rizdana

1995 2nd gen ls 400 (AUDM/EUDM version), 132.000 km. The problem happened when i bought the car for the first time (bought used).

• There's clicking noise inside the lock cylinder (while driving and engine turned off).
• Also, the key sometimes stuck when it happen and i cant remove the key from the lock cylinder (moving the steering won't work, key stuck in acc position, gear in park).
• When the key stuck, i push and turn the key several times then i can remove the key (to lock position).

Does anyone have this problem?

Sorry for my bad english, cheers!

rizdana

drove it several times, seems to happen when the engine is cold or left overnight. after driving it awhile the issue stops.

does this car have interior ecu?

djs123

This is happening to my car right now. Usually it would start up after several turns but now it won't at all. Did you find a solution to the problem.

timmy0tool

iTrader: (7)

there is a safety switch within the gear selector that enables the ignition key to turn when it's in park.
most likely this switch is going bad or has become intermittent (maybe something was spilled on it, likely as it's on the center console).

what i would do is jiggle the gear selector **** to trigger this switch while in park and see if the ignition lock is freed.

djs123

Well you're not going to believe this. There was nothing wrong with the ignition switch at all and my mechanic tells me it's very common for this to happen with most foreign cars. Adjusting the wheel will correct it, which I have found to be true. He said it doesn't mean there is a problem with the switch. But this time no matter what I did, it did not move.

What happened to my car was a totally dead battery, that's why the ignition switch did not move. There was only 5% battery power left in a two year old battery and no forewarning of a problem. I always thought if there was a battery issue you got a clicking sound, even the tow truck guy thought so too. But apparently not.

They told me that batteries in Florida usually last two years because of the humidity. I've never had a battery wear out in two years before!
I bought a battery that has a two year guarantee with free replacement if it wears out within that time frame.
So glad it wasn't a major issue and so glad my mechanic is honest.

YODAONE

Replace your key;

See;

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...-door-key.html

rizdana

thank you all for the kind answers.

apparently the issue is gone for now after i changed the battery (the battery was bulking and unable to start the car if i left it for 15min, probably because the previous owner lost the battery tray and got heat from the engine).
now, whenever i put the gear selector from Neutral to Park there's a clicking sound once in the ignition switch and the key can be freed.

i'll keep it updated if there's still a problem with it.