SC Recall: Air Bags
03-22-19, 10:34 AM
#91
Driver School Candidate
Well, I took my SC to the Lexus dealer for the passenger airbag/inflator replacement on Tuesday, as scheduled. Few hours later, they called to say the car requires a complete replacement of the airbag unit - not just the inflator. As fate would have it, they do not have the part(s) - and will not have them until the end of March. Lexus will not allow the vehicle to be released, so I’m to keep the loaner (new GS sedan) for the month, with their compliments and apologies for any inconvenience. As much as I miss my SC, I will force myself to “make do” with the loaner.
03-29-19, 02:30 PM
#92
Driver School Candidate
JUST AN UPDATE... As of March 22, 2019, the Lexus dealer in Portland, Oregon still has my SC430 held hostage! ;-) They say parts (complete replacement of the passenger side airbag) should arrive by the end of the month. Unfortunately, I have travel scheduled from April 2-10, so I may not be able to retrieve my car until I've returned. In the meantime, I am enjoying their loaner (a 2017 GS sedan with 11,000 miles) but I really miss my convertible on nice spring days.
03-29-19, 02:56 PM
#93
Moderator
First I’m surprised the service writer didn’t take care of this before returning the car to you. If the car sat there, battery disconnected you should have lost a lot of preprogrammed items, such as radio presets, seat memory presets.
The only way to “see” what’s going on is to connect up to techstream via the OBDII port and poll the TPMS sensors.
The only way to “see” what’s going on is to connect up to techstream via the OBDII port and poll the TPMS sensors.
03-29-19, 03:13 PM
#94
Driver School Candidate
Thanks VVTiBob... You are correct. All memory data was lost (radio, seats, nav). I guess I will reluctantly take it back to the dealer for diagnosis, but it will need to wait a few weeks, as I'm about to travel out of state. Thanks again.
03-29-19, 03:15 PM
#95
Pole Position
MARCH 29, 2019 - I picked-up the SC430 this morning. The airbag replacement apparently was completed successfully. Unfortunately, the technicians needed to disconnect the battery and in the wake of the repair, the Tire Pressure Monitoring System is now alerting to a non-existent low pressure condition. (Steady light only / not flashing / no beeping) I have checked the tires and they all are reading 33PSI, as they should. I wasn't sure whether the space-saver spare might also have a sensor, so I checked it as well. It's also at the correct pressure. (I've since determined that it does not have a sensor.) This 2003 SC430 does not have appear to a TPMS reset button under the dash. (I've looked, using a flashlight and see no evidence of one.) The Lexus dealership is willing to look at the problem (of course) but it's more than an hour away. I'm tempted to take it to the nearby Discount Tire store to ask them to address this... and I can't be sure the problem was the result of the battery having been disconnected. Thoughts?
03-30-19, 12:40 PM
#97
Lead Lap
Most likely one of the TPS batteries has gone down but you won't know for sure until either you take it to the dealer, or a Toyota dealer or buy a Techstream ($25) and check it for yourself. Discount Tires does not have the proper equipment to read the sensor. While it is possible the TPS monitor could have dropped its programming, it is highly unlikely but you won't know for sure until you get it checked out. Good luck and let us know what you find out.
03-30-19, 01:20 PM
#98
Driver School Candidate
Most likely one of the TPS batteries has gone down but you won't know for sure until either you take it to the dealer, or a Toyota dealer or buy a Techstream ($25) and check it for yourself. Discount Tires does not have the proper equipment to read the sensor. While it is possible the TPS monitor could have dropped its programming, it is highly unlikely but you won't know for sure until you get it checked out. Good luck and let us know what you find out.
03-30-19, 02:49 PM
#99
Pole Position
Thanks Harold57... I will take it to the Lexus dealer sometime in early April. It just seems strange that the TPS monitor would drop its programming or die of old age at the exact same time the dealer service folks disconnected the battery to repair the passenger airbag assembly. Anything is possible, of course! I'll let you know what I determine...
Mine just died, one last month and two more this week.
Last edited by GmanSC; 03-30-19 at 03:16 PM.
03-30-19, 04:42 PM
#100
Moderator
Who knows maybe while they were mucking around in there they pulled a fuse, accidentally disconnected a wire, forgot to reconnect something, could be a whole lot of reasons. But you are correct, timing of this failure is odd.
03-30-19, 07:29 PM
#101
Lead Lap
In agreement with Bob, it is very possible they pulled or blew a fuse. A fuse was blown in my car when they did the airbag recall. That blown fuse resulted in their keeping the car for another day and me in another loan car.
03-31-19, 03:02 PM
#102
....well it's 3/31 & they still have my vehicle....lol...I was told that my Sc was one of the hand built SC's from Japan & that there is a part in the air bag assembly, thats different from the one's produced on the assembly line. Is this BS ???....I'm not sure, but I'm ok with the wait, because I know this is a NHTSA recall & it has to be done correctly. I'm in my 2nd 2019 Rx & have been enjoying it thoroughly....lol......it's making my decision on my next Lexus a little harder & all my other vehicles have gotten a good rest
03-31-19, 03:13 PM
#103
Lead Lap
Oh my goodness Tex, that is crazy! OTOH, at least the miles are going on a car that you don't own. The newer electronics are nice but I was still relieved when I got to drive my SC again. Maybe they're having trouble locating certain parts.
So why did they have you change loan cars, were they concerned that it may get too many miles on it?
So why did they have you change loan cars, were they concerned that it may get too many miles on it?
03-31-19, 03:29 PM
#104
Oh my goodness Tex, that is crazy! OTOH, at least the miles are going on a car that you don't own. The newer electronics are nice but I was still relieved when I got to drive my SC again. Maybe they're having trouble locating certain parts.
So why did they have you change loan cars, were they concerned that it may get too many miles on it?
So why did they have you change loan cars, were they concerned that it may get too many miles on it?
Last edited by VVTiBob; 03-31-19 at 04:32 PM.