Bob King

Mark roof locking latch brackets ..so they refit in exactly the same spot👍🏻 Note ..carpets are plastic backed so water will pool in them but not reach the cars floor….well unless it’s coming in by the bucket load !

I’ve had two SC430’s in the past and both leaking water into the front footwells ! I also went down the route of removing wipers and plastic panel but not much inside to cause a leak. I solved the problem by running a bead of RTV sealer along the header rail and rubber trim (make sure you clean and dry the gap first), then all the trim out on the inside of the header rail, so sun visors, interior light, full width trim etc. Now run a bead of RTV sealer between the point we’re the rubber trim across meets the metal frame of the screen…that includes taking of the roof locking catches..as you want a continuous bead. A check you can do first before stripping trim out , take the A pillar trim off and run kids colours chalk stick over the inside of the trim, run water over the car and if the chalk has washed away…the water is coming in from header rail rubber. As to water in the boot …start high and work down…3rd brake light on the boot is a likely culprit, gasket brakes up over the years ….again more RVT sealer 👍🏻

This company..https://www.tech-one.co.uk is still trading around the back of Sidcup high street , been going a good few years so worth a call 👍🏻

Sounds a nightmare….glad the family got you to hospital in quick time …..wish you a speedy recovery 👏🏻👏🏻

Think hens teeth springs to mind, maybe make one for now so you can get the spare fitted …then just keep searching 👍🏻

Well you sure won’t get a 245/45/18 in that space 😉 Think the one I had was a 135/70/R18 😮

That rear shock is for upto 2005 pre facelift, the facelift 2005 had a "pigtail" spring with a smaller coil at the bottom …see photo’s…

They are a small diameter spring so not difficult to compress, just be cautious as you tighten the clamps down . A guy on another Lexus forum once fitted IS200/300 SPORTSCROSS rear shocks to a SC430, so springs could also fit…but do so at your own risk 👍🏻

When I purchased a spare wheel for my old SC430, I cut the shape of the spare wheel out with a jigsaw, using the original boot cover. Then hunted down a second standard floor cover, when I sold the car I kept the spare wheel and cover for my then next SC430.

Simple times….every car had 20w/50 end of story 👍🏻 Todays oil is a nightmare, ever other manufacturer having an oil made just for its vehicles , semi or fully synthetic, low ash, long life…the list goes on 🙄

Back in my motor trade days I was told to add.."the good, the bad and the ugly" in engine oils 🙄 Back then (80’s) I would add Castrol to my own vehicles, in more recent years I’ve converted to Shell Helix oil, great product and good price 👍🏻

The oil in a Lexus SC430 is a common for that age of the vehicle , both my 2005 RAV4 petrol and 2006 Aygo petrol use the same 5w/30 grade…..I choose fully synthetic, but it’s not necessary. As to topping up…me personally I would buy the same oil but if I was in desperate need, any that’s the same grade I’d be happy .

with this graph the SC when built, would be using an API SL spec oil but the spec has moved on is SN .

Trouble with engine oil specifications it changes as the oil blending gets better over the years , or a code of spec has now been superseded. Both my previous sc430’s I used Shell helix oil. Type your Reg number in to get the oil recommendation… https://www.shell.co.uk/motorist/engine-oils.html

Only any help if I’ve done the job in question ☹️ high level brake light reseal would be first suggestion. then runs some kids coloured chalk around the rubber boot seal ,then next time it rains see if any chalks has been washed away ….that will be the leak area 👍🏻

Looking good …can you get the Lexus logo’s off the old trims ?

I’m thinking they are added to keep road dirt off the reluctor rings.

Sheilds pushed out by corrosion on hub , then wear reluctor rings away ☹️

The tin shields around the bearing hub are the cause of all the problems, some say put new ones in ..other leave them out .

Glad the brakes/abs are all sorted …now onto the next Job ! 😉

Water would run around the edge of the liner, so gravity I guess would sent it to the back of your boot lid or maybe to the sides . Worth resealing when you get time 👍🏻

High level 3rd brake light housing is a common boot leak , remove liner, unbolt lamp and reseal 👍🏻

Silver marker is to ensure roof latches go back in the same place .

Hello Graham , I have successfully fixed wet carpet water leaks on both my previous 2003 and facelift 2006 SC vehicles . Two fixes, first is relatively easy, run a bead of RTV sealer across the roof rubber seal…. roof open ..run sealer between the rubber and metal frame (clean ...dry first). Second fix ..remover sun visors and all trim around the screen (interior lamp ,trim etc). Run sealer between metal frame and rubber seal, this must be a continuous line and includes talking the roof securing catches off. I done both 1st and 2nd fixes on both cars at the same time , but do 1st fix and see what happens . Only upside is the carpets are plastic backed so water (should) stay in the foot well and not down to the metal floor. A test you can do first is to remove A pillar trim from sides of screen and mark the inside with kids coloured chalk, than next time it rains…if the chalk has washed away it’s coming from the screen header rail as described above 👍🏻 of course if the rubber is split or hanging off, then it’s replacement time 😳