jw.design

Trading in my Lexus sc400 under the cash for clunkers program. I have been restoring the car and hate to see many good parts go the the junk yard. I am looking for folks in the NY area (my zip is 10552 if you want to see how close I am to you via mapquest) who can come swap out old parts for new. Just finished reupholstering front and rear leather seats, and putting brand new KYB shocks, mounts, sway bar on the car. I have also replaced many other interior parts, car is in good running condition. Call me 914 437-0113, this is for this week only. I will take delivery of new car at the end of the week.

Thanks for the reassurance.

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I am looking for prices of front lower control arms for my SC400. I am either going to install the Toyota Supra lower control arms, (thanks to the information this forum) or go with the Lexus lower control arms. I notice there is a HUGE difference in pricing from the dealer and sites on the internet. Case in point.... Front Control Arm from diyautoparts.com (http://www.diypartscatalog.com/item.wws?sku=TOY051221&itempk=1989362&mfr=Genuine&weight=14.81) for Toyota Supra LCA $212.06. Compare to price from dealer retail $317.00, even with mechanic discount of 20% part would still be 257. from the dealer. Front control arm from Ebay stores One Stop Lex Shop or Onlylex parts for a Lexus LCA are about $350. Same part (hopefully) from LEXUS Dealer $800. retail $640. wholesale. What gives? Can I trust the Ebay stores? Are they selling true LEXUS and TOYOTA parts or clones? Anybody out there know?

Time to resurrect this thread, because I am facing the same repair. Just replaced my front and rear shocks, struts, mounts, assorted bushings and the mechanic now tells me I need lower control arms! Jeez, I really, really like this car but the Lexus part prices are killing me! I hope you guys are right. I am going to have to fight with my mechanic though, he hates to use anything except Lexus parts!

I have always wondered why most folks had older 92 rather than new 98,99, 00 SC400s. Then I saw these production numbers. Production of the 1990-2000 Lexus SC 300/400: 1991: SC 400 9,374 1992: SC 400 12,695 1993: SC 400 9,624 1994: SC 400 7,392 1995: SC 400 4,364 1996: SC 400 2,557 1997: SC 400 2,043 1998: SC 400 1,243 1999: SC 400 826 BTW - I ride a '92 sc400

Naw, I am not too sure about this guy. He is trying to make more money off the parts, by hiking the cost up. I'd rather he be straight with me about what he wants to charge for labor than to insult my intelligence hiking up the cost of parts. When I told him I found even the Lexus parts for less, he started back tracking by saying he only called one Lexus dealer but if he called around he might be able to find it for less. Now he wants me to bring in the prices I can get the parts for and see if he can beat it. This work is the tip of the iceburg, I've got a check engine light on I want off and I might get more work done on the suspension. The struts and mounts are a small test to see if he will try to rip me off. As far as doing the work myself, I'd rather just drink the beer and forget about fixing the car. :P

I have been looking into fixing up the car and the suspension needs work. Replacing the engine mounts, transmission mount and new struts & strut mounts, as per the recommendation of my new mechanic. I chose this guy because he is a Lexus certified mechanic, but I am still feeling him out (as we all know mechanics can be less than forthcoming at times). Anyway, he wants to go all Lexus with the parts and he wants me to buy them from him, at a 10% discount. First, I beat the prices his gives me by going to lexusparts.com. Second I suggest we use KYB shocks because that is the brand that Lexus puts on it's car from the factory. He tells me that the KYB shock is not the same as the KYB shock made for Lexus because Lexus gives KYB the specifications to make the Lexus shock. Is this guy real or not - anyone out the care to share?

208,000 miles and counting! I was really thinking about selling because of the miles - but every mechanic I have ever taken it to declares the motor ready to roll! :D

Not really a big "poster." If I have something to post about or am doing I'll do it, but as you can see for the most part I am quiet. I bought my car in '93, and joined the forum right away. The car was in decent shape when I bought it and I really have not done much to it, other than the usual maintenance. The years have taken their toll, I now have parking lot dings, and dents, need a paint job, doors have pulled the hinges down and the interior of the car needs work. I was at the "Y" in the road - time to sell the car or restore it! I took me a while to decide to restore it. Guess I felt the need to share that news with folks who would understand why I would want to do that!

I'll start taking pictures, I have not so far. I've already had the interior front and back seats recovered, I bought the covers from leatherseats.com (thanks to this forum). Looks great!!! I've replaced my dimmed out mirror, replaced the drivers side interior panel. Next week it is the window trim, glove box, shifter, ebrake covers. There is some other things I will replace but this is a really great start, the rest I will continue to do little by little! I also found a certified master mechanic by Lexus who works freelance. I want to make sure the cars stays mechanically sound so I had him go over the car from one end to the other. He says I need to get struts and boots, (which I knew) O2 sensors (my check engine light is on) also saw a code on the mass air flow. He also says I need engine mounts and wants to replace the transmission mount, I am getting a second opinion on this one. I took the car to a Lexus dealership about three months ago, and they did not mention I needed engine mounts. Once I get the inside done I'll work on the body, clean or replace the headlights (I've seen how on this forum), replace the driver's side hinges, get the car painted (same color).

B) I have a 1992 sc 400 like many of you folks here. I have been little by little drawn into restoring this car, just 'cause I like it so much! I think it is one of those cars that will be one day considered a classic because it is just a great looking, high performing, breakthrough in design vehicle. Do you think I am looking at the future through gold colored glasses (the color of my car is gold). Or do you agree with me. To tell the truth, I really don't care one way or another 'cause I am going to do it anyway.

What do you think folks, will this Alpine unit fit and work in a sc400 or am I just dreaming?

Sorry to hear about your brothers iPod. I live in New York, and believe me I have no intention OF EVER leaving my iPod in my car without me also being in it! I have found out that you can use the cd changers wires to attach your iPod. You have to leave the cd changer in place so the car will see the cd player and let the signal through. Splice the +, - wires to make rca outputs to connect your iPod to. I just leave the door of the cd player open so it will not try to change any cds, switch to the headunit over to cd and da-da music! I have found out that by adding a line driver between my iPod and the cd Changer that I get a clear audio. So I got it, I am know able to use my cd changer as my iPod connection. When I get a little time I will make my final install. javascript:emoticon('B)')

I am trying to hardwire my iPod into my 92 sc400 now and although I get a signal it is not a quality signal, I tried one line level converter - which did not work - and am still looking around for others. If I get it to work, I will pass it on. In the meantime, check out this site www.densionusa.com and sign up for iceLink. Dension is currently making adaptors to use with iPods and various makes and models of cars. The Lexus adapter is under development, how fast it gets done depends on the level of interest there is for it. By adding your name to the list of those interested in a Lexus adapter may encourage Denison to move faster. In fact I encourage all club members to sign up the iPod mp3 player is the same type of high quality unit that a Lexus is. Merging this two together would be music heaven and a welcome relief for all of us that are knocking our heads against the wall trying to do these aftermarket installs! :chairshot:

I also do not like "fm modulated" or "cassette adapted" sound so I decided to try to hardwire my mp3 players to my sc400. I tapped into the CDR-, CDR+, CDL- & CDL+ wires from my CD changer (which does not work anyway) made an RCA connection attached mp3 player to the RCA with a minipin adapter. Since the mp3 players have their own controls all I needed was for the CD player to let the signal through. So far it worked, to a point, I did get a constant signal from two mp3 players. I was able to leave the door of the CD changer open (so it would not try to change cds) and was still able to activate the cd player from the dashboard controls and keep the music playing through the system from the mp3. However, the signal quality needs improving. Although the HotZip mp3 sounded better than the iPod. The volume on the signal does not seem to be strong enough and if you turn the volume controls all the way up the sound gets distorted. So my next step is to figure out how to get a stronger signal. It seems that you have solved that problem with the blocking capacitors. Can you tell me what these are and a how they work (if it is not too much trouble). One thing I am going to do tommorrow is to see if the impedence is the same between all of the device outputs. I have a friend with a fluke tester which I hope will let me measure the signals. Any advice will be appreciated

I decided to try to hardwire my mp3 players to my sc400. The idea was much the same one you had. I would tap into the the wires from my CD changer (which does not work). All I was looking for is the CDR-, CDR+, CDL- & CDL+ wires, in order to make a RCA connection that would attach to my RCA to minipin adapter. From there it is just a headphone or base connection away from sound. Since the mp3 players have their own controls all I need is for the CD player to let the signal through. I tapped into the wires by the cd player in the trunk because they were the easiest to get to. If it works I am going to pull out the head unit and tap into the cd player wires from up front. So far it worked, to a point, I did get a constant signal from two mp3 players. I was able to leave the door of the CD changer open (so it would not try to change cds) and was still able to activate the cd player from the dashboard and keep the music playing through the system from the mp3. However, the signal quality needs improving. Although the HotZip mp3 sounded better than the iPod. The volume on the signal does not seem to be strong enough and if you turn the volume controls all the way up the sound gets distorted. So my next step is to figure out how to get a stronger signal (any suggestions out there?!) One thing I am going to do tommorrow is to see if the impedence is the same between all of the devices.

Thanks for the information. Originally, I was going to swap out for the '92 model, at least with the cd changer from 96 or 95 I am getting a slightly newer model. I really do want to keep the stock Nakamichi system, it keeps the look of the car the same and it is a quality system. I've replaced the front and rear speakers and the sound it excellent! With some modification of the front speaker boxes I was able to install 5 1/4 Polk components. I did the back first so I used the same size that was in there originally. I may or may not replace them with something larger later. Right now I just want to get the cd changer installed, I am tired of listening to the radio.

Does anyone know if the new Nakamichi MF-51 5 disc MusicBank CD changer can be used to replace the factory installed Lexus Nakamichi CD changer in a '92 sc400? If the answer is yes, is there any adapter that is needed, and if it is, are there any leads where it can it be purchased?