Hey guys I recently just bought my first v8 the lovely lexus sc400. Unfortunately when i got it it was a fixer upper. I kept throwing off a solenoid light and my car just wouldnt down shift. It would take off in 2nd and 3rd sometimes and was lacking torque and power. I had switched the solenoids amd the problem was still there. No one could figure it out. I though the tranny needed to be reuilt so i did that, nope problem still there. In the end o found out it was a ecu with some blown resistor or capacitor. Swapped ecu for 100 bucks. Fixed all my problems. So im just saying if any problems and your stuck check the ecu. Flex wit the lex...

 

Glad an ECU swap cured your issue! It can be a thing when too many issues seem to happen without much rhyme or reason as you found out.

Most 1985-1997 Toyota/Lexus Non-VVT-i ECUs eventually develop this capacitor issue. It varies as to when but it's a thing to plan for since these cars are only getting older.

We recommend sourcing or sending in your ECU to Tanin Auto Electronix for capacitor repair servicing (who can post-test with their SC shop cars) or to Driftmotion who can also do the same repair. Other outfits are around who do this also but they HAVE to use the correct specific capacitors required for these ECUs and those are to my knowledge only available from a Japanese supplier. Tanin and Driftmotion both use the correct capacitor types needed.