NEILJ

Neil E Thanks very much for taking the time to post your pictures on the forum they are very clear and informative. I have had a look again and tried to pull the AC control module but just cannot get it to budge. Having watched the Utube video he prizes the unit out against the wood facia but I would be scared of cracking it given how much pressure you have to apply. The only place I can see is to go in underneath with some sort of pry tool and get onto the front spring lugs but again this is very close to the wood door. At the moment I am at a loss as what to do next. Even spoke to Lexus again and they say they haven't fixed any in years and if one comes in with the fault they offer it for sale pointing out the fault exists and let the customer decide which indicates to me perhaps they don't want to attempt taking the car apart. I would be interested to hear a lexus technician comment on this as they must see this problem all the time judging by the amount of problems reported. I will continue to try and think of a way around this. I have even wondered weather I could get a couple of cable ties around the back tie them off and put a lump of wood through at the front to pull on but I don't think it will be possible. Plod on I reckon and hope I get a spark of inspiration. Thanks again for the pics. Neilj

Neil and co. I have started to take things apart, first the heated seat switches then the centre wood panel. I know the top heater control module has to come out as I have watched this on utube but have pulled at it as hard as I dare and cannot get it to budge. With the cd door up you can just see under the retaining clips but my fingers are not long enough to get behind. Are there any special tools to use or is it a case of brute force and hope you don't break anything. Perhaps this is the first time it has been out and everything is tight too tight. Any hints and tips would be much appreciated thanks. Errr I have just got my thumbs underneath and gripped as hard as possible and riggled it and pulled straight back but no movement. Neilj

Thanks Peter. On two or three occasions before I have recharged the battery and all has been fine but this time the error code has remained. As I have said I have tried all the suggestions on other websites without success. I am still reluctant to take the unit out just yet as I can't think there can be much wrong. The one thing I have noticed though is that the deck isn't sequencing when you turn the ignition on you could always hear it before. The one last thing I haven't tried is pulling both the radio n0.1 and no.2 fuses together to completely power down the unit. I tried contacting our Lexus dealer who wanted £95 just to look at it, they said to put it on their diagnostics which is rubbish the cd isn't part of the diagnostics system and anyway just to check I connected my eobd scanner and all was clear which it would be, not impressed by them at all. When I do get to the bottom of this I will report my findings hopefully to help anyone else with this problem. I just can't get it into my head at the moment that disconnecting and recharging the battery can take out the CD player. I suspect that lexus could perhaps fix this in a jiff but want to milk as much out of you as possible. I will ask them again this next week can you fix it and how much that will be interesting. Neilj

Thanks for your replies. I have researched the other forums and have tried the following suggestions without any success. The first suggestion was to hold down the power button on the cd player as you turn on the ignition let go then hit the button again to switch the unit on. It was said that this should clear the code and all would be well again, but it didn't work for me. The second suggestion was to disconnect the battery again and reconnect after about ten minutes again no success. The third suggestion is to pull the fuse for the Radio/CD and leave for ten minutes before reinserting. I pulled the radio 1 fuse in the under bonnet box and as instructed replaced after ten minutes still with no success. I really want to exhaust all possible fixes before taking things apart to remove the unit but it is looking like I have got to bite the bullet. The only last question to anyone reading is, is there a no.2 radio fuse anywhere that I should have also pulled. The reason I ask is that so many replies to this fix said it had worked so I wondered if I hadn't followed the procedure correctly and powered down the system. So any further suggestions please would be helpful. In each instance of disconnecting the battery to recharge before I managed to get everything to work again and some how am hoping do the same again. Neilj

Barry I am back on the site posting another topic so thought I would chip in with what I think of my SC. In spite of my battery drain woes you might read on my latest topic that I really like this car. The fit and finish is like no other car I have ever owned Even better dare I say than my 450H in some areas.It wafts you along with a refinement and total quiet except for a bit of tyre noise. I am no fast driver anymore just want a relaxing easy time so don't ever push it around the country lanes but with the top down on a nice sunny day around a local beauty spot there is nothing else I have ever driven that gives such driving enjoyment. Have you been sick yet. No really like many on this site as I have said in my other post everyone is keen to help as they want everyone to enjoy the marque and are really enthusiastic. Yes it hasn't the finest lines from some angles but you find another car that looks like new inside after 57000 miles and the paint finish too also amazes me. Total quality. Neilj

Back again. After the usual flat battery after not using the car again I Recharged the battery with my new Lidl charger which I must say is very good. So reconnected the earth lead and started the car, reset the seats and went to check the CD and got the error code 4. This has happened a couple of times before after recharging the battery but after switching the ignition off and on a couple of times the CD sequences the discs, you can hear it doing this, and when you then switch on all is OK. This time no such thing not a murmur from the cd. Radio works fine and the cassette too. I have read all I can find and one chap said holding down the power button whilst turning on the ignition clears the code and all works fine. Tried it today with no success. The only other option I have read is to disconnect then reconnect the battery but not yet tried that one. So Here we are again does anyone else know any other trick to try before having to take it all apart which will be a reluctant last resort. Absolutely love the car but am getting a bit fed up with the battery drain problem and now this but I can't think of anything comes that close to replace it with. Thank you in anticipation of your replies, everyone is very helpful on this site as I think they too are as enthusiastic as I am about these cars. Neilj

John I am on the case of getting the transfer paper or letters you mention it used to be called letraset at one time. You are right about cutting out a mask though not practical to achieve a good result. Quite satisfied with the panel though, something that will not draw my eye to it everytime I get in the car. Perhaps I should have not bought the car with issues like that but some people think you are mad to be so fussy but I am that character and overlooked it at the time of purchase and admired the car for its positive attributes. Then a couple of months after it was arrrgh I must fix that. Neilj

Neil E Thanks for your comment about battery disconnection. I have read before it is advisable to disconnect the battery but being that everything was dead with no key in the ignition I thought it would be OK. Will take note in future though just to be safe even if it means resetting everything afterwards. Thanks also for your comment about the resprayed gearshift panel. Neilj

Peter On the silver panels, I don't know about the earlier ones, the panel is clear plastic underneath a black primer and a silver top coat. So they must a letter mask on before painting and peel off to reveal a clear letter shaped window that illuminates from the back light. The actual shift still is illuminated but the letters have gone because I have painted the lot. I thought of trying to cut out letters with electrical tape or something but my eyesight these days is not sharp enough. However as I have mentioned you can print letters on your ink jet printer onto a special water slide transfer paper a bit like the old airfix kit transfers and apply them, you can then overpaint with acrylic lacquer to permanently fix. This I am intending to do at a later date to finish off. Neilj

Well chaps if I may rejoin your discussion. The strut brace is something I will consider in the new year when we are back to some top down driving. If it sharpens up the driving feel ie not as wobbly then will seriously consider. As for the battery woes well I ran the car up on Monday last only a couple of days ago and all was well I then did a bit of work on the gear shift panel, see new topic, and never thought to switch off the interior light went to put it all back together and hey no alarm light flashing, flat battery again. Put it on charge whilst I re assembled my resprayed panel and all is well again all working. Well did have one heart in mouth moment when the radio panel didn't work but after taking it apart and checking everything including a quick wiggle of the switch cable all is working thankfully. Next job when it gets a bit warmer is to look for this tracker and get the battery checked out. Neilj

Thanks John and Steve for your replies. Being that it is the Christmas break and I had some time I bit the bullet and looked on the net about taking it all apart and respraying the offending part. I have to say I hate these jobs and delving into the unknown but taking my time and being extra careful I succeeded in getting the panel off. Have to say that the silver paint comes off with very little sanding and not the quality you would expect. Anyway masked it and sprayed it with my airbrush kit and put it all back together. The compromise is that the decals have gone but have seen you can get water slide Decal printer paper and print them off yourself and the other compromise is the park neutral and drive are now not backlit. A new panel is in the region of 200 pounds from what I have seen on the net so I can put up without the backlighting for that much. So see below the finished result, I think it is an improvement on the before pictures above. Neilj

I have attached a picture of my scuffed gear shift panel, something that I have wanted to fix for ages as it really niggles me. Has anyone out there ever fixed this sort of thing or is it an expensive new panel. Any suggestions would be appreciated. And of course a happy new year to one and all on the forum. Neilj

Talking about the wheels. The lacquer was flaking on my wheels so had the wheels refurbished and paint stripped the lacquer off the centres revealing the chromed finish underneath. Against the purple pearl finish of the body work they look mega to me rather bling which is what I think the car is about. Neilj

Peter Thank you for your reply it again has proven interesting as the cigar lighter hasn't worked since I purchased the car and it is something I haven't got around to fixing just yet. It is looking like I am going to have to seek professional help in locating the problem. Also perhaps look for suggestions of where a tracker is most likely located in the car before starting to remove trim and follow the antenna route. The first easy job though will be to take to my trusted local garage to get the battery checked. It was supposed to have been a new one fitted but the dealers I bought it from I wouldn't trust at all. They even changed the tyres on the car between me looking at it and agreeing to buy it and picking it up, I got home to find the front tyres were illegal and had to change them straight away. Another lesson to be learnt I suppose. Thanks again. Neilj

Have you changed the battery recently or had it disconnected for any reason. I ask because I have to go through this sequence every time I charge the battery which you might see has been quite a lot recently. Pleased you got it sorted though, the cars are a real gem in many ways, you learn something about top gear when you actually drive an SC and not believe everything you are told. Neilj

Neil E Your strut brace looks identical to the one I saw and I think it cost about 95 pounds. I appreciate all the other comments regards how the car is designed for cruising and not handling but have to agree with you that with the roof down there is a noticeable difference and just wondered like you must have if the braces are worth it. One to consider but have just had the battery drain woes again so will be looking into that one first. Neilj

Well thanks all for your replies. I still haven't looked to see if there is a tracker fitted yet as a more pressing problem came up again. I drove the car last weekend for a good 15 to 20 miles and everything OK got home and locked it in the garage until this weekend so only less than a week of no use. Went to the car and there was'nt enough in the battery to start the car, steering column and lights worked but not enough power to start up. So back to the battery charger again only this time when I reconnected and set everything the CD changer showed error 3 and 4. So switched ignition off and then on again to make the player sequence through the cd's, you can hear it doing this. It took about six attempts switching ignition off and then on and letting the cd sequence before it corrected itself but I was heart in mouth for a while then sigh of relief. I am considering seeing how much a proper Lexus main agent supplied battery is as I have read the odd report of no more battery woes once a proper lexus battery was fitted. I really need to get this one sorted though as I don't want something else to become faulty because of the constant disconnecting and reconnecting of the battery. I love everything about the car but this one is a pain, yes I appreciate there are worse problems with other so called prestige cars just need to sort this perhaps a battery conditioner is another Idea too. Neilj

Just trawling through ebay at sc430 cars and parts and noticed a strut brace advertised. Looks a nice job. I know with the roof down its a bit flobby and wondered if this would sharpen things up a bit. Has anyone ever tried one I wonder and if so what is your opinion, any good or what. regards Neilj

Colin. A tracker ? now that is a possibility, I will explain. Some one caught the back bumper in a car park somewhere and therefore to touch up the paint I had to remove the bumper. Strange thing is there was what appeared to be a wire antenna routed through the rear vent and taped to the bumper beam. I did wonder what it was and now think that it is possibly part of a tracking device as you have suggested. Problem now I suppose it locating the device which means removing trim I suspect. Thanks for the suggestion though one to investigate. Neilj

Just thought whilst I was on the forum I would offer what I have found to be a simple fix to the annoying rattling rear parcel shelf/blind. I have been very pleased with my 450H purchase even though the MPG doesn't register much above 32MPG I am spending 25 ponds per week on petrol compared to 40 pounds plus per week with my previous RX 300. The thing that has been bugging me though is the rattling at the rear which I suspected was coming from the parcel shelf. Well upon investigation it seemed to be the clips that secure the flaps to the rear seats. So got hold of some 59P foam self adhesive strips and stuck them to the seat brackets where the clips make contact. Result was no more rattles and a lovely quiet ride. Just to add I have had to floor the accelerator on a couple of occasions, not good for MPG I know, but talk about warp speed mode it is incredible how it hauls the weight truly amazing (to quote the fast show). Neilj

Back to the forum again after quite a few months. In just over twelve months of ownership of my SC I have found on four occasions now that after not having had time to drive the car for a couple or three weeks I go to it in the garage to find the battery completely dead. It was a new battery fitted when I bought the car and always trickle charges without a problem and starts first time. I know there are a few other posts about this and one chap has found a gadget that disconnects the battery when you leave it for a while but this means having to reset the seat memory etc every time, which isn't too much of a problem. I just wondered if anyone had found any other way of prolonging the battery charge whilst standing. Does locking the car whilst standing help for example. It is the only annoying feature of the car as the the rest of the car is really superb the best quality and refinement I have ever experienced compared to many other over rated cars that I have owned over the years. So if anyone has any tips or suggestions that would again be much appreciated. Regards Neilj

You might notice that I have just posted a new topic having just purchased an RX 450h. I had looked at alternatives other makes and other 450H's but came back to the one I have finally purchased each time, I even managed to get a good discount on the screen price and ended up with an excellent deal. However I did have to travel from stoke on trent to Kirkcaldy to pick it up and drive it home yesterday which was quite a journey. So after a 4 hour 45 minute drive home at between 60 to 80 mph the mpg showed up at 35mpg. I did try to keep it in the eco band as much as possible but sometimes when overtaking etc you have to go into the power band. I am now interested to see what mpg I get with my everyday journey to work and weekend drives. The car overall though is an absolute gem really pleased. Neilj

After a lot of research and hmmming and arrrring regards MPG I have finally taken the plunge and bought a very nice low mileage RX450H in cerulean blue and beige leather interior. Have to say that I am delighted with the condition etc a really cherished by its previous owner example. I have immediately been setting up the blue tooth etc. The only thing that I am not too keen on is the seat retracting when you switch off to get out of the car. I have looked at the owners manual which says it can be partially disabled I think meaning that you can disable the seat movement but retain the steering wheel retraction. What I cannot find is what the procedure is to do this ie what setting to change and how to find it. So can anyone please help or advise. Just to add I liked this particular car so much I ended up travelling to Scotland for it and having a 280 mile journey home. Oh and by the way 35 MPG a little disappointing but the rest of the car a real stunner. Neilj

Well it looks like an interesting topic judging by the replies. I didn't realise but a work mate who is also a lexus fan has bought a 450h which by the way he thinks is great. So was asking him about the MPG and he says with his driving it is mid to high thirties but he did say that on a trip down to London and back he took it steady and achieved mid forties. So yes perhaps down to driving style at times. After searching the trader to trade up to something a bit nicer than my RX300 I keep coming back to the 450h having considered Jeep Mercedes and BMW. I did enquire about a 450h and got a ridiculous part ex price on my RX of 4000 which is less the we buy any car valued at and this was from a lexus main agent. So will keep looking and hope to have news of a new purchase. Just to further add I also enquired about a really nice 450h on at 24000 and asked what he could do for a straight cash deal no PX he offered me 300 pounds off what a joke. Neilj

Thanks for your prompt replies much appreciated. I have a 2004 RX which I have come to realise was way ahead of its time with all the extras that came with the car. I get 24 to 25 mpg on my work run in summer months and on a trip down the motorway of about 100 miles round trip achieved 32 mpg having tanked it on the way to the wedding after a hold up so as not to be late. The RX is what has started me down the lexus route and I now also own an SC430 after having Jaguar for many years. They are amazing cars in many ways although the styling of both the RX and the SC are a bit of an acquired taste but if you can overlook that then you are onto a winner. The RX450h is a much nicer style and that is why I am considering one as my next purchase. My driving style is fairly steady these days rather like driving miss daisy so if I could expect mid to high thirty's then it would make sense financially too. Thanks again for your responses. Regards Neilj