Randerso

My SC400 has 240,000 miles. In that time I have had 3 alternator failures - none of them indicated by an instrument panel indication.

I would not do a flush. A friend who has been a long time in the used car business warned that most of the transmission problems he has experinced over the years have occured after chagning the fluid on high mileage cars. The reason is that transmission fluid has allot of detergent in its additive package that desolves and breaks loose the varnish that builds up over many miles as the original additive package is used up. Much of the varnish that builds up in a high milage transmission does no serious harm. Changing the fluid can break the varnish loose plugging small passages with debris and opening up clearances that were working OK in the dirty condition. I would think a flush might be even worse. My SC400 has 240,000 mile on it. The transmission performs as well now as when new. I always run in the "power" setting and regularly run her up through the gears at wide open throttle. I had the fluid changed at 90,000 miles per the owner's manual and had no problems, but now that it has significantly more mileage, based upon my friend's advice, I have do only small partial changes.

Polishing the lenses is not difficult. Don't be taken in by the Lexus dealer's rediculous price for the polish kit. All you need is some maskng tape, electric drill, sanding disc backing plate for the drill, two tie string polishing pads and one bottle each of plastic cleaner and plastic polish. All of the above can be bought for less than half the price of one light assembly. If you are interested, I will post how to do it.

I have a 95 dark green Land Cruiser in Florida. It has been garaged most of the time, but has still spent plenty of time in hot sun. I have never waxed it, but I do occationally use a polymer finish called Dry Wash on it. It looks like new - including the roof. I don't even wash the roof regularly, let alone climb up there with the polymer towel. It is my understanding that clear coat finishes don't oxidize like older paints did, hence the practice of polishing off the surface oxidation and sealing it with wax to delay repeat oxidation is not applicable. I may be wrong on this, but it is my understanding that most paint problems on newer cars is due to acids, etc. that fall on them from the surroundings or from errors in manufacturing. I agree that Lexus uses great paint (the finish on my 94 SC400 is also perfect), but in all manufacturing malfunctions in equipment and quality problems with materials occationally occur. I'm betting on a manufacturing defect on this one.

Sorry I can't answer your question, but I have one of my own. Why do you prefer Glass over plastic for the high beam? My 94 (in Florida) has needed polishing of the low beam lenses several times, but the high beams have never been a problem.

I had the rack, hoses and pump replaced a couple of years ago on my 94 SC400. I also experienced the same noise. I questioned the machanic and he said it was air in the system and would eventually go away. I first thought this was a brush off - but what are you to do after you paid the bill. Long story short - he was right. Be sure the fluid is topped off properly and drive the car. Turn the radio up more than ususal for a couple of weeks and all may return to normal.

I had the same problem with my 94 SC400 a couple of years ago. Replace the sensor and move on with your life.

My 94 SC400 had similar starting and dying symptoms. A temporary fuel pressure gage installed in the fule line (engine compartment) showed a drop in fuel pressure a couple of minutes after start up. The mechanic replaced the fuel pump. This did not solve the problem. He reinstalled the old pump and replaced the fuel pump control module. Again, no joy. He finally replaced both the fuel pump and the fuel pump control module and the problem was solved.

I replaced the mast in my 94 SC400 a couple of weeks ago. In the process of determining "how to" I came across as description by someone who retrofitted an after market retractable antenna into a Lexus. The guy made it work, but with allot of difficulty. The Lexus antenna retractor has a relay assembly (black box mounted above the motor) that gets an intermittent voltage signal from the head unit. It even adjusts the hight of the mast depending on the frequency of the station. An after market unit can't deal with all this. I suspect you would be better off to get a real Lexus retractor from a junk yard than try to install a generic unit.

It is important to get your AC evaporator cleaned. The odor is from mold forming on debris that collects on the evaportor. The condensate drain hose may, or may not, be clogged for this to happen. If left alone it is likely that the evaporator will develop a leak from corrosion forming under the debirs. Sometimes refrigerant oil seeping from a very small leak in the evaporator also causes the odor. Please post how the cleaning goes and what it costs you.