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sightdev

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  • Lexus Model
    SC400 Jeep Minivan

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  1. This is to everyone asking about which gas to use. Manual says use premium [91 or higher] and your filler cover reminds you again to use premium so you should use premium. Manual also says you can use regular [87 or higher] if premium is not available but not to prolong the use of anything less than 91. I think its silly that Lexus requires premium so we can have 5 more hp compare to the same engine/configuration as Highlander Limited which runs on 87. I guess we get what we paid for besides, Highlander with AWD is 17/23 verses our RX AWD 18/24 works to equal value at each fillup. Anyone who wants to use regular 87 should move to Highlander as both Highlander and RX are dimensionally identical with near identical mechanics and will also save about $5000. Only thing you will miss is the latest tech stuff like gen 6 navigation, cool HUD, double screen entertainment system, and host of other electronic “gizmos” not found on Highlander. We paid lot more money to carry around Lexus key chain so spend a little more on gas B)
  2. “The wrong procedure” not sure about that. I have been working on cars for the past 20+ years and I have never heard of anyone using tooth brush just around the plate/butterfly. I have done this to all the cars I have owned and never had a problem. Since SC400 throttle sits on its side it is little more difficult for the throttle cleaner to stay inside. With my SC and other cars I have that has opening on the side, I will shoot massive doses of spray right inside while the engine is running. Toyota is famous for carbon deposits so this cleaning method is a really effective way to clean out the intake deposits. It will not harm the O2 sensor or the catalytic converters. I do this once a year and it keeps all of my cars running in tip top shape. For those with little hesitation, please try this. If you have hesitation caused by intake deposits, your problem is solved. I wouldn’t stick anything inside. To open the butterfly, just flip it open from the outside and shoot the cleaner right into the chamber. On SC400, you will have a little hole right at the beginning of the opening that is connected to the left valve cover via rubber hose. Should disconnect the host so the cleaner doesn’t sip in side the engine. I would recommend Valvoline syn throttle cleaner as I have discovered this is more effective than the GUMOUT that I have been using for the past 15 years. So the second butterfly valve cannot be cleaned I guess unless you remove the throttle body completely right? ←
  3. Starter is inside the transmission case so the transmission has to be separated from the block to access the starter. Not sure why your mechanic wants to remove intake but either way the cost is mostly labor due to amount of work that is require removing the starter. In early 90’s Lexus bragged in advertisement how quiet the car was because where the starter was placed.
  4. from the original invoice for my 1996; spoiler, moonroof, TRAC / heated seats, Nakamichi, 12cd changer, phone, trunk mat were all seperate options. My SC400 also has the dealer chrome option. I have never seen SC400 without a moonroof but possible since that is a seperate $900 option. Lexus should have made moonroof the standard equipment. I have seen many SC300 without moonroof.
  5. 95 = 96, plugs for 95 - 00 are same. It is plug and play unlike the 92-94 which had different lighting layout. IMHO, 95-96 has the coolest tail lamp.
  6. Make sure your upper parking light bulbs (6 total) are 138 and not 196. 138 are slightly (decimal) higher output, which triggered my alert indicator to come on and off, likes yours. Annoying at nighttime because it looks like something is broken. I replaced all six because it was mixed matched and the owners manual didn’t specified what type for light bulbs so I did research on the web to find the correct bulb type.
  7. LMFAO!! where do you get this information? here are some comparisons: 0-60... 1/4 93 sc400 7.0 15.3 02 wrx 5.7 14.4 (ALL 0-60 to get ahead. turbo lag whaaa?) 95 gsx 6.4 14.9 (hmmm... im seeing a trend) 04 evo8 4.8 13.4 (a bigger difference in 0-60 than 1/4 compared to the sc400) 97 3kgt vr4 4.8 13.6 (even BIGGER difference!) do i dare mention the turbo 911's with their sub 4 0-60's? stock cars dont use big turbos! Your stats are correct -+ .5 depending various conditions. But the stats are done by professionals with ‘drop’ launch (manual trans). 2005 Forester has peak HP of 210 @5600rpm. To launch a Forester with 5M at 4Krpm took 0 to 60 in mid 6 seconds (this is where early SC400 sits), with 4-speed auto it took mid 7 seconds. Considering I have driven and owned few turbo cars myself, automatic turbo Subaru has big rush once the RPM ranges in 4000+. 2.5 Subaru engine alone is a competent engine but Forester is 3200 +lbs with tall stand and it is not WRX (Forester may get the WRX treatment, which adds 50hp). 0-60 stats varies because of external conditions such as temperature, altitude, and etc. If you can find an old Car and Driver from 1992, 1993 SC had mid 6 seconds from 0-60 because the specification was similar to that of the 1993 Z28 which was in the low 6 seconds. I bought the 1993 Z28 that year because it was half the price and the performance was top. In any case, with proper launch, I will put my money on low mileage 1993 SC400.
  8. I checked the belt routing last night when I did my rear brakes and I don’t think it might work as plug-play. Looking directly at the compressor, upper left is an intruding bracket that may not clear because the pulley that drives the water pump has to be included in the routing path.
  9. Engineering at its best. I just did rear brakes last night and reminded again how much good engineering went in to designing the car. I have been around cars 25-30 years and worked on various cars in the past from restoration to maintenance. I was impressed with the BMW in the mid ’80 when I co-piloted a project to restore 320i from ground up because of rollover damage. From bolts, the suspensions, body parts, and structure assembly was really impressive compare to Datsun (Nissan for those younger folks) and domestic cars. I am also on MB forums and MB owners rag about Lexus being a carbon copy and I can attest to structural similarity but that is where it ends. Something simple as brakes on SC is incredibly detailed for longevity and maintenance free. Did you know that your SC has backup braking system in case your primary system fails? Even your parking brake is standalone setup. I don’t work on cars much but time-to-time I get my hands dirty and do smaller repairs at home but I get entertained by Lexus engineering. I wish my Jeep is as reliable as the Lexus but I guess that is only a wishful thinking considering Chrysler/MB makes it.
  10. Forrester -turbo w/automatic!! Not much low-end torque + turbo lag, it won’t have much of a chance from 0-60 compare to SC. Best way to launch any automatic is to power break and launch at the RPM range where more torque is produced (this applies to the manual shift too). With that note, ‘power’ switch on, TRAC turned off (if you have one), power break to 2-3k range where you will feel the surge of power kick in and may begin to spin rear wheels, launch and hope for the best. The member above is correct about SC. SC is not designed for drag racing, and it is more designed for comfortable cruising. Few of the members here have Mods that will enhance the ability to be sportier but your stock with exhaust won’t do much.
  11. I guess you are talking about around the windows. Black paint integrates with the rubber seals around the window so if all the black paints are stripped, the black rubber will stick out visually, IMHO making it cheap. But with the black stripped, chrome surface will more than double making it very chrome. I love chrome accent so I have wrapped the wheelbase with chrome molding (also to protect from dings). Professional moldings can be purchased from auto paint shop (high quality) or from local auto part store (standard quality). It’s simple to put on (depending on type) with standard modeling, use thumb to guide around the wheelbase making it perfect (no wiggle and waggle line). There is one type made by 3M with inner lip built-in which is really high quality. Depending on the quality / type $15-75 so it’s consider a cheap mode.
  12. Draining from the plug will only loose maximum of 2 quarts, so if you filled with 4 quarts you may have too much fluid. Check to make sure you have proper level. Also the capacity is close to 15 quarts so 4 quarts only works out to be little more than 25%. Invest in complete flush from Lexus dealer so you know you will get Type-T fluid and sense of security. I think the t-repair will cost 3k-4k so best you don’t take a chance.
  13. put your gear in Park and try it again. If persist, wiggle your steering wheel while turning the key.
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