the current drain across the battery with ignition off and all doors closed. The drain was just over 1.5AMPS!!!This means that after 10 hours the current drain is 15AMPS and after 100hours 4 days, the battery will be flat. I removed the fuses 1 at a time and found only two which made much difference. The Radio 1 fuse was about 0.4AMP and the D/C Cut was 1.0AMP. What I need now is a sevice sheet for the electrics to further troubleshhot our problem. Incidentally, we akso have an 400h which has a current drain of only 0.4. Both our Lexus cars are due for a service on October 23rd, and I will be armed with a spanner and current multimeter to discuss this issue with one of the Technicians. I think that nominally, the drain is about 0.5AMP If I get any joy, I will post it later Bil That's really bad isn't it ? When Lexus 'technicians' (used loosely) change the battery twice, when the current is draining away like that! I really don't like letting them touch my car. I understood that an expected battery drain on the 430SC would be about 0.08 amp after the car was stopped for about 15 minutes or so. I agree with Colin. I haven't had any problems with mine for some time now but I think its draining over about 8 days or so I only do runs of over about 20 miles usually so its manageable. but as has been said Lexus don't want to know.

Here it is wrong pic posted before !!

PC rules but I don't play that game I am not an Lexus Garage or a Lexus employee anyone taking advice of others and trying to sue will have a hard time with me. My post was aimed at explaining the reality as compared with the information given out (to make money ) by Lexus dealers. Its based on very reasonable engineering principles and information available to anyone. People who know nothing about engineering are right to play safe and do as they are told by the manufacturer these people should never own a car out of warranty. Life is a gamble and risk is exiting .. I suggest you live a little and play the game before you die its likely to be less expensive. However I will admit the down side on cam belt issue is that the Lexus 430SC engine is an ' 'interference' engine this means that if the cam belt breaks in service it could (probably will at revs above idling) make contact with some of the valves. The result will be very expensive. However these belts are not made of rubber (as suggested by someone earlier) but a particular type of reinforced nylon and they are immensely strong. It would be very very unusual for a belt to fail in service without some sort of prior deterioration and don't forget Lexus recommend changing at 100,000 miles. That's a lot of use. It would be a great experiment to buy a belt (you can get them new from under £5) put it in a landfill site (in a waterproof bag) and dig it up in ten years time and test it.. I bet it would be fine !! But no one can guarantee anything in engineering.. Its all about statistics when looking at manufacturing reliability.

I think your car is the same as mine Chelle.. its Ok for two weeks then it cant be trusted !! I know someone else who had one and used to carry a booster battery in the car . Nothing back from Lexus ... Luckily my present situation means the car gets used about twice a week when I do go away its only left for a few days and when I fly its left with valet parking so they have the problem of starting it !! I can live with it..

Here is a picture of the 430SC timing belt. It can be inspected with the bonnet up from the top but needs the engine cover removed to see more of it. Its not that hard to keep an eye on it. Timing belts are surprisingly flimsy but immensely strong and include features that make the engine smooth an quiet. They don't need any separate guides etc like some chain driven cams have to have. compare the Lexus simple belt to a similar Audi engine (the 4.2 litre S4) shown first ??? This is chain driven and never needs changing (in theory) but the chain guides do and they are nylon (see them in white) and can cause the chain to rattle at quite low mileages (40000 miles etc)

The time scale for the deterioration of synthetic materials from which the can belt is manufactured (its also a reinforced belt) is measured in units that don't apply to natural rubber. We are talking more like 10 decades, not ten years. The fact is regular inspections after a certain time are more than safe in enough and can, in the main be carried out by almost anyone who has a bit of common sense. The scheduled interval for this item was certainly initially never measured in time, just in miles of use. While I was looking for a 430SC 18 months ago I considered buying a 2002 430sc the fan belt had not been changed. The owner had it confirmed by a particular Lexus Dealer that it did not need changing as the vehicle had only covered 38 000 miles the belt had been inspected and was considered as good as new. Now while some who are not engineers and have little experience, may well think 10 years is a long time. It just isnt for most modern composite materials (The belt is a modern composite reinforced belt) . I work for an engineering consultancy that has contracts all over the world and my focus is on reliability. Changing the belt on a car that's has done less than the 'recommended' 100,000 miles and has been inspected is just giving money away. Many dealers need a kick for recommending work that doesn't need to be carried out but then that's quite common as most drivers haven't got a clue about what they are driving and its a national sport for dealers to make money from them. Let me explain a little about the interaction between time and use. To make this point clearer. Materials that have some tendency to degrade over times do so proportionally to temperature over time. In other words temperature speeds up any degradation. (Actually time isnt the main problem temperature and wear is) During say 10 years of use a belt will spend a particular part of that time at much higher temperatures while being used than when being still. If the car was run continually for 100,000 in a few months I would expect to see a belt that had suffered considerable wear as the times spent at high temperature's would be significant ensuring that small deviations in belt construction could produce deterioration. Of course in more demanding environments the risk is greater. 100,000 miles is a very, very conservative interval. As you would expect from a company like Lexus or in fact most companies these days. These belts will not fail suddenly without deterioration unless there is a serious flaw in manufacture of materials control. In that effect they could fail when new so its a pointless consideration. So any sensible owner would inspect the belt (you can see it by lifting the bonnet) when its done 50000 miles or so. personally I shall change mine at between 80000 miles and 100000 miles or if its show any signs of wear or damage. At present its done 62000 miles and it looks like new. The car is nearly 8 years old. Many people pay out for items they don't need to buy out of fear or ignorance or poor advice or insecurity.. That's what these forums are good for but unfortunately many individuals who don't know what they are talking about give poor advice and spoil it.

Oh Dear....

Two things I have noticed that occur when the car moves at over 5mph are... a seat belt warning bleep (if the seat belt is not properly locked) and the a hand brake warning bleep (if its not fully off) . These occur just after the car starts moving. It could be that one of these is not cancelling quickly enough

I have asked around too and looked at the service information on the Lexus web site.. The interval is 100,000 miles. There is no yearly recommendation. Its true some Lexus stealers 'advise' every 10 years but they would wouldn't they? Recently there was an 02 car for sale having done only 13000 miles from new. There is absolutely no reason to do a cam belt change on such a vehicle. apart from the one which ensures income for Lexus dealers. I hardly ever use a Lexus dealer its too far away and my car is serviced by an ex lead engineer from the Toyota World Rally team. He advises careful inspections after 10 years, change at between 80,000 and 100,000 miles to be on the safe side.

Both engines are normally aspirated...

I remember the days when people like us who drove on the right side of the road (the left) used to have to fix lenses(sometimes plastic and sometimes stick on) over their lights to drive on the continent. Those days have long gone. I have not seen such equipment for sale for years. Seems to me the reason must be that the slight difference between left and right bias is no not considered enough to be an issue. So why should it be an issue with right and left hand drive cars?. Have to admit I am so anti European I wont even consider going there let alone driving. My holidays are spent in places that actually like Brits and drive on the left (Thailand, Japan, Singapore, Malaya etc etc) We have much more in common with these countries and the EU sucks. Vote UKIP

I think most people with them will have them out of date. Mine certainly is.. before you pay top dollar from Lexus to get a new one think on this. The chance of it working if you do get a puncture are not 100% on a topic I read most say it worked but wouldn't last for more than 20 miles or so. It was difficult to apply and it was much easier to call out the breakdown service. If you must have one you can by a branded product from Halfords or online at Amazon or e-Bay for much less ((around £25 ) These were quite early kits and new branded ones I understand work better if needed. I pay a few £ a month for good Bearkdown cover and don't bother worrying about it. Chances are the tyre will need replacing in any case. The pump fitted to the car is just a tyre inflator. It just inflates the tyre after you have poured the sealant into the tyre (after removing the tyre valve).

Good luck with that I have seen it advertised it looked good. I am sure you will enjoy it.. You didn't compromise on everything else you got the low tax band as well..

I don't think the few days we have of snow or low temperatures is such a big deal. I drove my SC430 all last year and we did have some very bad days. I don't believe in winter tyres they are just a tyre makers hype. If you change your tyres one week for winter snow you will have to change them back one or two weeks latter and who is going to do that. ? Fact is if you do you will spend longer on an inappropriate tyre than if you just make do with a tyre that's decent in the wet. That's more than adequate for Uk winters. I have a an x type Jag (3ltre 230 bhp) with 4 wheel drive and its great in the winter on ordinary tyres. My son has a number of cars and had to borrow the Jag just to get out of his drive. One of them (a Golf) had winter tyres. On top of that I drove my 430SC to his home and out again and he was gobsmacked. But the winter snow button really does help . it just helps even idiots not to put their foot down too hard and the gearbox does the rest. The 430sc is brilliant in all weathers considering its power and its rear wheel drive. Trouble is some of the people who own them haven't got a clue how to drive or why to drive according to the conditions. Winter has no problems for the few weeks its even real winter. Most of the year ordinary tyres are the right ones to be on in any car and winter tyres may be slightly beneficial around 30% max time in winter let alone at all other times of the year.

I was topping my tyres up the other day and noticed bead wear on the inside of both fronts. Obviously a tracking issue.. to late to save the tyres they had to go. The car when I bought it had two different tyres on 2 Continental and two Dunlop they were not even on the same axels. So instead of just changing the front two I went for all four. I have had the car 198 months know and I am keeping it so I wanted good tryes good in the wet and quiet. What's the point of having noisy tyres on a 430SC !! I looked on various web sites talked to some people who claim to know or have experience and chose Dunlop Sport Maxx RT they have an A wet rate an E economy (not interested in that) and only 68dB Most other tyres were 71db and the closest to this spec was Continetal 5s and they were much more expensive. These Dunlop's advertise themselves as a better wet tyre and quieter than the Continental and it clams decreased stopping distance which is the Continentals big push. Some will know that dB is measured on algorithmic scale so although 68 dB seems close to 71db Its not close in noise power. 3dB difference is a reduction of 50% in noise. Drove home and around the bypass (quite quickly) I am very impressed seems a great choice and the car really feels planted.

No I I was thinking all spares seem to be compatible with few differences between European UK and USA versions only certain engine emissions spares etc. have to be, to meet different regulations.

I dont think its worth worrying about for lighting issues maybe some emission control differences bet even then not a real concern... .. If its left hand drive it should be OK. I have never had an issue buying from the states for most cars and its usually very economical.

Do you know what year the graphics were improved ? I would give an arm and a leg for a better sat nav computer on my 2005 430SC (2006 model 6 speed model)

E- Bay USA is a good idea there are lots of SC430s there... may even get some from a recycle dealer.