Anyone know an independent mechanic or Lexus dealership with a competent service department in Northern New Jersey? Top on my 2002 won't go all the way down and a big triangular chunk of black plastic has appeared in the trunk.

Sorry to hear about your top man. I would just go to the closest Lexus dealership. Good luck :/

Alfa, that sucks! But I agree with playa, your best bet is gonna be the Lexus dealership. These tops are like a Rube Goldberg machine.

I've been kinda keeping a list on another thread of the tops and problems which they have (which are not many, thankfully). After its fixed, can you give us an update of what went wrong on your top?

Reports of problems with the top have been rare here, but if I had such a problem, I'd hit the "Emergency" button on the NAV screen, which will (really) bring up a list of the closest dealers (Lexus and Toyota). With something as complex as the top mechanism in a car as expensive as the SC430, dealer service is essential.

+1 tfischer, only use a Lexus dealer and hopefully you find one with techs that are familiar with SC's. In some areas of the country SC's are so few that many techs have never worked on the top.

I say would that triangle piece is the one that folds in. Does anyone know what Im talking about? they are each side of the rear deck

Yes there is a triangular vinyl covered trim panel that does swivel in when the top goes down . Sounds like the trim piece left its track and that is probably what has triggered
the malfunction. This may be an easy fix. The trim piece probably hits a sensor when it is in its swiveled position. Since it has parted company and is loose in the trunk the sensor is not being told to continue with the top function.. Of course this is my theory

Buddy

My triangle piece on the driver side sometimes doesnt move all the way in when closing the top and it keeps the top from closing. I took a piece of tape on the triangle piece and pull it in and it allows the top to come back up.