So, I'm still looking at picking up an SC4, but the generation (92-95,96-97, no 98-00) is messing with me.

I'd prefer to buy a 97, since it's the newest of the one's I'd like, has the lip kit, etc. BUT I need to pass emissions for cars 96 or newer.. Here's where things get tricky.

I need to pass emissions if I go with the 97, but I've heard the M/T swap will cause CELs/codes which would bar me at emissions.

So, is there any way to do the swap without any codes that would bar me at emissions? Or am I stuck with a pre-96 car?

Thanks,

Lost

 

Bump for info.

Thanks,

Lost

 

This is a good question. I don't know....

I have a 1997 SC300 and I have OBD2 emissions because I live near Chicago.

I guess what we need to know is what codes come up when you manual swap.

And how many of them can be defeated using tricks like grounding wires and putting resistors in places

 

I guess it looks like I'll get the 97 and wing it.

Government please don't take it away, k thanks.

 

the only CEL's you may have may be due to the speed sensor. I myself am about to get this swap done. I've already got the pedals and the interior bits. What swap are you doing?

 

Just checking if you guys have found a solution for the cel with a manual swaped 97 sc400 i bought one and im javing issues passing emissions in my state of utah

 

I haven’t done a 400 to manual swap myself but I’ve often read about the CEL(s) that result from not having the automatic transmission hooked up.

Since you’ve got a 96+ OBD2 it may make it a little more complicated compared to an OBD1 SC400 manual swap.

Have you hooked up a Toyota/Lexus compatible OBD2 code scanner to pull the specific codes you’re stuck with?

Knowing exactly what CELs are being registered is the first step.

If the issue is similar to 98+ SC300/400 manual swaps which throw codes for missing transmission shift solenoids then the fix would involve either:

—Removing those auto trans shift solenoids and plugging them in under the car while safely strapped in somewhere on the chassis (search for threads by CL member Cartmill for more on this subject as well as his manual swap backup light fix. Note that it might be content that only applies to 98+ VVT-i SC300’s and 98+ VVT-i SC400’s. Or it may be universal when applied to any manual swap with any auto ECU.... I don’t know).

—Obtaining a pre-made transmission shift solenoid simulator unit (I think some Russian designer made these for a short time).

—Knowing the circuit values that the ECU is looking for with the shift solenoids so as to recreate them with your own custom weather sealed circuit board and weather sealed connectors (WeatherPak or similar design) that would replace those connectors on your engine/body wiring harness.

This all assumes the 98+ manual swap shift solenoid CEL also applies to 97 and earlier SC400 manual swaps.

It also assumes the rest of your emission equipment is still present and in good working order.

And it also assumes that even with a shift solenoid fix there will be no other CEL(s) resulting and that the emission numbers between shifts won’t be enough to throw off acceptable/allowable numbers if you have to put the car on a roller dyno for a 15mph and 25mph portion of the emissions test.

The latter is the reason why on factory manual transmission ECUs there is sometimes specific hard chip design (old) or specific coding (newer and today) to somewhat account for the unpredictability of when the driver is going to select one gear or another.

Hopefully simply eliminating the CEL would solve all of your issue on a ‘97.