alphacat

My battery drain problem was solved with a new battery in the end. Even though I know there was a tracker fitted that had not been properly removed the real issue was the car was nearly 10 years old with the original battery and if old batteries are under constant battery drain conditions they don't recover and the charge drops more quickly than it would with a newer battery in top condition. I was convinced my battery was ok as I tried battery testers I used a voltmeter and observed it charging up etc . In the end I fitted a new battery a Varta silver Seal 4 year warranty bought on the internet delivered in a day and I fitted in in 15 minutes. Cost £68. Result... on the old battery when run down it would charge up with the engine running at 14.3 volts. even when on a long run this would only drop to about 13.9 volts .. The new battery charges at 14.3 volts and after about 30 minutes this has dropped to 13.4 volts. I use a digital voltmeter fitted to the 12 volt cig lighter socket. Bought from amazon. I have allowed the car to stand for over 2 weeks and the battery voltage is still 12.2V on the old battery that would be down to 11.3 volts and starting would have been touch and go. Job done. Sold the car sadly but only need one car...

I have a Nov 2005 460 SC and its got all the Mk 2 adds 6 speed box upgraded instruments and suspension. The 6 speed box is a dream and I have compared it to the BMW box on a 335 my son had. Its so much better than the BMW engine braking and kick down on the Lexus are much superior. This could be because the BMW was a diesel (chipped to 330bhp) .. But I just love the Lexus 6 speed auto.. I don't know of any car that does 80mph at only 2000 rpm like the 430sc and so quiet...The sound system is the best there is. Problems are mainly battery drain (number of issues but if its never had a tracker fitted it may be ok). I also Have a Jag and like that too but the 430SC is special.

If by clicking you mean the solenoid engaging but the starter motor not turning that's what happens with a battery not holding its charge... Or loose battery terminals. Less likely a dodgy starting motor but if it starts at all I don't think its the starter motor.

Yes dealers are the most important reason not to buy a car in the first place. never have so many been ripped off by so few. I am so glad I am an engineer and know some very capable motor engineers.. They have saved me thousands of £s over the years. dealers would have cost me double. They are getting worse too and they have the support of most manufacturers. But the fact is they even rip the manufacturers of on warranty claims. The dichotomy is this.... if the manufacturers make a reliable car the dealers don't get income apart from sales and cant run a competitive business. If the manufacturers make an unreliable product the fact will get through and sales will fall . Today this is more true than ever. What some manufacturers are now doing (and this goes particularly for second level up market marques like BMW , Lexus, Audi and Mercs ) is to have a policy of 'Claw Back' by this means they recover money from the sale spares to enhance their dealers and their own profits. Some parts of these cars can now cost thousands.. Steering arm for a 5 series £3500, Audi flywheel (standard failure) £2000 = fitting and they go at 30000 miles etc etc etc. Built in Obsolescence is now common and includes substantial labour.ie Audi S4 and S5 V8 timing chain guides (made of nylon and ear after as little as 40000 miles).

I have heard of that problem before. On one post somewhere it mentions listening for the ML amplifier after the ignition is turned off 'humming'. I even tried listening all around my car in the boot etc. to see if it was a similar issue.

I am disgusted and upset to find out Lexus have sponsored Channel 4 TV to produce a completely false and inappropriate misleading docudrama which focus on denigrating UKIP.. UKIP The First 100 Days is a fabrication based on lies and ignorance solely made to misinform and frighten people who are considering their choices for May 7th general and local elections. I have made my representations to Lexus and received a reply that indicated they supported thought provoking drama. Of course this documentary drama was really political biased fabrication and I understand UKIP have taken this for legal advice. There is no excuse for any car company or distribution company to try and influence UK voters with lies and mistruths. This program was full of these and more. Even the some of the companies mentioned on this farce have denied the events they portrayed could or would ever happen. I am disgusted with Lexus and have made my feeling known to them and will continue to make sure Lexus is confronted with its decision to back such defamatory media. I was about to buy a new or nearly new GS 450h and have had my 430SC for 3 years. I will not consider a Lexus now until they retract their support from Channel 4 and make it clear they don't agree with such political interference in the form of drama. There is soon to be a 430SC on the market although I feel like burning it. Those of us who love our country and want its freedom don't deserve to have such lies and mistruths supported by those who profit from our purchases.

The ML kit is the best no doubt about it... ditch it if you must but you only get what you pay for...

I have heard of that one from the amplifier on MK one models. There is a company (in the UK) that refurbishes them and sells them at a fraction of the cost of a new one. New amplifiers cost in the region of £2000 + fully refurbished and guaranteed £700..

Mine does have a sticker in the service book saying the car is fitted with the uprated suspension. I have driven a later model (2008)and its the same I have drive a 2002 model at its dire. The ride is fine on mine the road holding is acceptable but the handling is only just... I really wouldn't want to push my car around bends like I can my 4 wheel drive Jag. I would think a late Mk 2 with better anti roll and coil overs would be an improvement..

Any extra power on a 430 SC will make it dangerous. Its a great ride but road holding even on the mk 2 isn't up to over 300bhp even with the best tyres fitted. No point in these sort of mods without doing it properly and that means so much money your better off changing cars.

Glad to say a Black SC 430 with red leather isn't a UK option. Far too down market.. The blacks are as most fitted with black, ivory or tan... with walnut or maple wood. Of course its all in the best possible taste........... Mine is ivory and black ... with walnut...stunning... In the US they really don't care and sometimes eat with only a fork..

There is no real spec change since late 2005. My November 2005 mark 2 (6) speed is just the same as later models. It has the best 6 speed auto box ever made I am convinced of that. So don't think you cant get a mark 2 before 2006 you can. Some are 4 or 5 k cheaper than later models and even have less miles. I wouldn't touch a 5 speed auto model and of course the driving controls and indication is much improved on mark 2 models.

I have a battery drain issue and once my car was left long enough for everything to be flat. I mean completely flat had to use the key in the lock to enter the car. But I had no problems with the entertainment system it just reset itself when I had recharged the battery.

Is it the supply to a tracker? Most trackers and their supply are hidden. But some are not hidden well. in my view most battery drain issues are not due to the battery but the drain and Lexus do not make a car that would have a battery drain likely to make starting impossible after only a few weeks. Most of these issues are due to after market fit and that is 99 times out of 100 due to a tracker. I know my car was fitted with one once I found the Ariel lead clipped to the rear parking sensor cable. But where it draws power from I am still not sure. Just been diving in Thailand for 12 days and left my car at the airport on return it started no problem. But I have a battery meter and it showed less than 12 volts so it had drained. Its not the battery itself as I have had the car SORN for a few months and disconnected the battery while it was SORN on reconnection it had nearly 13 volts so had held its charge very well. Battery drain issues are not the car they are down to aftermarket issues. As far as I am concerned.

I would have thought it was a transmission sensor and the wheel sensors are ABS related.. My 430SC has an issue with a speed sensor the one that informs the sat nav..and computer. But my speedo is fine. The average speed reading is always low so when looking at the sat nav it shows a very long time to destination then catches up quickly at the end. There must be a transmission speed sensor as each wheel may record different speed information. This seems to be to indicate separate sensors for the computer averages and sat nav and another for the speedo. If not my computer must be wrong and I would have thought that's unlikely.?

Making a great quiet car noisy isn't my idea of an improvement. Very few people ever overtake me in mine and in a car that will do 80mph at only 2000 rpm (when its got another 4000 revs left) if you cant drive it quick there is something wrong. My mk2 was certainly faster than my sons 335 re mapped BMW and that had 340bhp. I am an engineer and I love technology but noisy engines leave me cold. There are many cars you can make noisy. My neighbour has an old style Mini and its the noisiest car I have ever heard he just sounds stupid. But quick ? not at all. I would think if people like the sound of engines they should buy a car that was not designed to be quiet in the first place. The 430SC was designed to be quiet. very very quiet. making it noisy says more about being noticed than it does about how good it sounds to the driver.. Discuss.

I agree air filters make little difference if you keep them clean. K&N make a living out of cognitive dissonance. I have seen an SC 430 in the states fitted with a twin turbo charger (Garret I think) cost about £3800 and that was then gave the car 400+ bhp. I am surprised anyone wants more acceleration as I am sure mine is still well under 6 secs even now. I have a theory that the car was built at 282bhp as that was an agreed limit in Japan and its known that many manufacturers didn't stick to it. In a little run against my son in a 335 BMW estate chipped to 340 bhp my l 430Sc was in front. lets face it to get under 5.5 sec's you usually need about 320 bhp minimum (in a saloon car and the SC being a convertible is on the heavy side. My S4 was pulling 341bhp and 0-60 was at 5.4 secs. not a lot in it. The 430 SC will do 80mph at 2000 revs not a lot will touch that. Its is limited for top speed(some say 149 mph) partly by the very long legged 6th gear but also by electronics. I don't think its safe over 150mph. Its not a sports car. Its a long distance cruiser without the ability to carry much luggage. If you want any meaningful performance enhancements stiffening and shocks should do the trick.

I just rely on breakdown cover !!

Glad you got it done. Doesnt surprise me Lexus technicians couldn't sort it out they are their to make money selling seals and new boot lids etc. Small adjustments don't make money.

Clever those Japanese... But it actually makes it quite fiddly to sort ... as you say its probably easy to live with though

That look like an alignment issue probably caused as you suspected. He should pay for it as it wasn't like that when he started work on the car. If it is an alignment issue any reasonable body work tech should be able to real align the boot lid. My boot did end up slightly up on one side a few months ago it just didn't shut right after having the roof down. I put revs on the car so the voltage output was max and put the roof up and down a few times. It stowed itself and shut OK .

Lexus charge flat rate for the cam belt change I think its only £280 or so. But then you can bet they will say you need to change the water pump and some associated pulleys/ tensioners.. I have heard total cost is around £700.... There is a full kit online I checled out including cam belt and tensioners for around £100 a full set including timing belt, serpentine belt, tensioners water pump and all gaskets is only about £200 from the US. Then the job is well within the capability of any reasonable motor mechanic. Get rid of the run flats... First rule of motoring. Get rid of the run flats. On a MK1 SC430 especially.

Get rid of the wooden wheel? Shock horror.... that's the best bit... I told my son my steering wheel was worth more than his car he believed me.. No point in having a 430SC if you mess with the wood.. The Japanese designers spent years trying to make real walnut /maple look like plastic.

How did you lose the backlighting ?

jeffreyt.......... My car is 2005 Mk2 (6) with 70000 miles on the clock and its got the original Lexus battery. That still lasts over 2 weeks and charges and holds its charge.. I agree its a point that really detracts from the 430SC as long term car. But I am convinced its not designed to do this and that its not a battery issue. Trackers are very common on cars of this price when new.. I have heard of a number of battery drain issues being down to this. Finding them is obviously difficult. Bit you could start by looking behind the back plastic bumper where the rear parking sensors are. that's usually the place for any tracker ariel and it will probably be held in place with tie grips.