My 2000 SC300 heater control valve was leaking and caused the car to overheat. Fortunately we pulled over right away and shut it down. I waited for it to cool, added water and drove it home. I found the heater control valve was leaking and I need to replace it. No parts are available that I can find unless I buy the entire assembly from Lexus for 250+ dollars. I find it hard to believe they put such a cheap Denso plastic valve in these cars! Since I'd rather just replace the valve I am looking for a replacement part number even it I have to do some cutting or grinding on the new valve. I need a part number and availability from anybody that's been through this. I did look at used ones on EBAY and they all appear to be having leaking issues as well.

 

Part number is 87240-24040 but this is the entire assembly that's about the only way to buy it, new or used. Or start hitting some help yourself salvage yards.

 

That's the problem, I don't want to spend $300+ dollars for a valve that costs about 20 bucks.

 

It doesn't cost $20 if you can't buy it for that.

 

Good morning cudajim
I have just bought one of the heater control valves from Lexus and like you, I was upset in paying the price even with my 20% discount, Then I put some thought into the purchase, first it will be my last car, the valve was thirty years old (1993) and if you figure up what cost has been yearly with 215k miles on it that to me is quite a bargain. I know you are probably a young fellow on a budget and can replace it yourself and that is great and will save you some money. I am just the opposite in that I am 85 and can do very little anymore on my car and have to have a friend do my work at discount rates, of course that is what friends are for. I would highly recommend buying new and not opting for a used one.
I am through preaching now,
Bill

 

There's a thread floating around here somewhere on modifying aftermarket valves (4 Seasons?) to work with the stock assembly...

I do have a not-quite-like-new HCV I would let go for much less than $250. PM me if interested. (Scratch that, it's not as good as I thought.)

 

Yes. Several of us have tried everything from Ford Motorcraft and Volvo custom fit heater control valves to near direct fit (with modification) Four Seasons HCV valves. One in particular from Four Seasons (aka Everco if I recall correctly) was nearly the same thing as stock and fit into the stock assembly if you Dremel shaved one side of it down carefully. However that aftermarket valve became discontinued It was a good solution to fix the entire assembly while it was available.

However the OEM assembly is still the best of all. Despite that plastic valve looking cheap, if you can get a full brand new OEM assembly it will last a very long time before it ever gives you trouble again. Toyota's / Denso's version of that simple looking plastic valve is very, very good compared to that four seasons aftermarket valve which got discontinued.

OP, in this case I would say just buy the OEM valve and be done with it. It is the better solution and a brand new one will last. Remember how old the one in your car actually is and how many decades of use it has seen.

Try getting it from mylparts.

 

Chance of finding a new one is slight buy the nicest used one you can find, while you can.