redsully

Well, I guess if you want your hob-snobbery of a sound system (God forbid you get a little crackle in your system), you could always do what I did to one of my SC's: 1) Rip out your entire stock sound system (Nachamicwhatever is <censored> crap anyways) 2) Write a really large check to Cerwin-Vega, Infinity, etc. for real metal-coned tweeters and subs 3) Make custom boxes and mounts for your new speakers. I recommend a dremmel tool. 4) Write another large check to Cerwin-Vega for a V12 six channel amp 5) Install the amp under the front seat (difficult) or in the trunk (even more difficult). I did the latter 6) Get a Y-Plug (i.e. RCA to mini-jack) and connect it straight up to your MP3 player (this setup is headless (i.e. no radio/CD control... just iPod)). Oh, and while you're at it, don't listen to MP3s... there quality is crap. Use AIFF or Lossless. This entire process cost me around $3,000 and about twenty hours of good, hard work (and I'm and electrical engineer). ... or you could just be satisfied with a cheap (~$10.00) tape adaptor. You be the judge: are you an audiophile or a user? P.S. You can also replace $3,000 with $5,000 to have someone else do it for you.

P.S. That was WITH the girlfriend in the car : ) I think she broke the passenger arm rest from freaking out : ) OH what fun!

On a side note: I got one of my SC300's to 152 MPH yesterday. Did so on a 5% down-sloped stretch of Loop 360 in beautiful Austin, TX. I'm SO close to breaking my all-time top speed of 160 MPH (and dying, too :} ). Wish me luck!

Here are my suggestions (as an owner of three SC's): Replace the battery... go to RadioShack, this is one of few instances where they CAN help you without ripping you off. Hold the button for a full second, then release. Hastily pressing the button seems to not work all the time. My keyless entries usually works from a full car-length away (although not GREAT, it is adequate). I have, however, gotten them to work at much farther distances, when trees and/or other cars are not littered around. Good luck!

Mr. O, that truly is the most disgusting green I've ever seen on a car. I know from first-hand experience, one of my SC's is puke green as well! But the other two are Jade Metallic Pearl, so all is good in the land of Lexi. What's really odd is that the two like-colored SC's (according to the Titles) actually shimmer different hues... must be the clear-coating?

Brakes need adequate time to "break in" (ha ha ha)... but if they continue to squeal for too long, your rotors may be shot and/or warped. This is typically the problem for young and/or female drivers (I can say this fairly, as I am young and have replaced more female's than male's rotors), especially if they've previously owned an SUV/Truck. Or your calliper isn't applying equal pressure... Or you're hearing things again! If the squeaking is non-stop, you might try adding oil (the overhead cams REALLY squeak when oil is low). But chances are, it's still your brakes. Or you could do the highly illegal and highly unorthodox method of WD-40ing and breaking off wear-indicators. That works, too : )

Where do you live? I'll do it for $100.00 (plus plugs are approx. $40.00 for the good kind). I'm in Austin, TX!

As hard as Lexus tried to put a decent stereo into the new SC, they once again (like all OEM vendors) failed miserably. Sure, it sounds great for a stock system, but it still is stock paper/vinyl crap! I recently finished putting an AWESOME stereo system in one of my SC's (all Cerwin Vega equipment) that hooks up ONLY to my ipod (now that I have 5000 songs, the radio is useless). The iPod plugs directly into the amp while resting in the cup holder (I ran the wire through the little rubber plunger hole so it is entirely hidden from view). The iPod remote is in the process of having its logics put into the stock stereo spot's position, allowing for easy music navigation. Although this setup was expensive AND time consuming, it is truely the best way to go: get rid of that OEM bllsht. PS: Believe it or not, the iPod's sound quality is NOT better than CD unless you have manually gone in and changed the MP3's bitrate settings. But it's still pretty nice, and this setup still sounds better than the stock CD player : )

I guess the EASIEST way to do a tune up is to get someone else to do it... just don't go to the Lexus dealership (use a certified Lexus repair shop instead to save money). As an experienced Lexus owner, I must say that getting to those two middle plugs is a pain in the !Removed!. My first suggestion would be to replace the spark plugs, then the spark plug WIRES. After about 100,000 miles, the wires begin to deteriorate (did I spell that right?). You may also want to check that the air filter is clean.

Probably a loose wire (for the display indicator). If all is running well, you're PROBABLY fine.

After noticing that my lighting appeared to be slightly less than adequate on the left side of my car (while driving) I decided to get out and check to see if a bulb was going out. To my surpise, I found all bulbs functional, but working in weird patterns! When just my low beams are supposed to be on, the right low lamp is on full power, but the left low lamp AND the right high beam are on half power. When I flip over to highs, both right lamps work full power, but not the left. I hypothesize that a relay is out... could it be worse? Are there important wires crossed somewhere?

As for my stereo, I chose a 6 channel in 5 Channel out Alpine V12 Amp. It runs Cerwin Vega Fronts and rears and 2 12" Cerwin Vegas in the trunk. It sounds really good, but the bass is a little heavy to any listener in the back seats. The driver's and front passenger's bass level is perfect, but I do occasionally hear my gas sloshing around. I'm going to sound-proof it when i get more time.

I sure am glad I got that 22" Apple Cinema Display so I could view those pictures without having to scroll... LOL: it looks wonderful!

1. Important (for safety's sake). Yes 2. Not really... 3. With the oil filter changed, 5 sounds about right. 4. <not sure, but I would guess: YES> 5. By the gear selector on the center console, you'll have switches to toggle if you have heated seats (and a "LEXUS" template if you don't) 6. These are not fog lights on 92-94 but cornering lights. They CAN be upgraded, though: search the forum 7. On the rear spoiler? Just plug it in (if the bulbs still work). 8. Dim the brightness until you can get the bulbs replaced 9. Do this: roll down windows. Lock doors with FOB. Unlock doors by reaching into the open window and manually pulling the lock lever. Now press the FOB button to make the whining stop. 10. They are not automatic. 11. Pioneer, which isn't really premium at all : ) 12. Not enough space. CD Player was optional (as was the bigger 10" sub, stock it's only a ~7.5 incher). 13. I'm sure your Lexus holds a few secrets: I just finished a stereo upgrade in my third SC two nights ago (that I purchased a week ago)... I found about $20.00 worth of Chuck-E-Cheeses tokens as well as a condom (wrapped, thank God) and some parking tickets, all shoved in the recesses of the trunk. Who knew?!?

Nikki: Do a search for "headlight cleaning" here in the forum... you'll get more that enough information on how to bake out that condensation in your lights! Also, search for your aforementioned questions... I guarantee you that previous posts will answer all your trivial problems : )

I have two recommendations, both messy, of course: 1) Remove the lower portion of the knee guard on the dash (there are several online manuals that I cannot currently recall the URL to). This will expose the wires that need to be touched to open the trunk. 2) You can drill a hole 1" to the right of the key slot on the lens (for the trunk) and stick a screwdriver in there and push left (this will catch the bar that carries over to the manual release of the trunk). I have done both methods (#2 results in a ruined right rear lens which can be replaced on eBay), and highly recommend #1, as it doesn't cause any permanent damage. Of course #2 would be quicker. Let me know what happens! P.S. I can take pictures of either situation if you'd like me to.

Have a beer, on me!

I didn't have time to read over all of the arguing, but I will reinforce whomever is correct by stating the obvious (to me) fact below: The real deck can have one of two configurations: 1) Approx 7" sub woofer fit in a 10" bracket + two 4" rounds fit into 6.5" brackets 2) 10" sub woofer + two 4" rounds fit into 6.5" brackets God only knows why Lexus did such a thing (fitting smaller speakers into brackets of different sizes), but they did. It's quite easy to fit actual 6.5" speakers into the rear with a dremel tool (a VERY fast drill): you can either cut out the excess metal or make "washers" out of the brackets (that's what I've done to all 3 of my Lexî). Listen to an experienced Lexus member... there are NOT 6.x" speakers in any OEM setup in any SC Lexus!

So I went out and purchased another SC today (#3, for the count): A 1992 Jade Pearl SC300 with the built-in 12 disc CD player option. Therein lies the problem: the built-in CD player does NOT work! Symptom: The caddy loads, but when the actual CDs try to load into the unit, there is a horrendous grinding sound. Things I've tried: Well, I repair computers on a daily basis (it's what I do!), so I thought "this should be an easy fix!" Boy was I wrong... I opened up the unit and looked for any cause of the clicking. It appears that the CD player will pull CDs all the way in, but not know when to stop pulling in and play the disc. God forbid it do like a good Catholic and pull out, but it keeps on going and going and going, clicking and clicking and grinding... you get the point. I don't wish to purchase another unit unless I REALLY REALLY have to, but that may be the case... does anyone know the innerds of an SC cd player better than I? Should I drop kick this unit and see if that works?

Hey MAGAT1! How are your HIDs working out? I'm just curious because I've been watching this post for some time just hoping that these lights are in fact a) the real deal B) durable c) still working Also, what "color" is 5300k? I've been looking for the blueish tint (and have been told I'm seeking the 8300k temperature flavor), but can't find any on eBay. I may have to settle for 5300, which is a sort of _______ color (please fill in the blank). Thanks for your help!

I am an enthusiast car/computer mechanic... I've restored my fair share of automobiles, and changing the middle two spark plugs took me just over four hours. It was a dirty, sneaky process (just like the makers of this car) filled with difficult angles, confusing harnesses, etc. etc. etc. Have fun!

As an eBay PowerSeller, it hurts me to know that other sellers out there are scamming innocent bidders... my only words of advise: don't purchase high dollar items from sellers with low (or no) feedback. Over 100 feedback points indicates that you'll more than likely have a smooth transaction - under 100? Say your prayers!

I have two SC's... one has the "chin" spoiler, the other does not. In my honest opinion (here in the Hill Country of West Austin), the naked front is so much better... it doesn't rub against curbs/hills/etc. The absense of this nuissance also does NOT restrict the airflow into the radiator (which is vital here in Texas). I actually tried to remove the front spoiler once, but found it to be glued to the frame! AND SCREWED! AHH... There is no difference in handling with or without the front spoiler. Both coupes seem to clime to 140mph in similar times (the SC 300 is actually faster in my opinion that the SC 400, thanks to the five speed transmission). Well, I'm off to cruise in my Mercedes-Benz... Lexi is in the shop after being hit-and-ran.

I own several SC's and am frequently the designated driver for my friends (one of whom has an IS300). The IS definitely handles better, but the SC body-style is so much sexier.... just IMHO

I have tried other 12 volt power accessories, to no avail. The radar detector I have is wired on the same circuit, and I have checked the fuse, so that is ruled out. I guess I'll have to open the dashboard up again. Darn. There goes Saturday!