Recently I changed the battery in my 2002 Lexus LS430 and drove it a few times with no issue. Tried to start it the other day like any other normal day and steering lock did not disengage when I inserted key in ignition. It has never happened to me before so when I turned the key it snapped right off the casing. The back of the case had already fallen off a couple weeks prior so I taped it so the battery would stay because I was in a hurry. So then I jiggled the key around a bit and wiggled the steering wheel and finally the steering wheel unlocked and the key turned. But when I tried to start the car it cranked repeatedly at the same pace but with no start. Left key in ignition and left car for a second, returned and car started.

Then I drove it for maybe 7 mins to the store and when I returned it was the same issue. After much struggling with the detached key I got the ignition to turn but again it would crank with no start. Tried stepping on the gas to avoid wet spark plugs but nothing worked. I checked the steering lock, anti-theft, immobilizer, fuel injection and applicable fuses but all were fine. I left the car there that day and later returned. Tried removing battery fuse, waiting a few mins, putting it back and trying again but no luck. Someone said something about fuel-injection sequence reset where key is left on ACC for a min but even then I had to wiggle steering wheel for 5 mins to even turn the key there.

Eventually the steering wheel actuators that move it towards the driver seemed to be losing power and it just stopped. Battery seems to have drained but don't have multimeter with me so couldn't check. I have no clue what is happening but I assume it is related to the immobiliser because this coincided with a battery replacement. I guess the steering column lock is apart of the immobiliser system as well?? Not sure why the new battery would drain so quickly either. Any ideas would be helpful. Also I only have one key and glued the broken key (came off with a small piece of the casing) back to the fob.

 

Hope steering wheel/ignition issue may be resolved with this simpler solution and not some other more compacted issue (am now careful each time when parking to put steering wheel in a neutral position before shutting car off) ...

 

It's becoming more apparent to me that this is in fact an immobiliser issue. I bought the car used a few years ago with only one master key and I don;t remember having a valet. Seems the transponder in the master is damaged in some way, either the RFID chip or something else. Likely going to have to buy an aftermarket key and reprogram it.