I have all of the front underpinning removed. Hypothesis: There are no negative effects.

The car is not running any hotter. The engine is not any diritier. The car is not slower.

I don't drive the car daily though.

I did get an estimate on these parts - expect to pay about 300$ max shipped for all 4 front lower panels including the front wheel wells.

 

www.oemwholesale.com or call to speak with John at 310-678-5579 ....$43.23 for the front shield, retails for $54-55.

 

hmmm im gonna compare this site to parts.com..and see if there is a big differenct with our CL discount..

CEO

 

I don't need to remove the splash guard when I change my oil on my SC300, not sure if you need to on your SC400. I just put an empty margarine container under the oil filter to catch any oil drippings. I also don't have to remove the splash guard on my 99 Landcruiser either. I would hope that they wouldn't make oil changes so cumbersome on the SC400.

 

I am with RPH74, when I change my oil I do not need to remove any guards or anything, just the oil plug... My front guard is also messed up a little from the owner before me, so I am not sure if my 92 300 had something at one time, I have looked and can't see where anything would connect...

Shawn

 

We get a discount at parts.com, when did that start?

That is one of the beauties of the 2JZGE motor, easy oil changes! On my beloved 1UZFE an oil change is very cumbersome. I have to drop said plastic guard (which a dealer conveniently cut down most of the middle presumably for an oil change), then struggle with getting an oil filter off that no tool I have fits or can reach because it has to fit through the anti sway bar and engine lines.

Sorry to hijack this thread, but I just had to comment on that.

 

I have watched the oilchange donkey at my Lexus dealer remove just the left hand fasteners from the shroud and bend it down to get at the oil filter, no wonder my shroud is splitting down the middle! Now I have to make sure the service writer puts "completely remove shroud" on the work order. Plus, the oilchange doofus (he's just a step above the carwash jockey in the dealer foodchain) uses a power drill to put the fasteners back in and strips out all the nylon clips - ##@$%&$## -

I have a part number of 51441-14140 for the shroud, dealer list $168.50 (!) -

btw, the clips the doofus strips are called "nuts," part # 90179-05060, $2 apiece -

 

I think that's what been happening to me too. Someone too lazy to remove the thing ended up breaking the shroud. Bastard.

 

yeah i had the exact same problem.....they had worn holes in the cover where you screw it back in...so my solution was to add "washers"...it worked...they have been fine ever since.

CEO

 

Another reason to DIY!!

 

E-mail me to set up time that we can meet. I have metal wire and drill to drill holes along side of the cut and use the wire to hold the cut together. It doesn't look that professional but who going to see it. That's what I did to my two SC to make sure it doesn't hang down and a message to the mechanic to take the whole thing down when changing the oil. BTW, I change the oil myself.

Viet_t@hotmail.com

 

I use wire tie wraps, those plastic or nylon locking ties used for securing wires. They work fine, you might have to drill a second hole for the wrap to come through in the middle of the tray. On the sides of the tray no problem. And they come in black.

 

Reviving old thread but I needed to vent [and post a solution].

I happen to drive behind my son's SC and noticed splash shield acting like a scoop. Drove it up a pair of ramps and took off the engine splash shield.

Guess what? Some idiot had cut across and also took off 3/4" of piece in legth, right below the oil filter. The cut was so perfect that it has to be made with a blade or snips. I think some idiot made the cut to access the oil filter. Called the dealer and was quoted $186.65 US. Checked fleabay and found one used offered for $99 + shipping $15.

Found a strip of grass edging and cut out a strip to bridge the 3/4 gap. Bought a rivet gun and patched it up. I had to use a thin aluminum strip to give the rivet head something not so soft.

Let's see how the thing holds up.

Salim

 

Nice! The Lexus Dealer did that to my 97', I was lucky enough to ask the service manager if I could look under the car while it was in the air. As I'm walking out, oil change kid is cutting it.

I'm like WTF are you doing to my car!
The kids like WTF let me do my job.

Apparently the senior mechanic told him to do that on any SC that still has the plate. It was great when I had both of them take a step back and see the clear shot to the Oil filter when you stand near the transmission.

My new cover plate was installed later that week.

 

I bought the front and rear a while back. The front is good but the rear kinda sucks. There are no mounting holes and/or no where to mount it on the far back side so after a while, it sags