Lexus SC430 :: 2002 Cracking Sound From Behind The Air Vents When Accelerating
Feb 22, 2012
I have a high mileage 2002 SC430.
I have noticed that when I start the engine on a cold morning and start driving right away I hear a distinct "cracking" sound from behind the air vents (dash area) when accelerating. This only occurs when the engine is cold and when I am accelerating, this does not occur when the car is parked (I have not tried revving the engine when the car is parked, since it doesn't seem like a good idea).
A a side note, I do typically move the temperature setting to the max of 85 degrees on cold mornings, but the cracking sound often comes up 5-10 minutes after I change the temperature setting. I'm not sure if this has anything to do with it.
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It just happened yesterday on the freeway, as I hit a small bump. Need to mention this stretch of freeway has those extremely annoying ridges that make everything rattle inside the car, besides the deafening tire howling. But after they're gone, all used to be well. Yesterday, after said bump, this very loud noise behind the center air vents started all of a sudden. It increased with speed.
Sounded like a motor turning. Thought it was the NAV motor (which I never use), but opened it and closed it, and it functioned well. Tried the motor for the stereo cover, and also worked fine. When the motors were operating the sound persisted. The noise disappeared below 50 mph. And not even in broken pavement was present. After speeding above 50 again, now in smooth pavement, it was back. I guess it's there to stay... until 'killed'.
I HATE dealers going on a fishing expedition in my cars, so prefer to know what the heck is causing it, and preferably do it myself (don't trust the only dealer in town). I'll try to tackle it myself, but no way I can live with that noise, so a trip to the dealer seems almost certain, as I don't have a service manual yet to get behind the dash.
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I have this strange creaking almost a sharp cracking noise coming from the rear part of the roof near my head when I go over some bumps. I have tried all the usual methods; lubricating roof rubbers, adjusting bump stop under package shelf; adjusting roof height using the grub screw adjustment; nothing seems to work. It almost sounds as if the noise is coming from some of the hard plastic roof trim but I can't seem to pinpoint it despite using foam padding, silicone spray etc..
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Started up the SC 430 (2002) and a clicking noise is coming from the engine. After engine is warmed up noise settles down. Have 71212 miles
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So, last night I was driving with radio off and a "whirring/fan" sound was audible in the rear of my 2002 SC430 - a sound that I have never heard. The sound seemed to resonate from the driver side, access panel (which I believe holds fuses and other systems for roof). After the vehicle was stopped and restarted the sound continued. Now today, I insert the key into the ignition - no sound; turn to accessory - sound is audible; started vehicle and did not hear sound. Second time I repeated and sound was heard; started and did not hear sound, Third time I repeated and no sound heard in accessory start position. What the heck is this? Any diagram of the trunk and what components are housed in the center bay? Does this vehicle have any auto-leveling function that activates?
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I'm I just purchased a SC430 2002, car make a clicking noise when shifting gears. Example when I turn my car on and shift from Park to Reverse I hear a clicking noise and then when I go from Reverse to Drive it makes a clicking noise. Sometimes it just goes away. Is it a transmission issue or if this is a common sound.
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Car sat there for 2 days non driven. Started it up, turned on the AC and it wouldn't blow through the front vents no matter what "mode" I select whether its on vents or legs. Instead it only blows through the windshield ones for the windshield. And it is also blowing outside air or maybe hot air, regardless what temperature I select and with the "AC" button on.
Before when I would press the "AC" button while the air was running I can hear a compressor or some clicking sound which is normal but now there's no sound when I press that and no sound when "mode" is changed.
What I've tried:
All fuses, all are good.
AC relay (good).
Disconnect the battery for 10 min, reconnect. Nothing.
Repair manual suggested action where it displays some codes. (I failed to link those codes to a proper definition in the manual)
Its been 90+ degree here in CA. I cant drive this car without AC.
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Common issues that arise with GX470. From what I know I will list the first 2 that I know of:
1) Clunk sound from driveshaft
2) dashboard cracking
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I got a 2010 with 58 k miles that when I turn on the car in the morning have a an electrical cracking sound coming from the steering wheel. What could it be?
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My SC430 takes left turns like a boss, even while accelerating into the turn. But right turns always seem to feel a little stiff and awkward, even when not accelerating. I don't really know how to describe it other than that. The back will feel like it bounces or skips a little in a right turn. Is this pretty typical with the SC430 or is there something I should get looked at?
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I test drove the sc 430 the other day, I found it very smooth and very soft ride. I noticed that when I accelerate the car feels heavy as if it lacks the torque. Is this normal?
Also, the steering felt loose at high speeds above 60mph. Is this normal?
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I had recently blew a head gasket on this car due to my radiator cracking and i have had it fixed and it does not over heat nor does it leak water. and i honestly without exaggeration have changed about every censor on that car besides the mass airflow but i am currently having a problem when i accelerate it kind of chugs but does not die. it does not do this when i just idle forward or when i have the gas pressed lets say on a scale from 1-10 it would only chug when I am at like a 1-2 at most then after that its great no problems.
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just bought a 2002 lexus sc430 the car is nice but i have been reading in regards to the throttle lag. Any resolution for this. I've read that the apexi or blitz trottle control is an option to work with the lag.
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I have 2002 SC430 with an annoying vibration through the seat/chassis at 60mph but she's smooth at 55 and slower and at 65+ mph ? Things I have tried so far ...
wheel balance
wheel alignment
2 rims rerolled that were out of round
bushes and suspension all checked
moved wheel positions front to back etc
Thinking now maybe driveshaft or uni joints ? or new tires but that's an expensive exercise !!
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My brake light and ABS lights appeared today on my '02 SC430. What this might mean and the solution?
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Noticed the antenna did not go all the way down. It will also not go up. When I turn the radio off the motor grinds for few seconds but the antenna does not go all the way down. Mast problems? Any links how to fix it?
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On my 2002 SC with 51K miles, the front end is squeaking. BTW, shocks are good...
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My check engine light came on.. so I took it to express tires.. And they said that they need to replace my vacuum hoses cause it busted ... well when I saw the guy used the obd checker thing.. after checking the codes.. i saw that when u turned on the engine.. the vsc on and vcs off lights came on..
So I figured after he fixed the problem.. it will go off.. well after he got done.. fixing the problem.. I drove away.. after bout like 2min.. i had to turn around cause the vsc on and vsc off came on.. and I told the guy to check.. And he used his checker.. and there was no problem.. and the "check engine" light is not on anymore.. just the vsc on and vsc off!!
Could the checker.. messed it up??? the vsc off button.. only works when the key is turned on.. " not when the engine started but right before it.. when the power comes on" so the button is working correctly.. it just comes on.. when i start driving the car...
And no they did not check my tire pressure or do anything to the tires or the wheels.. it just turned on.. when he inserted the obd thing to check..
And yes I read the [URL] .....
Is it dangerous to be driving with the vsc and vsc off light on??
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I recently got into my 2002 SC430 and could not shift the car out of park. In addition, another symptom was that when I pressed the brake pedal, my rear brake lights would either come on momentarily and then turn off (looked like a strobe-light effect), OR the rear brake lights would not come on at all (the taillights, however, continued to function).
The only way to get around this issue was to use the manual override (by taking out the little plastic tab on the shifter and using a screw driver to press the hidden button, which would momentarily override and let me shift).
After much research, I found out that my Brake Switch/Sensor was failing (this is what tells the car's computer that you're pressing the brake pedal, and thus allowing you to shift out of Park). Unfortunately, I don't have the model number handy.
My non-Lexus mechanic charged me $100 (parts and labor) to replace the Brake Switch/Sensor. I'm not sure how much the actual part cost, but it couldn't have been much. It's a very scary feeling when you need to drive somewhere quick and you cannot shift out of Park.
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I had to replace the ECU on my 2002 sc430. Although the original ECU was malfunctioningthe car started and was drivable (but the speedometer and odometer did not work, nor did the power steering). Following installing a used ECU, the car will now not start. I reset the ECU following the directions posted by others in this forum (both the gas pedal method and removing the fuses), but that has not fixed the problem. Do I need to have the dealer sync the key to the new ECU?
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I have a 2002 SC 430 with 68,000 miles on it. Having problems with the transmission? Today, I could not go forward in any gear...could go in reverse. I turned off the ignition and re-started the engine, then the car worked fine.
Tonight I went out and the car was fine. However, later had the same problem.
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