ClubLexus - Lexus Forum Discussion - SC430 - 2nd Gen (2001-2010)

Project 1/many - RC F front calipers & rotors

Koy3UZ — Fri, 22 May 2026 11:38:03 GMT

1/many projects. Replace OEM front brakes for a RC F calipers and rotors. It's aesthetic more than performance.

I will update more pictures. I used 350phi (350phi.com) caliber mounting braket. It requires drill and tap lower mount hole to 14x1.5.

Caliper mount adapter

Rc f rotor and caliper mounted

I will update when fully install and road tested.

Timing Belt?

ckearney3 — Wed, 20 May 2026 18:32:35 GMT

Hello fellow SC owners! Mine is a 2004 with 87,000 on it. I recently upgraded the Nav screen with a NAVIKs CarPlay with backup camera and love it, which means I'll be driving more. Through the years I've replaced the speakers, the trunk lid pistons, the struts, and had the top fixed once. Nothing else. Is there sign when the timing belt needs to be replaced? Thank you in advance for any tips.

Transmission fluid change

rtt — Tue, 19 May 2026 09:27:32 GMT

2004 430 with 88,000 miles. I bought it 2 years ago with 80,000 miles and don�t know the history of maintenance. Should I change the transmission fluid or not? I hear conflicting opinions. Not sure what to do??
Thanks for any guidance here.

Wheel speed, abs sensor wire splice

Koy3UZ — Mon, 18 May 2026 09:43:15 GMT

With the weather finally warming up in Boston, MA, my '09 SC430 is back on the road. Regarding the wheel speed sensors�since the rear ones are especially difficult to access and replace�would it be possible to simply splice the wires near the sensor unit, leaving enough slack for a proper connection? Weatherproof everything afterward.

Front sensors are available on amazon. If applicable, can we use the sensor unit, and splice wires for the rear wheel?

Thank you

Giken lsd into sc430 carrier

Firstlexy — Sun, 17 May 2026 21:30:47 GMT

Hello everyone.
bought an OS Giken superlock lsd, ring gear and bearings are installed, but I can't seem to get the unit into my 07 sc430 carrier. Do I have to grind the carrier opening a bit on both sides or is there a method of wiggling in this unit? Appreciate the help!

Heat related loss of power to center console

Glide4th — Sat, 16 May 2026 15:48:56 GMT

I have been dealing with this for a long while and I just can�t figure it out. I have posted on a similar issue before when it was more intermittent but now I have definitively sorted out the situation that causes a weird electrical issue. When my 2003 sits in the hot sun, e.g. when I leave it at the airport, the center console controls lose power. No display except clock, no A/C, no radio/CD, no opening and closing of display doors.Flashers and everything else are fine including steering tilt, dash, lights. Car starts and drives fine. After sitting in a cooler garage for a day or so it heals itself and everything works as normal again. Next hot day out in the sun reliably does it again. The only modification to the vehicle, which I have owned since new, was to replace the NAV with Garmin, but this problem precedes that and as I stated everything works great until it gets very hot interior. Since I live in Florida, car is black and I do not have a dedicated garage it is an issue. I do use a windshield heat/sun screen but it still happens when sufficiently exposed. Any thoughts? Maybe an ECU with heat sensitive component? Which one / where?

Any ideas appreciated!

New SC430 owner. So many questions.

super77 — Thu, 14 May 2026 17:21:19 GMT

Just in the process of picking up this 2005. First time Lexus owner. I'm a long time Land Cruiser guy, current garage-mate for this SC will be my 1999 100 series. Very comfortable DIYer, and glad to see the family resemblances between the 2UZ and 3UZ. This car needs litte-to-nothing, but it comes with the 2-volume set of FSMs for eventual maintenance.

About this SC:
- 90K mile, 2-owner car, all stock. Champagne ext, Cork int with burl. Carfax checks out, no reported damage.
- Originally a MA<>FL snowbird car, now located in Seattle. Zero rust, evidence of consistent garaging, full service history going back to new. All work except tires was done exclusively at Lexus dealerships until 2023, maintained religiously and records present.
- Exceptional cosmetics for a 21-year old car. I could only find 2 scuffs on the lower front bumper corner. Interior looks barely worn, all switchgear and electronics work, even the sat nav. Engine bay was clean enough to serve a meal on.
- Drives like my Land Cruiser - smooth, solid, no drama or rattles. It was a 'boring' inspection :D. The only issues that came up: a) the steering rack looks moist at the rubber boot ends and seller reports a slight drop in PS fluid over time - likely the seals. My LC has the same issue, b) TB was pre-emptively done at 51K 12 years ago, but oddly not the rotating bits (given this was at a Lexus dealership), so I'll probably need to accelerate this service.

My market analysis suggested this falls into the $15-16K range, what say all of you owners?

I'll peruse the FAQ, but a quick one here: What's the low-friction, inexpensive, completely hidden, and reversible path to Carplay integration? Point me to the best thread? I'm familiar with Navtool's offerings.

2002 sc430 problems

SC400trax — Wed, 13 May 2026 14:29:42 GMT

im out of options my 430 still has code p1125 its in limp mode new tps replaced ecm. when i turn the key to on and step on the throttle it opens but after that nothing thats all i get out of it.

SC430 to LC500

Sharpgt — Tue, 12 May 2026 20:50:04 GMT

Not to brag but I am old and have owned a lot of cars from most major marques including many of the exotics. A while back I purchased a used 2006 SC430 to be my convertible while in FL. Although I am not a snowbird I do spend a considerable amount of time down here during the winter months. This was my first Lexus. One of reasons for choosing the SC430 was because of the hardtop convertible feature. IMHO most rag tops just look awful with the top up. I just love this feature and the engineering behind it. I have been so impressed with the build quality of the SC430 and how well it drives and functions 20 years after leaving the factory that I decided to take the plunge and purchase an LC500 convertible. Too late to order a new one I found a 1-owner example at a Lexus dealer that came with a CPO warranty. The car is fantastic but like many others I feel an updated SC430 would have been a superior product. I love the technology such as the blind spot monitoring, Apple CarPlay, rear camera and the sound is incredible. Yet an updated SC500 with the folding hardtop, updated styling, modern electronics and the glorious engine would have truly been a world beater. It might have transformed the SC from the "worst car in the world" according to some idiots to one of the best ever.

Indigo Ink Pearl

Caviar (metallic black)
And I will post in another thread about reliability or should I say the lack of. I will be posting my beloved SC430 for sale soon if anyone is interested. Thank you

Rattling When Top Up But Not when Down

TXFM — Tue, 12 May 2026 18:26:43 GMT

When my top is up and I am driving over a bumpy road I hear a noise that sounds like a rattling cable coming from the rear. When the top is down there is no rattling. I would guess it may be a cable somewhere in the retracting system. Has anyone else had this issue and know what to check out?
Thanks

will 245x45r18 tires rub

sourdough — Tue, 12 May 2026 14:09:12 GMT

I like the idea of a 45 series sidewall but wondering if tire will rub. If it clears, will the tire height difference (13mm) have other negitives beside speedo reading slow.

Kbb value collapsing?

03430sc — Tue, 12 May 2026 14:02:41 GMT

If any of you monitor the value of our car using kbb, it has been collapsing. When I look at my car I don�t see it as a 12k car. I guess Im biased and think it�s worth more.

Picking up my new LC today and saw this on the showroom floor

355F1 — Sat, 09 May 2026 17:47:14 GMT

Lexus of Portland has this beauty on their floor for sale.

Upgraded with Naviks!

ckearney3 — Fri, 08 May 2026 13:42:54 GMT

Very excited to share this photo. She's a 2004 golds with 87,000 miles on it. I counted four scratches on her. I had a Naviks CarPlay installed with a backup camera. The accuracy of the touch screen is not that impressive but it still accepts voice commands very well.

Can't fill up

GmanSC — Thu, 07 May 2026 04:38:14 GMT

It's fustated. It took me five minutes to fill up half of the tank. Costco gas nozzle kept clicking off when squeezed the handle. I had this problem few years back, gone away by itself, but now it's back. Anyone has same issue and what is the remedy?