WTF is this drippy thing on my SC?
 

Hey all, I have attached some pics for your viewing pleasure of a random thing in my engine bay on my SC3 that is dripping coolant. At least I am assuming it is coolant, it is some funky browm/orange color...

Anyway, Can you tell me what this thing is and how much it costs to replace?

The first pic gives the general location of the item in question and the second is just a closeup of the accumulation...

precipitate...

That is the switch that controls your heater core coolant flow. it is a tiny little piece of plastic that has a valve in it and is controlled by air. It is nothing at all to hold in your hand, just a little plastic piece, yet it costs $240 from Lexus, so if i were you, i'd inspect the fittings around it very well before i call it dead.

I had the same problem with it leaking on mine last year. it leaks through the small metal pole on the bottom where the gasket wears out.

well poop, I kinda don't think it is leaking from the bottom. There is this little piece on the side that it looks like it is weeping from, not from where the hoses are. I will take a picture later today of the side of it to show you what I am talking about, but the coolant is definitely not leaking from where the hoses are...

remember that gravity plays a part in your leak. the highest point moisture can be found is where gravity STARTED to effect it.

also a big factor is, you cannot get blood from a turnip. That is the only unit in that area of the car that houses coolant.

edit: i can see the unit is cracked, replace it. $240 at the dealer, good luck on finding better pricing.

Hmmm... it looks like your VSV valve (controls the heater as well doesn't it?)... it should be the same on JDM and USDM SC's, and on the Aussie/UK forums apparently the part from a Camry V6 (the VSV valve) is basically interchangeable with the Lexus part but at a much cheaper price (I think it was about AUD$70~90 from the dealer)

Jose

vsv is used for vacuum switching. Anyway, could someone give me the part number and I will try to help him to get it for less.

I have questions. Is the picture showing the heater control valve assembly or vacuum switching valve? Sorry if I post in the wrong thread, I am not technical when it comes to cars. I'm asking this question because I have a heating problem in my '93 SC400 and my mechanic (who works exclusively on Toyotas) thinks the problem may be with Switching Assembly Temperature Control (he said he had to remove the center dashboard to get to the part) but he is not 100% sure and advises me to take it to a Lexus dealer for repair. So I decided to an internet search and found on this forum that the heating problem is common and the solution is to either check coolant for vapor lock or replace the VSV valve or replace the heater control valve assembly.

The symtoms of my heating problem:
- With Auto Climate ON. If temperature is set at MAX Cold, then AC is blasting at full fan speed (all bars). If temperature is set to anything else (Including MAX Hot), then there is no air (fan speed at zero bar).
- With Auto Climate OFF and changing fan speed manually, there is no hot air at all. Fans seem to be blowing air properly but only cold air coming out.

I also noticed a very slow drip from a small tube under the front part of the car just a few days before I noticed the heating problem. The stuff that was dripping was mostly clear in color and with a touch of green. I reported the leak to my mechanic and he pressure tested the cooling system and found no leak. His conclusion was that probably the windshield washing fluid was leaking due to overfill.

So if my heater control valve system is failing then this would make a lot of sense in explaing my heating and leaking problem. Is the VSV valve the same as the heater control valve? or is the VSV part of the heater control valve assembly? I'm thinking of showing the picutre to my mechanic, but what part description and/or part number should I tell him to get? Or better yet, does anyone recommend a shop in NYC area who is experienced in fixing the heating problem?

Thanks,

Ray

Just want to report that my heating problem is fixed. I printed the pictures and dicussions from this forum and showed to my mechanics. He then found a broken wire connection to VSV and saved me a few hundred dollars.

nice, I still haven't fixed mine, but it leaks so little fluid it doesn't really matter to me at this moment...

That was my plan until the small crack in the hose got big enough to spray/launch coolant all over the engine. Had to replace wires/spark plugs/blow coolant out of the engine. The hoses get really hot and expand. Watch out.

I am having the same problem, my PVC looks like it is leaking but not so much... I topped off Coolant...

But i dont know how to tell if I need a NEW pvc... or if mines is still good... can someone help? Help me determine if I need a new one or not...

I here is a picture of it...


http://www.aeropartz.com/picture/sc.jpg

hmmm, well since this post came back from the dead, I guess I should say something about my problem that just came up about a week ago....

Lisa was driving and she noticed that the AC will not get cold. Even if you turn it to max cold, it will only blow outside temp air, but the hot air works perfectly fine, but now the AC compressor is not turning on.

if you hit the AC button, the AC clutch is not activating, and the air isnt getting cold...

Is this related to the VSV or another issue?

I would try a refrigerant recharge. The newer AC compressors won't run if system pressure ( refrigerant) is too low. If there is no refrigerant there is also no oil to lubricate the compressor and if they run they die

refregerant was recharged with fresh R12 about 3 months ago...