Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
1994 Lexus SC 400FACTORY OEM SERVICE PROCEDURE
Spark Test
NOTE:
SC400 has 2 distributors and 2 ignition coils. Distributors are located at front end of each cylinder head, under cover.
- Disconnect coil wire from distributor(s). Using insulated pliers, hold end of coil wire 1/2" from ground. Crank engine for 1-2 seconds. If spark is not present, go to next step. If spark is present, replace faulty distributor rotor, cap, wires or spark plugs as necessary.
- Turn ignition off. Check for poor electrical connections at ignition coil, ignitor and distributor. If connections are okay, check resistance of coil wire and spark plug wires. Maximum allowable resistance is 25,000 ohms per wire.
- If resistance is okay, turn ignition on. Disconnect ignition coil connector. Check voltage at positive terminal (Black/Orange wire) of ignition coil connector. If battery voltage is not present, check for open or grounded Black/Orange wire or open fuse.
- If battery voltage is present, turn ignition off. Measure ignition coil resistance. See IGNITION COIL RESISTANCE table. If resistance is not within specification, replace ignition coil.
- If resistance is within specification, check resistance across terminals of the following distributor sensor. See DISTRIBUTOR SENSOR RESISTANCE table.
- If resistance is not within specification replace camshaft sensor or crankshaft sensor. If resistance is within specification, go next step.
- Check for ignition signal circuit malfunction. See procedure for Code 14 and Code 15 in TESTS W/CODES - EXCEPT OBD-II article in the ENGINE PERFORMANCE section. If ignition signal circuit is okay, replace ignitor.
IGNITION COIL RESISTANCE
| Application | Primary | Secondary | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold (1) | .36-.55 | 9000-15,400 | ||||
| Hot (2) | .45-.65 | 11,400-18,100 | ||||
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DISTRIBUTOR SENSOR (1)RESISTANCE
| Application | Ohms | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Camshaft & Crankshaft Sensors) | ||||||||
| Cold (2) | 835-1400 | |||||||
| Hot (3) | 1060-1645 | |||||||
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Factory Service Tools
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.
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