Hello everyone. I'm new here, and searched everywhere for this but couldn't find an answer.

I have an 04 LS430, and when I walk to my car and put my hand on the inside of the door handle, the car unlocks. This works with all 4 door handles. However my driver door doesn't do that anymore. The 3 other doors still work, but my driver door doesn't unlock anymore. It also doesn't lock the car using the black square button on the handle anymore.

I'm trying to figure out why the driver door doesn't unlock my car anymore? I don't think its the actuator because I can still lock/unlock it with other ways, just not the keyless entry. Is it a software/programming thing or is the door handle broken...?

I appreciate any help

 

replace the batteries in the key fob?

 

If it's not the battery and all the other doors work as expected but not the driver door then it's probably the door actuator. There are threads about DIY to replace the little motors in the actuator and the motors are super cheap. However, I didn't have any luck getting the shaft back on the the motor and ended up getting a fully recondition actuator off of eBay from a guy that does them all the time and that was much easier to deal with and worth the extra money to me. That being said, the recondition actuator was like $170 vs a $10 motor but don't even try to go to Lexus for an actuator they'll break it off in you especially if you have them do the work.

 

I have the same problem as you. It's likely the actuator. You mentioned that you can still unlock/lock in other ways. What are these other ways? I have to basically use the physical key to unlock and also click on the locking mechanism before I close the door.

 

Key has a new battery and as mentioned above, all the other doors work fine, its just the driver door

My understanding could very well be wrong, but isnt it that if the actuator was broken then the door would not be able to be locked/unlocked at all?
I can still lock and unlock door, just not from the driver keyless entry way.

-key fob buttons
-key fob metal key thing
-lock/unlock switch on inside of door
-when shifting from park to drive and back to park
-keyless entry from OTHER doors

That's why I don't think its the actuator, because I am still able to unlock virtually every other way. It's just the keyless entry way that doesn't work. I'm going to order the outside door handle and replace it....

 

Very good chance it is the door lock actuator.

It relates to the status sensor inside the door lock actuator.
Inside your actuator you have 3 different sensors

• Lock command sensor
• Unlock command sensor
• Status sensor

Your key FOB and electronic button inside your vehicle will send voltage to your actuator no matter what its current status is (locked or unlocked) it will still force the action again.
Your Touch lock however uses smart logic. When you touch the handle it senses if the actuator is locked or unlocked and only sends voltage to the actuator if needed. So if you grab onto the door handle and keep holding it while you have a conversation with a friend it will not keep trying to unlock which would shorten the lifespan of the motor in the actuator.
Without the actuator sending the "locked" status signal the vehicle will think it is unlocked and the Touch handle will not send an unlock request.

 

Hi @Tacos4u , did you ever figure this out? I am having the exact issue you described.

 

I also have this exact issue. Did anyone work out the problem? Thanks

 

I have same issue once I replaced my door actuator
I assumed that there is sensor cable issue
try to replace only the handle sensor cable
I couldn’t find the cable yet once I replace
I get back to you

 

Is the door actuator necessary? I have a 2011 ISF, I assume the systems are similar, facing the same issue, driver side doesn’t work, passenger side does, and just like OP the door can still be locked and unlocked remotely.

 

If the door can still be locked/unlocked then the actuator is working fine and if the Smartkey functionality works on the other doors then the fob itself is fine.
The problem is that the door handle is not recognising the fob, so chances are there is damage to the antenna in the door handle.
The part number is 89783-50082 AMPLIFIER, TRANSPONDER KEY W(SMART KEY SYSTEM)
Either that or else there is a busted wire or bad connector somewhere in the area.
Doors do suffer from water ingress especially if the vapour barrier has been broken or poorly refitted.