Since a few have brought it up and it was discussed at the last mini-meeting, I went ahead and fixed that annoying fuel door fitment issue that has plagued early SC430's. This way it can be searched for newbies.

The problem is the plastic piece that screws into the inside of the fuel door gets warped over time resulting the fuel door closing but not flush with the surrounding panel as seen in pics.

The solution is to order a new fuel door insert which runs around $9.00 or so from Lexus. Unscrew the phillips screw on the inside and pull it out. Take off both rubber bumpers and install. Done.

Before shots




After shots




Insert with part number for ordering: 77399-24010. Sewell Lexus had mine in stock and shipped the same day.

 

You are awesome! This bugged me for awhile & I didn't know how to fix it.
I'll try it soon. Thank you!

 

Lee I really have to give you some credit Eveything I ever needed to do as a DIY you have made a thread for. I have your profile as a bookmark just so I can check your threads for help. They all have been very informative and helpful. Now I see this thread and say damn another thing I now know how to fix thanks to you Someone local buy this guy a drink on me please. Keep up the good work LEE. Im looking forward to your FI thread when thats available

 

Your welcome. I tell you what, when Lynette and I come out to Orleans (our favortie vacation spot) later this year, how about a drink at that time?

 

Whats funny about this is that when I first joined I had asked about this problem and no one knew anything.... https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=216696 Post#7.

But anyways, after replacing the inner door with a new one, my door still kinda stuck out. The tension of the spring is too high and the inner door just flexes. The problem is that this will come back over time. What I did was fill in the hole that the catch pin goes into with some Epoxy. The inner door still flexes but my door is all the way closed... Fixed Ghetto style.

I thought it was kind of a weak design on Lexus's part. It almost looks like they were going to use two screws but said "f it".. =(

 

I am cheap, so this is my DIY fix.

 

 

Ha ha! Does weighting it down work for you? Did you also have to use the
blow dryer too?

 

I know the original post is over a year old, but THANK YOU!

My husband bought a 2002 last week with 25K miles and not a scratch. The only flaw was the non-flush fuel door (and those horrid stock wheels and run flats.)

What a cheap, easy fix! Thanks so much. I've learned enough searching the forums to know those wheels and tires won't be as cheap and easy.

 

Welcome aboard to CL, and your welcome.

 

how come i cant see the b4 and after picture? mine is 02' and i want to see if i have that problem

 

Because the thread is dated and I removed all of my pictures when I changed servers due to a major hack attack. If you want to know if you have the problem, just look at your fuel door, if it is not flush with the body and sticks out, this would help.