Bizzare audio/ electrical issues
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Joined: Jun 2023
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Bizzare audio/ electrical issues
I have a 2001 430 and somtimes my audio just stops working upon startup entirely and the screen says "audio off" the cds will "play" and go through tracks but no sound. on other occasions all the audio systems work but intermittently go out accompanied with a weird flicker of the screen like a ripple on an old casette, my map also doesnt work and displays a black screen with a white bar at the bottom. the "tank avg" mpg meter also resets almost every time i reset the car, no blown fuses relevant to the audio system and i tried unplugging the battery for a few mins. I checked he battery volatage in the secret diagnostic menu and it was 13.7 volts along with no codes, around this time the elctric trunk latch also stopped working. Any help would be greatly appreciated, if anyone may know how to fix the map that would be great as well, although it hasnt worked since i bought the car months ago.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,282
Likes: 384
From: ESSEX, UK
What is your battery voltage with the engine off and the battery disconnected? 13.7v with the engine running is normal, but many of those systems initialise when the car is started and could be caused by low voltage before the engine is started.
Weird electrical issues like this are almost always caused by dying batteries so for sure get the battery checked properly as a new battery is a cheap fix.
Weird electrical issues like this are almost always caused by dying batteries so for sure get the battery checked properly as a new battery is a cheap fix.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 127
Likes: 14
What is your battery voltage with the engine off and the battery disconnected? 13.7v with the engine running is normal, but many of those systems initialise when the car is started and could be caused by low voltage before the engine is started.
Weird electrical issues like this are almost always caused by dying batteries so for sure get the battery checked properly as a new battery is a cheap fix.
Weird electrical issues like this are almost always caused by dying batteries so for sure get the battery checked properly as a new battery is a cheap fix.
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 355
Likes: 47
From: North Carolina
I've had a 430's for a long time. Electrical/battery issues can be intermittent and hard to pin down or troubleshoot. A great first step is to buy a fresh battery! Its something that you know wears down, so its not a waste of $$. Also cells in the battery can fail or have issues, then load test fine.
Start with a fresh battery! And remember to replace it before it 'expires' :-) .
Start with a fresh battery! And remember to replace it before it 'expires' :-) .
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 127
Likes: 14
I will try to see if its the battery soon I'm gonna take it to a shop, got a multimeter and the battery was at 12.5 when engine was off. Now I am getting a code for misfire in cylinder #4, for what may be another issue or may be connected. gonna try to focus on that while I wait for my appointment with the mechanic, I'm going to get new spark plugs in the meantime as I needed them anyway to see if that fixes it. As for the other electrical stuff I hope the mechanic can figure it out.
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Driver
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 55
Likes: 11
From: California
Hi, I haven't had this issue yet although I am aware of it. There is most likely two faults causing your issue, sadly they aren't cheap. 1. Your CD player has likely gone out. I am referring to the one on the right-hand side of your trunk under the trunk liner that that holds the Navigation CD. You most likely have to get a new one or a used one in working condition. This is why you cannot see your maps on the screen. 2. Your audio amplifier has also gone out, which is why you are not receiving reliable audio through your sound system. You will also have to get a used one in working condition, new ones are unavailable because they are discontinued. The reason why they have both gone out is because, they are in the same exact spot. Sadly, there is a problem where water or moistness get into that compartment and ruins everything. Bad design on Lexus. If it's really bad you can check and there might even be mold or visible water in there. This is less common on dryer climate LS's but still possible. Hope this helper and ask me more questions if you'd like!
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Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 127
Likes: 14
Hi, I haven't had this issue yet although I am aware of it. There is most likely two faults causing your issue, sadly they aren't cheap. 1. Your CD player has likely gone out. I am referring to the one on the right-hand side of your trunk under the trunk liner that that holds the Navigation CD. You most likely have to get a new one or a used one in working condition. This is why you cannot see your maps on the screen. 2. Your audio amplifier has also gone out, which is why you are not receiving reliable audio through your sound system. You will also have to get a used one in working condition, new ones are unavailable because they are discontinued. The reason why they have both gone out is because, they are in the same exact spot. Sadly, there is a problem where water or moistness get into that compartment and ruins everything. Bad design on Lexus. If it's really bad you can check and there might even be mold or visible water in there. This is less common on dryer climate LS's but still possible. Hope this helper and ask me more questions if you'd like!
Driver
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 55
Likes: 11
From: California
Hmm, have you checked all of the fuses accordingly? and none of them were broken? It should be the fuse box on the front passenger side footrest area. If you open the fuse box and look on the inside of the cover, there should be a map. Check Specifically for "dome" and check that one. That may be the culprit. I'm not 1000% sure though. Also make sure you use the right type of fuse. It should say what type of fuses on the fuse map. If this doesn't fix the problem, it may be more complex than we think.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2023
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Just checked for parastitc drain and had 1.0 amp drain, checked fuses and found out it was the dome light, the dome light was off but I turned it on and off again and it fixed the drain, new battery is also getting around 14.5 volts and the misfires stopped. Now I have an ABS light flashing occasionally and a VSC light while driving that causes the red exclamation warning light to come on, but no codes came up on my obd scanner. My gas gague continues to show empty and my audio doesn't work as well.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2023
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I finally got codes, so I swapped the cylinder 4 coil, which was misfiring, to cylinder 6 and now cylinder 6 is misfiring. 90% sure it's the coils, I was looking at these $500 OE Denso coils vs. these $200 TRQ coils, any advice on what to buy? I doubt aftermarket can be that bad, but I really want my car to last.
https://www.carparts.com/details/Lex...aGjCIToqmr0hl0
https://www.1aauto.com/toyota-lexus-...BoC5-8QAvD_BwE
https://www.carparts.com/details/Lex...aGjCIToqmr0hl0
https://www.1aauto.com/toyota-lexus-...BoC5-8QAvD_BwE