MarcusMIA

So yeah, the car is now totally mechanically sound and it can be daily driven without any worries.

After all the parts that went into the car it sounds totally different. Audibly, it starts up differently, turns offs different, it just runs great now.

And my mechanic does a good job of paying attention to detail so he really goes the extra mile with some things. The fact that he totally cleaned up my engine bay is just the superficial stuff.







I think I'll also copy and paste a copy of the maintenance record I started for the car since I've had it for like... 1 month... and a half. LOL



1996 Lexus SC400

Mileage: 130, *** miles (Initial Maintenance and Diagnostics)

Issues:
• Right Rear Tire had abnormal degree of Toe Out and Negative Camber.

• Right Rear Tire had a bad wheel bearing.
Symptoms: Constant grinding sound. Variable grinding sound under braking.
• Explanation of Issues: Possible previous collision. Proof: NONE


Solutions:
• Alignment
• Right Rear wheel bearing replaced along with wheel bearing seal.
• E-Brakes replaced on both wheels (Optional)
• Both rear brake rotors replaced (Optional)
• Both rear brake pads replaced (Optional)
• All calipers painted black (OEM calipers)
• Front Brake Inspection:
 Replaced Pads
 Shaved Rotors
 New Brake Lines
Pending Motor Maintenance…


Mileage: 130, *** miles
• OIL CHANGE: Mobil Clean 5000 and Fram Filter
• NOTE: Just an initial cheap oil change to clean out the motor before doing engine work and before putting in the “good” stuff.
• Techron Additive
• Seafoam Carbon Cleaner- Through intake vacuum and in oil for a couple of minutes before oil change


Mileage: 130, *** miles

Issues:
• Car has not had its original timing belt changed (!)
• Squeaky Pulley
• Front Left Tire had a bad wheel bearing
• Three small leaks of engine oil under car
Symptoms: Strong grinding and clanking sound when turning right.


Solutions:
• Complete Engine Maintenance and then some… ($$$$)
• Timing Belt 38.00
• Timing Belt Tensioner 126.00
• Timing Belt Aero Pulley 54.00
• Water Pump 95.00
• Thermostat 9.99
• Thermostat Gasket 4.99
• Valve Cover Gasket 34.99
• Spark Plug Tube Seals 63.48
• Crankshaft Seal 9.99
• Crankshaft Seal 17.11
• Spark Plug Wires (NGK) 95.00
• Spark Plugs (8) (NGK) 26.00
• Rotor Caps Ignition (2) 61.99
• Rotor (2) 32.18
• Serpentine Belt 27.99
• Serpentine Aero Pulley 26.09
• Serpentine Tensioner 123.99
• Coolant 9.00
• Air Filter 18.99
• Oil Filter (Don’t remember reason for change) 6.81
• Wheel Bearings for Front Left 47.63
• Wheel Bearing Seal for Front Left 21.11
• PSV 4.99
_______________
955.32
700.00 (Labor)
• No oil leaks except the one at the oil filter. It will probably go away after I switch to K&N oil filter.


There are quite a few reference points, so I'm sure someone could use them as aides if there's anything they may have to do to the car or whatever, so there it is.


Now that its maintenance is done, if I had a hypothetical bucket of money I would do these things in that order:

1. rims and tires
2. coilovers
3. paint
4. Exhaust

BFI and some other not so expensive things would be thrown around there two. I may get the seats reupholstered since they're beat up. Oh yeah, and I have a parasitic battery drain that doesn't let me use the radio without draining the battery when I turn off the car. I gotta have music!!!

Gspec

Nice.....I love it when jobs like this come into my shop.

MarcusMIA

lol, why? Besides the money?

Wicked SC

iTrader: (3)

Damn, Engine bay looks clean aas hell. Who cleaned it?
I need mine cleaned..

kez

iTrader: (4)

x2

Gspec

It's just refreshing when a customer doesn't insist on a "band-aid" fix....Props on giving her some proper maintenance.

MarcusMIA

Oh yeah, I only knew what HAD to be done, but my mechanic always looks at the bigger picture. Not that he's chasing money all the time, but he does the job right and if he's going to take all this stuff apart to change the timing belt, he might as well do a bunch of other stuff.



And my mechanic was the one that cleaned the engine bay. I guess it like an unwritten rule that he has. If it's going to run good it has to look good. When he did the wheel bearings and brakes he also painted the calipers and cleaned out the rims inside and out. He tells me, "I could just install the bearings and pads and whatnot and not clean out the rotors and wheels. Someone else could do that, too, but if I did it, the work would be a piece of ****."

Luxor

iTrader: (15)

Maintenance before mods is a big thumbs up! Its always good to have peace of mind.

One_jZ_SC3

iTrader: (2)

No one knows what your engine bay looks like! You plan to show it off now...lol

royaltyrsp

im also having my wheel bearing replaced soon and getting an alignment done, some of my wheel studs broke on the freeway and the bearing got all F'd.

horent135

iTrader: (10)

Is that really a stock engine cover, I never seen it like that on SC400.. Nice engine and cover as well.

MarcusMIA

I think some of the earlier models didn't have them. Some have actually taken the cover off, I believe. I think taking it off has its good effects...

okbobbo

That engine cover gives the bay an up to date look. I wouldn't mind having it on my 93 400 if its not detrimental.

If you go at your engine with a lot of paper towels, glass cleaner, a paint brush, and armoral you will be pleasantly surprised.

Be very cautious if you steam clean. There have been a number of sad results.