askiba

Hiya! Have a question for you guys. Did some searching in the various sub-forums but didn't seem to get any leads, so here I am.

So, the audio system in our LS430 recently went kaput. Took it to the dealership and it was attributed to the amplifier (makes sense, it could play sound but it's distant and muffled). But, they said it would cost $1000 to replace- which seems a bit steep, considering all the costs involved. Found someone who's good with these sorts of repairs, but a question remains:

In the LS430, where's the actual amplifier for the car? Is it behind the stereo/GPS? or somewhere else? We don't want to rip the whole car up looking for it. And any suggestions/tips of any sort?

Thanks very much for any help, it's appreciated.

(Edit: it's a 2003.)

Lynzoid

In the trunk, near the nav unit - right side of the trunk under carpet cover. I think it is there.

Kansas

The arrow in the attached diagram marks the spot.

I don't remember running into it on the LS430 but a very common cause of muffled audio on the 98-00 LS400 is a phone mute that has gone into permanent mute mode due to corrosion and/or failure of a phone ECU. I helped a friend unplug the phone ECU in his 99 LS400 and watched his amazement as his long dead audio system roar back to life.

The 2003 model year was the last year that dealer installed Lexus phones were available. Does you car happen to have one of these old dealer installed phones or remnants of one? Even if it does not have a dealer installed phone, the phone mute circuit can still get grounded out and force the audio into mute mode.

dejavu157

iTrader: (2)

pretty east to get too