Farewell, SC430
11-21-16, 06:48 AM
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
Farewell, SC430
Friends,
After 5+ years on this wonderful forum with my high mileage 2002 Lexus SC430, I finally moved on.
I purchased the 2002 SC430 about five years ago with mileage well over 100,000 miles, and loved it from day one.
The SC430 was my daily driver (the only car I drove to work). I loved the very unique look of the car, and the fact it was a hardtop convertible. Almost no one would believe the car was 15 years old, by looking at it's design.
During my entire period of ownership, I never had a single issue with the hardtop convertible roof! Not once, and I put the top down six months out of the year! That's Lexus engineering for you!
My intention was to drive this car for ten years, or until something major goes wrong.
Unfortunately, just as the car turned 15 years old and around 170,000 miles, MAJOR issues started cropping up.
1. The catalytic converter failed (meaning it couldn't normally pass state inspection), the Check Engine Light would stay on perpetually.
2. The "engine timing" ODB-II codes start coming up, and the VSC OFF and TRAC lights would stay on perpetually.
4. The idle RPMs were around 400 (instead of around 700), and the car would shake (sometimes violently) at idle, typically at traffic lights.
5. The car was soon due the water pump service within the next 5,000 miles, which is a significant cost.
6. Both front OEM wheels were constantly leaking air, needing an air fill up every 2-3 weeks (rims were bent, tires were fine).
7. The antenna stopped working (I had it disconnected entirely).
8. The TPMS stopped working (I had it also disconnected entirely).
9. The center console LEDs were starting to burn out, one-by-one (I could no longer read the some of the numbers).
10. The outside of the car perpetually smelled like something was burning.
11. The climate control servo motors stopped working, so I couldn't change the settings in relation to where the air would blow (lost the windshield defrost in the process too).
12. The radio volume would randomly jump to MAX VOLUME, with no warning... scaring the heck out of me and any passengers! (This is a known Mark Levinson defect in the 2002 SC430, apparently, which I learned to live with).
Most of the major, mission-critical issues came on SUDDENLY, within a three month period.
The car went from "perfect" to "barely driveable" within 90 days.
My independent mechanic said he could address all of the issues for around $3,000 total... but did not recommend fixing it.
After much consideration and heartache, I decided to make the hard choice and trade it in.
It simply became way too unreliable to drive to work (I could live with the dashboard lights staying on permanently, but not with the possibility of being stranded on my way to a business meeting)...
...and I couldn't even take a work colleague for a ride in the car due to the strong noxious odor and constant (very noticeable) vibration at idle (felt like it was about to stall, but never did).
Over the five year period I spent a very significant amount of the car in maintenance (only synthetic oil changes, only 93 octane gasoline, all OEM parts), but this was the straw which broke the camel's back.
This is a wonderful forum, and I wish you all the very best!
After 5+ years on this wonderful forum with my high mileage 2002 Lexus SC430, I finally moved on.
I purchased the 2002 SC430 about five years ago with mileage well over 100,000 miles, and loved it from day one.
The SC430 was my daily driver (the only car I drove to work). I loved the very unique look of the car, and the fact it was a hardtop convertible. Almost no one would believe the car was 15 years old, by looking at it's design.
During my entire period of ownership, I never had a single issue with the hardtop convertible roof! Not once, and I put the top down six months out of the year! That's Lexus engineering for you!
My intention was to drive this car for ten years, or until something major goes wrong.
Unfortunately, just as the car turned 15 years old and around 170,000 miles, MAJOR issues started cropping up.
1. The catalytic converter failed (meaning it couldn't normally pass state inspection), the Check Engine Light would stay on perpetually.
2. The "engine timing" ODB-II codes start coming up, and the VSC OFF and TRAC lights would stay on perpetually.
4. The idle RPMs were around 400 (instead of around 700), and the car would shake (sometimes violently) at idle, typically at traffic lights.
5. The car was soon due the water pump service within the next 5,000 miles, which is a significant cost.
6. Both front OEM wheels were constantly leaking air, needing an air fill up every 2-3 weeks (rims were bent, tires were fine).
7. The antenna stopped working (I had it disconnected entirely).
8. The TPMS stopped working (I had it also disconnected entirely).
9. The center console LEDs were starting to burn out, one-by-one (I could no longer read the some of the numbers).
10. The outside of the car perpetually smelled like something was burning.
11. The climate control servo motors stopped working, so I couldn't change the settings in relation to where the air would blow (lost the windshield defrost in the process too).
12. The radio volume would randomly jump to MAX VOLUME, with no warning... scaring the heck out of me and any passengers! (This is a known Mark Levinson defect in the 2002 SC430, apparently, which I learned to live with).
Most of the major, mission-critical issues came on SUDDENLY, within a three month period.
The car went from "perfect" to "barely driveable" within 90 days.
My independent mechanic said he could address all of the issues for around $3,000 total... but did not recommend fixing it.
After much consideration and heartache, I decided to make the hard choice and trade it in.
It simply became way too unreliable to drive to work (I could live with the dashboard lights staying on permanently, but not with the possibility of being stranded on my way to a business meeting)...
...and I couldn't even take a work colleague for a ride in the car due to the strong noxious odor and constant (very noticeable) vibration at idle (felt like it was about to stall, but never did).
Over the five year period I spent a very significant amount of the car in maintenance (only synthetic oil changes, only 93 octane gasoline, all OEM parts), but this was the straw which broke the camel's back.
This is a wonderful forum, and I wish you all the very best!
Last edited by jasone36; 11-21-16 at 07:12 AM.
The following users liked this post:
pivaralgs3 (06-16-21)
11-21-16, 10:44 AM
#4
Instructor
Thread Starter
Thanks, texsexlex, and after all these years I could never convince myself (or my mechanic!) to perform the fog light modification which you've so carefully laid out on this forum (I would think of this topic almost every year, and then put it off...)
Considering you're in "always summer" territory, and I'm not, I'm not too surprised that your SC430 is fairing better at 230K than mine did at 170K. The previous owner of my SC430 drove it through the snowy mountains (on winter tires) for 10 years before I purchased it.
Considering you're in "always summer" territory, and I'm not, I'm not too surprised that your SC430 is fairing better at 230K than mine did at 170K. The previous owner of my SC430 drove it through the snowy mountains (on winter tires) for 10 years before I purchased it.
11-21-16, 12:28 PM
#5
Extremely rare issues from the hundreds of users reports I have read. Winter use. Salted roads I think?
11-21-16, 01:44 PM
#6
Sorry to see you go! Lucky that you were able to see the writing on the wall so quickly. You didn't have to go through the uncertainty of "if I just fix this, maybe that's the last thing that's going to go wrong!"
Trending Topics
11-22-16, 06:59 AM
#9
Instructor
Jasone, Sorry to hear of the "death" of your SC430! I know you and I have had a similar track record with Lexus (I bought my LS600 around the same time you got your LS460L, and we both bought SC430s)...
I sold my 2009 SC430 Pebble Beach with the thought that I'd never go back to the SC, but found the "call of the SC430" pulled me back in. I see you now have a 2016 ES, and you still have your 2013 LS460L... Seems a bit redundant to me, since both are large 4-door sedans (maybe one is driven by your spouse?).
Have you considered jumping back in to a younger, lower-mileage SC430 so you can continue to enjoy this unique automobile/rolling art piece? There are still quite a few very low mileage, very well cared for SC430s available, and the prices seem fairly reasonable these days.
In any event, it's been great having your contributions and insight on the SC430 forum. I'll keep in touch on the LS forum.
I sold my 2009 SC430 Pebble Beach with the thought that I'd never go back to the SC, but found the "call of the SC430" pulled me back in. I see you now have a 2016 ES, and you still have your 2013 LS460L... Seems a bit redundant to me, since both are large 4-door sedans (maybe one is driven by your spouse?).
Have you considered jumping back in to a younger, lower-mileage SC430 so you can continue to enjoy this unique automobile/rolling art piece? There are still quite a few very low mileage, very well cared for SC430s available, and the prices seem fairly reasonable these days.
In any event, it's been great having your contributions and insight on the SC430 forum. I'll keep in touch on the LS forum.
11-23-16, 07:59 AM
#10
Instructor
Thread Starter
I appreciate all the responses, everyone.
rikchar, thanks for the kind words. You are correct, having both an ES and a LS is a bit redundant, but I'm planning to use the ES as a "beater" (effectively). I assume it should only need absolutely minimum maintenance and ongoing expenses (3 year lease), thus it's cheaper to put miles on it rather than the LS.
Lesly1, I got the 2016 ES350 instead of the SC430... yes a very different car indeed
OBP, thanks for the kind words.
JohnnyCake, thanks for the kind words and all the advice you've shared on this forum. I've found most everything you've written here to be useful!
Caflashbob, I am attributing the "early death" of my particular SC430 to the salty roads are year-round daily driver use for 15+ year.
Overall, I have to be honest, it was an expensive five years of ownership... but that's what I signed up for when buying a 10 year old car with over 100K miles.
However, I am CONVINCED my repair costs were SIGNIFICANTLY lower than what I would have spend maintaining a 10 year old BMW, Merc, or Audi. No question about that!
At this juncture, the high mileage 2002 SC430's can be purchased for next to nothing at auction... and would create excellent TRACK CARS (RWD, 300 HP, coupe).
But for me, I needed a daily driver as well as a fun car... so I guess I had to compromise.
For those of you just joining the SC430 club, I highly recommend reviewing old postings by the user "VVTiBob". He's no longer active on the forum, but his insight has been memorialized on this forum.
All the best!
rikchar, thanks for the kind words. You are correct, having both an ES and a LS is a bit redundant, but I'm planning to use the ES as a "beater" (effectively). I assume it should only need absolutely minimum maintenance and ongoing expenses (3 year lease), thus it's cheaper to put miles on it rather than the LS.
Lesly1, I got the 2016 ES350 instead of the SC430... yes a very different car indeed
OBP, thanks for the kind words.
JohnnyCake, thanks for the kind words and all the advice you've shared on this forum. I've found most everything you've written here to be useful!
Caflashbob, I am attributing the "early death" of my particular SC430 to the salty roads are year-round daily driver use for 15+ year.
Overall, I have to be honest, it was an expensive five years of ownership... but that's what I signed up for when buying a 10 year old car with over 100K miles.
However, I am CONVINCED my repair costs were SIGNIFICANTLY lower than what I would have spend maintaining a 10 year old BMW, Merc, or Audi. No question about that!
At this juncture, the high mileage 2002 SC430's can be purchased for next to nothing at auction... and would create excellent TRACK CARS (RWD, 300 HP, coupe).
But for me, I needed a daily driver as well as a fun car... so I guess I had to compromise.
For those of you just joining the SC430 club, I highly recommend reviewing old postings by the user "VVTiBob". He's no longer active on the forum, but his insight has been memorialized on this forum.
All the best!
11-23-16, 04:24 PM
#11
Lead Lap
Sorry to hear about the trials with your SC430 Jasone. Also sorry to see you go. Best of luck. Let us know when you had a change of heart because you couldn't stay away and wind up getting another one...
11-25-16, 10:42 AM
#12
Instructor
Thread Starter
Thanks, Harold57.
For anyone reading this in the future, here's a list of the immediate work my 100K+ 2002 SC430 had completed when I purchased it:
All four shocks
Engine mount and trans mount (first one to eliminate engine rattles, the second as an "insurance policy" since the mechanic was already working on it).
New radiator (original was leaking)
Spark plugs
"Twisty Star" wheel covers to replace the "Dinner Plate" wheelcovers (an absolute must!).
Also, I constantly had issues with the foglight bulbs burning out (I would normally get them replaced at a non-Lexus mechanic). After the first three times, I finally had the Lexus dealership replace them and stopped having issues.
If anyone is looking for more detailed guidance for troubleshooting, feel free to review my previous posts.
Best of luck to everyone!
For anyone reading this in the future, here's a list of the immediate work my 100K+ 2002 SC430 had completed when I purchased it:
All four shocks
Engine mount and trans mount (first one to eliminate engine rattles, the second as an "insurance policy" since the mechanic was already working on it).
New radiator (original was leaking)
Spark plugs
"Twisty Star" wheel covers to replace the "Dinner Plate" wheelcovers (an absolute must!).
Also, I constantly had issues with the foglight bulbs burning out (I would normally get them replaced at a non-Lexus mechanic). After the first three times, I finally had the Lexus dealership replace them and stopped having issues.
If anyone is looking for more detailed guidance for troubleshooting, feel free to review my previous posts.
Best of luck to everyone!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
jasone36
SC430 - 2nd Gen (2001-2010)
2
12-14-13 09:36 AM