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What is this hole?

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Old Mar 17, 2021 | 09:35 PM
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Default What is this hole?

While going over my engine bay, I saw a hole towards the front of the engine. I have no idea what it is. It appears to be some form of tank.

Any ideas?



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Old Mar 17, 2021 | 10:22 PM
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Looks like a radiator coolant overflow that is missing the cap.
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Old Mar 17, 2021 | 10:39 PM
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what year SC is that on? My overflow is inside the front bumper. Anyone who sees it thinks its a weird place
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Old Mar 18, 2021 | 07:41 AM
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Ahh, thank you. I'll check for a radiator overflow cap.

It is a '99 400 with the 1UZ VVTI engine.
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Old Mar 18, 2021 | 09:13 AM
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I've never seen a reservoir that looks like that. Early SC400s had it over by the PS reservoir, square shaped, and later ones moved it into the bumper space like SC300s. That one looks like a modification. I can't quite make out the markings, but it looks OEM, from a different application.
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Old Mar 18, 2021 | 09:48 AM
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i have a sneaking suspicion that the previous owner put a cover there to cover the reservoir and plumbing for the hydraulic radiator fan because that's what is mounted in that location on my car.
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Old Mar 18, 2021 | 01:36 PM
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Ahh! I had the hydraulic fan replaced with two electric fans. That makes sense, then. Thank you!

Just came back from putting in an airbag during my lunch break. (I'm working at home.) Nice to have a GS steering wheel with a functional airbag.


original wheel

gs430 wheel
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Old Mar 18, 2021 | 03:19 PM
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Guessing you swapped in the electric fans from an IS300 or similar with the built in reservoir on top. You can use that reservoir instead of the bumper mounted one if you like.
You would just have to reroute the overflow hose from the radiator to that one, fill it, and grab a cap from an IS300 and you should be good to go.
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