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06’ LS430 82k miles. Question regarding the smart key. When exiting my car, engine off to leave, sometimes I’m able to push the exterior door button and it locks instantly, sometimes I have to wait 10-15 seconds before either the exterior door lock button or key fob will lock it. Key fob battery is new. Thanks
06’ LS430 82k miles. Question regarding the smart key. When exiting my car, engine off to leave, sometimes I’m able to push the exterior door button and it locks instantly, sometimes I have to wait 10-15 seconds before either the exterior door lock button or key fob will lock it. Key fob battery is new. Thanks
Does it beep when you push the button or is it completely unresponsive for the 10-15 seconds?
Ive had a failing door lock actuator cause mine to have those symptoms but after continued attempts it will work. Easy way to tell is when you push the lock button inside your car make sure all doors actually lock and the little red part isnt still visble on the door lock.
Does it beep when you push the button or is it completely unresponsive for the 10-15 seconds?
Ive had a failing door lock actuator cause mine to have those symptoms but after continued attempts it will work. Easy way to tell is when you push the lock button inside your car make sure all doors actually lock and the little red part isnt still visble on the door lock.
Thanks for the reply, I’ve checked the locks, all function quickly/perfectly. When I exit, approximately 30% the exterior button/key fob will be unresponsive for 10-15 seconds.
Let me rephrase your description to make sure I understand...
Most of the time, you can lock the vehicle using the keyfob, or by pushing the black button on the door handle. Some of the time, neither the keyfob nor the button on the door handle will lock the vehicle.
If the above is accurate, you can eliminate the keyfob as being defective, and you can eliminate the button on the door handle as being defective.
The commonality would be something actually in the car, perhaps the car's battery. Believe it or not, a weaker battery will do really weird things to the vehicle. Check the battery after the car has rested overnight. If it's 12.3v or less, you should replace it.
Another common denominator with both the fob and the door handle buttons is the Smart Key ECU. The electronics and components (capacitors) are 20 years old, and are only becoming less reliable every year. That ECU is behind the glove box, silver/gray in color with several wiring harnesses connected into it. You could try reseating those connectors or spraying some electrical contact cleaner on them. Make sure you disconnect the battery first!!!!
After listening to a bunch of locksmiths with me trying to get a "Master" key it sounds like they have to either flash or get into the ECU ( OBDII ? )and see the keys that are there - There is a limit of the number of keys the car remembers and I think it's five. I have also heard with the correct OBDII reader you can program a key - but I don't know if that is a "Master" key or just a Valet key. I don't have the master key that came with my LS430, instead I have a Valet key that does not open the trunk. Good luck... I'm still on this journey....
Let me rephrase your description to make sure I understand...
Most of the time, you can lock the vehicle using the keyfob, or by pushing the black button on the door handle. Some of the time, neither the keyfob nor the button on the door handle will lock the vehicle.
If the above is accurate, you can eliminate the keyfob as being defective, and you can eliminate the button on the door handle as being defective.
The commonality would be something actually in the car, perhaps the car's battery. Believe it or not, a weaker battery will do really weird things to the vehicle. Check the battery after the car has rested overnight. If it's 12.3v or less, you should replace it.
Another common denominator with both the fob and the door handle buttons is the Smart Key ECU. The electronics and components (capacitors) are 20 years old, and are only becoming less reliable every year. That ECU is behind the glove box, silver/gray in color with several wiring harnesses connected into it. You could try reseating those connectors or spraying some electrical contact cleaner on them. Make sure you disconnect the battery first!!!!
Nearly dead main battery for the win! My battery was on deaths door and I hadn’t realized, wasn’t giving me issues otherwise. Replaced it with an Everlast and the problem hasn’t occurred again.
Last edited by Kenn1926; Oct 14, 2025 at 03:23 AM.
Nearly dead main battery for the win! My battery was on deaths door and I hadn’t realized, wasn’t giving me issues otherwise. Replaced it with an Everlast and the problem hasn’t occurred again.
Excellent work! Thanks for posting the confirmed fix!!!
Smart key Access
