This will be a most valuable post for any SC430 owner (I have a 2005). I got my keychain caught in my cupholder and ended up breaking something inside trying to remove it. It would no longer pop up. I removed the center console cover and found that the cuplholder assembly is held on to that with 4 screws. So I figured I would just buy a replacement cupholder assembly. The part # is 55620-24030. The only issue was that the replacement assembly did not include the cover door that matches the console color. I did find the door within the entire console assembly, but that was almost $1,300.

So I called at least 8 Lexus dealerships around the country, in areas that I knew would be populated with SC430s (CA, FL, TX, etc) and asked each parts department to clarify why the cupholder assembly didn't come with the trim door. In almost every case - except two - they all told me that in order to get the cover door I had to buy the $1,300 assembly. They could not explain why the cupholder assembly (~$160) came without the door, event though that made no sense. When I asked them if the intent was to transfer the old door to the new assembly, but they said no, you have to buy the $1,300 console. In a few cases the Parts guy asked the Service Technician, who backed up this advice. It still made no sense that Lexus would sell a stand-alone part with no door. And I still could not figure out how to remove the door.

Longo Lexus somewhat affirmed my theory about the door transfer, but could not remember how. He did look at another SC430 they had in for a recall, but could not go far enough to find a solution with a customer car (any of us would appreciate that!).

Enter Sewell Lexus Parts in TX. He looked up the part and agreed that the door could be transferred from the old cupholder. He got with a technician, then texted me back with the service bulletin that explains how to remove the old door (its two screws on the underside of the assembly). This is not covered on any forum page or You Tube video. I searched everywhere and Sewell was the only one I found who knew what to do. Any of the other dealers I called would have needlessly sold me a $1,300 assembly, and I am sure there are many more who would do the same. This does not reflect well on Lexus.

It astounds me that there is this much of a void between Parts and Service, especially when their answer was completely illogical (what would be the purpose of selling a stand-alone assembly without a door??). But now you have a solution. I just saved you a whole lot of time and aggravation.

 

If it just two screws, why didn’t you try to remove it first ? If you have the assembly out, you should be able to figure how to remove the door. Just a question.

 

^ I was wondering the same thing...

 

I have to pull the unit out again an have a look. But I think the point of it is that in almost all cases the Lexus dealers were clueless.