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I just purchased an 02 SC430 with a malfunctioning top. It can be manually opened, and closed with the button no problem but will not open back up. It was diagnosed by Lexus a few years ago but the previous owner declined service. I have the maintenance record of the diag but Lexus is unsure what needs to be replaced based on tech notes. I am hopeful someone might recognize the info and know what parts I need to buy so I can tear the back apart and replace it all in an afternoon without waiting on the parts lol
DESCRIPTION: ~|~BODY / INTERIOR / EXTERIOR CONCERN CONVERTIBLE TOP NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. CHECK AND ADVISE. ~|~ ~|~CHECKED AND INSPECTED FOUND B2757 ROOF OPEN SWITCH. INSPECTED REAR OPEN SWITCH FOUND DETECTION ARM SPRING IS BROKEN NOT ALLOWING TO HE ECU TO READ THE CORRECT POSITION OF THE HARD TOP RECOMMEND TO REPLACE SWITCH AND ARM ASSEMBLY SERVICE: DESCRIPTION:DECLINEDSERVICE: TOP SPRING ASSEMBLY
If anyone has some insight on what this Top Spring Assembly Switch & Arm is I would greatly appreciate it!
I just purchased an 02 SC430 with a malfunctioning top. It can be manually opened, and closed with the button no problem but will not open back up. It was diagnosed by Lexus a few years ago but the previous owner declined service. I have the maintenance record of the diag but Lexus is unsure what needs to be replaced based on tech notes. I am hopeful someone might recognize the info and know what parts I need to buy so I can tear the back apart and replace it all in an afternoon without waiting on the parts lol
DESCRIPTION: ~|~BODY / INTERIOR / EXTERIOR CONCERN CONVERTIBLE TOP NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. CHECK AND ADVISE. ~|~ ~|~CHECKED AND INSPECTED FOUND B2757 ROOF OPEN SWITCH. INSPECTED REAR OPEN SWITCH FOUND DETECTION ARM SPRING IS BROKEN NOT ALLOWING TO HE ECU TO READ THE CORRECT POSITION OF THE HARD TOP RECOMMEND TO REPLACE SWITCH AND ARM ASSEMBLY SERVICE: DESCRIPTION:DECLINEDSERVICE: TOP SPRING ASSEMBLY
If anyone has some insight on what this Top Spring Assembly Switch & Arm is I would greatly appreciate it!
Welcome to the Club and Congrats on your first post!!
Is it possible to call that Lexus dealership who wrote the notes and ask if they can interpret the notes better for you or was it the same dealership you asked?
I hope someone chimes in to offer help…
Once you get the OEM Part Numbers, I recommend going thru one of these online dealerships’ parts depts (if you don’t already know about them) — Bell Lexus (AZ), Treasure Coast Lexus (FL), or Prestige Lexus (NJ) depending on your locale. And if you can wait for next sales that are usually around holidays and seasonal events, you can save even more off their already marked down prices. You can always call and ask when next sales are.
* With Free Shipping and No Sales Tax for out-of-state customers.
Welcome to the Club and Congrats on your first post!!
Is it possible to call that Lexus dealership who wrote the notes and ask if they can interpret the notes better for you or was it the same dealership you asked?
I hope someone chimes in to offer help…
Once you get the OEM Part Numbers, I recommend going thru one of these online dealerships’ parts depts (if you don’t already know about them) — Bell Lexus (AZ), Treasure Coast Lexus (FL), or Prestige Lexus (NJ) depending on your locale. And if you can wait for next sales that are usually around holidays and seasonal events, you can save even more off their already marked down prices. You can always call and ask when next sales are.
* With Free Shipping and No Sales Tax for out-of-state customers.
A good resource I use to find specific Part Numbers is megazip — once PN is found you can search the PN in the links above.
Thank you for the warm welcome! And thank you for pointing out these dealerships for parts. I haven't owned a Lexus in about 10 years but have been itching to find my way back for a while now lol. I also didn't even think to call the specific dealership it was serviced at, I just called my local Lexus and they tried but couldn't quite figure out what it meant. I will reach out to the CA dealership on Monday and see if they can help me out further! After doing as much searching as I could handle in an afternoon I found a similar scenario referencing the hinge mechanism in the top itself and calling it the "Top Arm Assembly" so I am thinking it might be one of those. I visually inspected and don't see anything that appears out of wack while the top is closed so I'm going to manually open it today and have a better look.
Thank you for the warm welcome! And thank you for pointing out these dealerships for parts. I haven't owned a Lexus in about 10 years but have been itching to find my way back for a while now lol. I also didn't even think to call the specific dealership it was serviced at, I just called my local Lexus and they tried but couldn't quite figure out what it meant. I will reach out to the CA dealership on Monday and see if they can help me out further! After doing as much searching as I could handle in an afternoon I found a similar scenario referencing the hinge mechanism in the top itself and calling it the "Top Arm Assembly" so I am thinking it might be one of those. I visually inspected and don't see anything that appears out of wack while the top is closed so I'm going to manually open it today and have a better look.
No worries. I wonder if this might help you find the specific part you’re looking for.
If you get the PNs you need, you can always call Bell Lexus to confirm (they’ll ask for your VIN) — speak to Joe or Hayden as they are both knowledgeable and very helpful.
If you get the PNs you need, you can always call Bell Lexus to confirm (they’ll ask for your VIN) — speak to Joe or Hayden as they are both knowledgeable and very helpful.
So I made a bit of progress! I found a broken piece, now I need to figure out what its called to replace lol the rear tray that folds up and down to fill the gap between trunk and rear seats. It appears to be OK but the corners that slide out with weather stripping on them have a little arm with a stopper on it to hold it in the propper place. The arm on the drivers side corner piece is broken and cannot function properly. So I assume I need a whole new corner piece? Going to dig into the schematics and see how they sell the pieces and fingers crossed that is the only issue!
It's called the package tray. Google site:Clublexus.com sc430 "package tray" and see what comes up. You should get lots of posts about things that have gone wrong in the past and how to fix them
So I made a bit of progress! I found a broken piece, now I need to figure out what its called to replace lol the rear tray that folds up and down to fill the gap between trunk and rear seats. It appears to be OK but the corners that slide out with weather stripping on them have a little arm with a stopper on it to hold it in the propper place. The arm on the drivers side corner piece is broken and cannot function properly. So I assume I need a whole new corner piece? Going to dig into the schematics and see how they sell the pieces and fingers crossed that is the only issue!
Originally Posted by DshngDaryl
It's called the package tray. Google site:Clublexus.com sc430 "package tray" and see what comes up. You should get lots of posts about things that have gone wrong in the past and how to fix them
OP — I quickly looked at all the websites I provided you above, and the part says Currently Not Available on all the websites I tried to find. Then I tried Google and came up with this one off eBay. Of course it’s used, but hopefully still works and can help you.
OP — I quickly looked at all the websites I provided you above, and the part says Currently Not Available on all the websites I tried to find. Then I tried Google and came up with this one off eBay. Of course it’s used, but hopefully still works and can help you.
So I got that bad boy out of the car! Its a pain in the butt but could have been worse I guess.
You can clearly see the arm is broken that pushes out the corner flap. The full pack I found on ebay came with the motor as well, I figure might as well replace that too since I don't know if it works or not!
I was able to fix the top finally! I purchased a whole new package tray with motor & installed it! But, it didn't work either...
I recognized that the cable from the motor to the drivers side wasn't doing anything other than spinning freely when I twisted it. So I removed the gear pack the cable connects to, to find the metal post coming out of the package tray & into the gear pack was sheared off! So I replaced it with the gear shaft from my old package tray, and it still wouldn't work! I found the other side of the new tray was getting bound up when the corner flap tried to come out. So I once again pulled the gear pack from the other side, and found it full of rust and corrosion. So I swapped the passenger side gear pack over and it worked! After removing the package tray a total of 3 times, I hope to never touch it again!
I was able to fix the top finally! I purchased a whole new package tray with motor & installed it! But, it didn't work either...
I recognized that the cable from the motor to the drivers side wasn't doing anything other than spinning freely when I twisted it. So I removed the gear pack the cable connects to, to find the metal post coming out of the package tray & into the gear pack was sheared off! So I replaced it with the gear shaft from my old package tray, and it still wouldn't work! I found the other side of the new tray was getting bound up when the corner flap tried to come out. So I once again pulled the gear pack from the other side, and found it full of rust and corrosion. So I swapped the passenger side gear pack over and it worked! After removing the package tray a total of 3 times, I hope to never touch it again!
Awesomeness — So glad you were able to solve the issue!!
Your tenacity / doggedness paid off — Well done You 🙌
I also managed to complete the water pump and timing belt, along with new thermostat, all aluminum radiator, & new drive belt. The timing belt was still original from 24yrs ago... completely dry rotted and cracked...
can't believe that belt lasted 170k miles without failure...the water bump bearing was blowing out the seal as well.
Next step is to throw some primer on the body filler, and get a fresh wrap!
Last edited by awines2326; May 14, 2026 at 08:43 AM.
Whoop Whoop -- SO glad the timing belt didn't fail with it being dry-rotted and cracked
Can I ask where your SC has lived? In a dry, hotter climate perhaps? History of being garaged or out in the elements?
I've seen owners that have original TB at 200+k miles and other owners whose TB failed at less than 100k miles and just one the other day at around 143k miles -- both of those owners were looking for replacement engines.
Did you use OEM replacement parts and where did you get your aluminum radiator?
If you live close are you willing to tackle other owner's TB and WP replacements? Just kidding.
Kudos to you -- you now have one healthy SC430 that will soon have a fresh new look -- be sure to show pics after your wrap -- are you sticking with the same color or something new?
Whoop Whoop -- SO glad the timing belt didn't fail with it being dry-rotted and cracked
Can I ask where your SC has lived? In a dry, hotter climate perhaps? History of being garaged or out in the elements?
I've seen owners that have original TB at 200+k miles and other owners whose TB failed at less than 100k miles and just one the other day at around 143k miles -- both of those owners were looking for replacement engines.
Did you use OEM replacement parts and where did you get your aluminum radiator?
If you live close are you willing to tackle other owner's TB and WP replacements? Just kidding.
Kudos to you -- you now have one healthy SC430 that will soon have a fresh new look -- be sure to show pics after your wrap -- are you sticking with the same color or something new?
The car was purchased in California and has been getting serviced there until a little less than 10k miles ago, and according to the seller a few months ago it made its way to one of their business locations in MI after sitting for a long time with the broken top. I used the Aisin TB kit with water pump and all the gaskets! The Tripple core aluminum radiator came from Ebay, it was one that was reviewed well for the SC's, I can find the exact product link if you'd be interested in it? I am located in Mid Michigan, where a 20+yr old car has never looked so clean as this sc430 lol seriously though, even with the issues I cannot find a single spec of rust on the car and it has me jumping through the roof!
I am going with a Matte Purple body, and Matte Black top to make this bad boy stand out! I will certainly post pictures as soon as its done!
I just got a couple codes for lean banks so I have to run through all the vacuum lines now and probably some 02 sensors...
Convertible Top Failure Help
