I just bought my 03 last week. It had 129K miles and I paid $6 grand, which I thought was OK but it came with some quirks that need to be ironed out. I fixed the side mirrors per the recommendation here to simply take apart the control and clean it...simple! This door lock issue has me a bit stumped though.

Neither of the interior buttons to lock the doors work, yet you can hear a click like they're trying to. The button on the key fob doesn't work either, yet the button to open the trunk works fine. Really a pain in the ****. Is there some kind of switch on this car that disables the door locks similar to the window override? Just a strange incident.

If I can get this and the tilt on the steering wheel to work, the car will be almost perfect (telescope works fine on the wheel). Then maybe I can figure why my seat heater doesn't work!

 

Door actuator(s)? When I got my car, only fob worked, not handles. But, locking with fob, discovered the driver door was doing nothing at all. Come to think of it, I never tried to lock from interior of car, only fob, and the doors attempted to lock anyway when I go into drive and go. It sounds like no doors lock/unlock period, be it fob, interior, or handles?

It's kind of funny. I consider the LS430 superior to my 1998 Maxima in every way, but there isn't a single electrical thing that doesn't work on my Maxima, in 20.5 yrs. on the road. HOWEVER, it is attacked by rust, AND has had EGR and 02 issues, i.e. mechanical. None of the electronics, door locks, mirrors, electronic climate control, etc. have ever failed! Nissan once built good cars I guess.

 

Time for new motors in the door lock actuators. The are a little labor intensive but it turns a $1000 (each door) dealer job into a $6 (per door) diy.

 

Had the same issue- it's the lock actuator motors. I had to replace all 4 of mine. People on this forum make it seem like it's a big issue and a monumental undertaking but it's really easy. Each door takes about 45 minutes.
are the motors that are a direct fit. Follow the top review on the page, you'll have to bend the window tract to remove the locks.

 

Definitely the door actuator. I attempted the motor swap on my GS300 and had no luck. I ended up going with these guys. It's more money but they seem to be refurbished correctly and it was worth the extra money IMO.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/m.html?_ssn...ls430&_sacat=0

Do a search on here. There are DIY threads that will help you get it done yourself.

 

Thanks for the advice gentlemen. It just seems strange that all 4 would go out at the same time. I've replaced them in Beemers before but I bought this Lexus because I figured it wouldn't have Beemer problems! So much for that. At least I know I won't get a warped head because of a crappy plastic impellor:

 

There is a small list of commonly known issues with the LS430 and door actuators is on that list. Actually, I think they're a known issue for most Toyota vehicles.Sucks it's all 4 but I had the two front actuators out on my LS and then the front and rear driver side on my GS. Multiples bad actuators are not unheard of.

If you're going to replace just the motor then obviously you should replace just one and test to make sure that fixes it before tackling the others. If you buy the refurbished ones then I would buy just the front two, make sure that fixes the issue, and then do the rears but I can just about guarantee it's the door actuators.

 

I agree with the others that it is most likely your actuators.
If you want to verify before you dive into all 4 doors, unplug the connector from your driver door actuator and connect a multi-meter to the top 2 pins.
Press the Lock/Unlock button in your car. If you get +12v/-12v then your vehicles electrical system is good and doing it's job and you just need new actuator motors.



Regards,
Lenny

 

That's sound advice. Is the tilt not working on the steering column a common issue? That one really bugs me.

 

Yep, unfortunately it is. I had to replaced it on my first LS as well. It was stuck in the lowest setting and was just about in my legs the day I got it. From what I remember the part was like $280 off eBay and it wasn't too hard of a DIY. Search and there are threads on how to do it. From what I remember one of the hardest things I had with it was getting the column cover off.

A few other known issues off the top of my head besides the two you've already come across:
Telescopic steering wheel motor (separate motor than tilt)
Blown sub woofer (easy $20 fix)
Blown amp
Lower control arm bushings
Center console lid not closing (easy fix)
Crack in the radiator fill housing