iolmaster

iTrader: (1)

Driving along minding my own business and a loud squeal and a number of pops from the audio system. I immediately turn off the system and there are still a number of pops and scratches heard through the speakers. When I get home all seems to be working and I test all the speakers and there are none blown. Listen for about another 10 minutes and it does is again. Now I get no sound and I am even getting a little pops when the system is off. All other functions of the display, phone and navigation are working properly. It seems my amp has gone bad. I know a number of you have replaced the amp and am wondering what my options are at this point. Thanks for your help.

Coleroad

Retro, you have any idea on this one?

texsexlex

iTrader: (3)

I would make sure that it isn't the radio first,since this might be easier to test. If it is indeed the amp & not the radio, the most simple solution would be to buy another amp & just plug/play. I see them on ebay, so shouldn't be hard to find. Another solution would be adding inline converters to the radio, then you can add aftermarket amp(s). You could also replace the radio with a newer aftermarket unit,there have been many discussed on the forum. Most new units are high powered(amplified), so they would be able to power your speakers, then add an amp for your woofer. Any of your local car audio stores should be able to help with this & hopefully work within a budget that works for you.....hope some of these options help......as I was writing this, a light went off inside my head...lol....check your plugs/connections also, the sounds you hear could possibly be something loose & grounding itself

iolmaster

iTrader: (1)

This happens on both radio and CD output. I went by one of the well respected car audio shops here in town and two individuals are pretty sure it will be the amp. I was in the audio business in the late 60s early 70s and this is my conclusion also. I already bought a used one on eBay and will put it in when it arrives.

Harold57

It could also be a bad connection in the system somewhere.

iolmaster

iTrader: (1)

Follow up on the repair. I bought a used (2007) ML amp off ebay for $99.99 and had it put in at one of the local car audio shops and all is well. The shop says this is not the first ML amp they have replaced. They said they are know to be problematic.

texsexlex

iTrader: (3)

...glad that you got everything back in order

Bgw70

Just out of curiosity, do you still have all of the OEM ML speakers?

iolmaster

iTrader: (1)

Yes, all OEM. Mine is a 2006 and my understanding is, they improved the speakers after 2005.

Bgw70

I wanted to know about the speakers because I was curious if you were using aftermarket 4ohm speakers.
It makes me wonder why the amp went bad!

Are you sure about the speakers?
I am probably wrong but I thought they had the same part number 2002-2010.
Guess I could easily find out!
Google!

iolmaster

iTrader: (1)

Amps go bad for many reasons. I was in the audio business for a number of years in the 60s and 70s. We repaired amps all the time. I replaced a RX300 amp about 2 years ago. That one was easy. Just under the back seat. I don't know for sure that the speakers changed. I was told that by a Lexus service rep. If you look at Consumer Reports frequency of repair records the audio system on the original SC430 was bad. It got better after 05. Not sure at all. Just what I was told.

The shop I had put this one in said they had done a number of other ML amps and they were known in the business as problematic.

texsexlex

iTrader: (3)

...hey Bgw, I went 4ohms about 6/7 yrs ago & have had no issues. In my early years of joining the forum, I was told not to do it & it would cause issues. I had a different thought than what was being said/told, so went for it anyway....worst case scenario, a reason to replace the whole system...lol...."knock on wood"....no issues,crystal clear & never have had to replace any of the audio parts since making the change

Harold57

It is possible that the speaker do have the same part number but just changed revisions. Lexus could have improved the speakers and kept the part number the same and just bumped the rev #.

Bgw70

Thanks for providing that information! I was always led to believe the amp would burn out with 4 ohm speakers, but you have proven that is not the case! Seven years is certainly a good example!

Keep on Rockin'