Neil E

Hi Mark I did wonder if you had disconnected the battery earth as there's very little danger whilst swapping the amp connections. Lurking in a box under a pile of electronic stuff I did find this. I think the radio/CD unit was just a good spare. It's been there gathering dust for ages, PM me where to send it if it's a match for yours.

Good research on the transmission, the mods may need to consider an '18 cert' for the clutch assembly pictures. Just been to the garage to look for some radio bits for an LS430 and the V8 SC is now looking woefully under-powered. The Soarer is a very special car. Only those that know really understand the statement but it's quite a big lump with some old skool high tech to navigate so you're better off with the IS 300. Like your thinking on the standard wheels but fear much smoke and tyre shredding could follow. There are low key wider alternatives that may not give it away but with lots of power are you considering a wider track?

Hi Mark I agree with John it could be a number of things. My guess would have been the amp or a sticking mute button at first. I recall faulty aftermarket phone prep has caused something similar in the past. The fact that the buttons are 'greyed out' might suggest that part of the connection from the head unit to the amp has failed but if the amp has power then the remote lead is working. When you swapped the amp, presumably the battery was disconnected so that would have reset everything too. Always worth a try. I sold my 2004 LS over 3 years ago but not before replacing a faulty EMV screen. I'm sure I had a good spare radio CD unit too, it's yours if I still have it. I'll look tomorrow.

Oh! just what the build section needs, I've pulled up a chair. Cheerleading section at your service. In the days of Soarer ownership, I used to dream of V160 and R154 but even the rich kids couldn't afford them. No need to spill all of the beans just yet but I hope I know where this is going. I considered taking on an Aristo project a few years ago but the big bhp slippery slope looked a bit too steep at the time. If it was mine, I would re-badge it as an IS200.

@rich1068 Yes being of a certain vintage myself, I do agree, when I want to listen to the music the SC430 needs to be in 'refined' mode. I've never tried an IS300 but always assumed it must be a bit of a sleeper. My wife had a lovely blue IS200 some years ago and it was a joy to be in, indeed near faultless. and @superkaribou agree with this too, sometimes there's no substitute for the V8 exhaust note. The silencer looks top quality as does the impressive camera.

Nice work, you're making very quick progress and the car is looking really good. Neat head unit install, are you going to upgrade any of the other components?

The AA will get you home but it may take hours for them to find a mobile tyre fitter or a flatbed recovery truck so I have the space saver in the boot and a set of 4 original wheels and tyres at home.

It seems we missed the opportunity for a Highland mini meet. I didn't find the roads were too clogged with fellow tourists but I did manage to get delayed by the air ambulance for a while following an accident involving a Porsche and 2 lady motorcyclists near Inchnadampf. In the second week, I spent some time in the Cairngorms, the A939 is another favourite. @Verbout Couldn't agree more. On one of the days I left Letters near Ullapool early in the morning to go to work at an office we have not far from the Castle of Mey. Taking the coast road North to make it into a circular tour to J O G returning via the A99 and A9 almost back to Inverness before heading back West. 324 miles, I was back in time for tea at Loch Broom with the Mrs but the drive was so enjoyable, I was ready to do a second lap. They are still a rare sight, but I saw more Lexus vehicles on this trip than I've ever seen before in the Highlands. Only one LS was spotted so it must have been you Malc, I just can't remember where it was.

@Malc Bit of a coincidence. Just back from the Highlands 2 days ago and I recall the navigator remarking on the appearance of an LS400 somewhere on the NC500 route but we can't remember where. I wonder if it was you? Stayed in Stirling the day before you. Based in a cottage near Ullapool for a week thereafter and then another a few miles South of Inverness for the next week. We are frequent visitors and find it works best for us with a base to go back to. In another thread I was discussing with Phil @The-Acre that the LS (in my case previously a silver 430) is the perfect car to do the trip in. The best time is late September to early October when the roads are quieter. I was slumming it in the SC430 this time, it's a great car but nothing beats an LS for a long journey. I really miss the LS but despite trying a few in recent months of searching for a new carriage, I haven't quite fallen for the LS460/600 yet. I'm convinced the LS400 was the best built and curiously had the best sound system so I would say in most respects, class leading in its day and continuing to prove just how well built they were. P.S. Add the Canadian Rockies/Yukon/Alaska Highway to your bucket list of awesome tours. @nickd there was a request for pictures earlier, the nearest pics I took to Plockton (lovely place) was a few miles further North in the Torridon Hills after climbing the Bealach-Na-Ba. This is definitely a place to own a reliable vehicle but a convertible is perhaps being a little optimistic.

I have a space saver wheel. It doesn't take up that much room in practice. If you do any serious travelling I would recommend it with the amount of debris on the roads, it could save a long wait by the roadside. I speak from bitter experience. That said, the RAC say they carry a universal spare wheel on all their vans now because so many modern cars don't have a spare. If you have a blow out, the AA will try to find a mobile tyre fitter.

Thanks Andy before they do the bearings ask them to check the inner groove of the drum on the disc. You can't see the problem just by removing the wheel, the disc needs to come off. If it's the bearing, as Rick said earlier, the noise is usually more of a whine or rhythmical drone and increases with speed, it too can be felt more on a high speed curve as more force comes on to the worn bearing but from the description, I would check the disc drum lip first. It's quite common and an easy fix for a garage. It happened on mine when I put the unrated discs on and I simply filed down the lip on the back plate just a little where it was catching the groove. I would post a pic but I don't think this is in my build thread. It may be in another forum. Alas I don't have access to all my files and pics from where I am at the moment.

I agree with Rick, it's likely to be something to do with the brakes or the brake disc. Sometimes, mostly with new discs, the lip facing the backing plate can catch the groove it matches up with in the backing plate causing a grating sound and this is known to show itself when cornering left or right. The cure is to grind down the lip.

Hi Phil you're too kind, has Philip bought one yet? The SC is a great car but for the long trip North I would take your LS every time. For the long haul they are simply unbeatable. I used to bring my LS430 up here even in the snow with winter tyres, better than flying club class, it just eats up the miles with effortless ease and no issues with luggage space.

Count me in for this one. Was hoping to make it to the last Kemble meet but it clashed with a little NC500 trip.

@Eame64 thanks Eamonn its been fun to build and fun to use. It's nice to have something a little bit different too.

Yes I was shocked at just how much fitted in,.It's also a quick way to lower the car. Thanks, yes anyone that enjoys driving needs to visit the Highlands. It's definitely V8 country.

So how much can you fit into an SC430?Not forgetting that there's the added spare space saver wheel on board and there is a large hifi install in place of the back seat of this car, with very careful packing it swallowed all of this and a little more too.

I've been playing with the suspension settings in the wild Northwest Highlands. Hundreds of miles of great roads with a view around every bend. Here we are at the end of the road. Kylesku Bridge. Favourite stopping off point for car clubs and those doing the NC500. A couple more pics along the NC500 route in the North West Highlands.

Good spot. Don't recognise it but there are a few known owners in Gloucestershire.

It seems you are closing in on the fault. With the switch reconnected, does it stall in drive, first, second and reverse positions or just drive?

@BempaYes I think the design and the lack of rear seat space does put many off ownership. The SC received such poor reviews when it first came out, most of the focus was on its practical weaknesses but it really is a good solid car and very rewarding to drive.

@Diesel Do Nicely Brian Thanks Brian, love this place. Best driving roads in the UK by miles.

@SLACKBLADDER If it is just minor damage to the parcel tray itself, access appears to be possible by removing the crosshead screws underneath it when it is raised in the vertical position part way through the roof opening sequence. Of course if the roof isn't opening that might make it difficult to access. If replacement of the parcel tray and the side pieces that rotate in the opening process is required, then that does look quite a complex task and may require an extra pair of hands. I've seen these listed for sale as a complete unit. I've never taken one apart but it looks like it needs to be unbolted on the left and right after disconnecting the electrical connections and the mechanisms that move them. I can't tell for sure as I can't find a graphic that shows all of the relevant parts but I think all of the trim between it and the headrests will need to be removed. If that's the case, there are a few pictures in my thread in the build section that might help.

Is it a right hand drive V8 Soarer import from Japan with digital dash and all the extra tech or is it a US spec left hand drive SC400? Have you checked the fault codes? Does it start easily and rev freely in P or N?

Do you mean the cover inside the boot or the black cover behind the rear head rests that flips up when the roof is operated?