joefriday

I have a '97 sc400. I purchased the car without driving it first . No problem getting it going but the turn signal switch was bad. My mechanic and I looked for an aftermarket switch but found out there are none to be had. Is Lexus not allowing aftermarket parts to be made or is the market just too small for aftermarket parts manufacturers

KahnBB6

iTrader: (5)

It's just too small a market for an extremely specific OEM part like that. While at this point some factory original parts, notably some of the cosmetic and trim pieces, aren't always available any longer many still are from Toyota/Lexus at this time and eBay and the used forum market still has many of those parts in circulation.

A tremendous number of driveline parts are still available OEM and in some cases from aftermarket manufacturers (see aftermarket parts intended as direct OEM replacements from various suppliers on Rockauto, etc. and also specific non-OEM spec replacement parts from aftermarket companies).

But a turn signal stalk... no that will never be available on the aftermarket. Not until we get headlong into 3D scanning of original parts and 3D printing of those parts. And that will have mixed coverage usually only pertaining to whatever is seriously in need in the future. In some rare cases the reconditioning of old parts has already come into play although it's currently limited to SC door hinges, ECU capacitor services, dash cluster repair & lighting upgrading, aftermarket DIY heater control valves, etc.

O. L. T.

iTrader: (17)

Nobody is going to make an aftermarket switch for a car that’s 20 years out of production that only was made in the hundreds in the last years it was infact made, given there is zero need for an aftermarket switch in the first place.

Ramblerman

Welcome to the world of SC ownership �� . You may find a Soarer part will fit or some other model of Toyota, or Lexus. More than likely you will have to find one in a salvage yard or online. I believe all years of 1st Gen SC should work. Some of us, have spent many hours searching for parts, both OEM and aftermarket for these cars. Good luck and enjoy your car. CL members can be very helpful if you ask on the correct venues.

LEXXIUM

iTrader: (1)

Look for gs300/400 stalk switch out of a junk yard cars you’ll have a better luck making it work yourself

Seppi

I’ve had a very hard time finding parts without getting rapped! There isn’t a large enough market for them. There’s a parts yard in my area that specializes in Lexus the guy is ridiculous. I should part my sc300 out apparently its worth a fur tune

1997Soarer

iTrader: (1)

One of the main reasons you don't see too many aftermarket OEM parts for these cars was that the original parts didn't fail enough to warrant 3rd party companies to make replacements.
If things like switches failed all the time when the car was still being made, the aftermarket would've embraced it. A switch fails after 20 years? That sounds like great engineering! lol