I drove it this morning at 8 a.m., my car worked great, stereo and everything, listened to the radio. After class at 2 P.m. I get in the car start it and it works great, but no sound though the display is lit and the station is selected, i turn the car on and off a few times, turn the stereo on and off a few times, change sources to cd and tape and fm and no sound at all no matter what volume position is in.
So I hit the mute button, it doesn't do anything, but usually when i hit mute it says MUTE on the display, not this time, no response, I go to cycle through EQ settings and I can select bass mid and treb and fade and such but they are all at 0 and i cant change them. usually i set them to 2-3-5

I have tried all the sources, all the volume positions, car on and off a few times, wait a few hours same problem, reset the battery for 15 minutes, new battery and such. No go.

What happened?

its a 2000 rx 300 awd with the stock pioneer audio system, 117K

 

It sounds like either the front-end Head Unit or the Power Amplifier (which is under the rear seat, as I recall). The mute indication might be a clue as to which one, but I don't know which it indicates. In reading this thread for years, it seems that replacment with used units is the least expensive route to go.

 

Im hoping its just a fuse for the power amp as I have never abused or cranked the volume or distorted it or anything...

Ill check later
I think the Head unit is fine as its responding.

 

With time and age, something gave up and I really doubt you can abuse the Amp. The signals from sources are combined in the head unit and almost like pre-amp [lexus specific] levels the output goes to the AMP. I would suggest work your way back form the AMP. Use the buzz check to see if the AMP is doing its job.

Buzz check .. you simply touch the input pin to get a hum in the speaker. Which pin or wire or part of the AMP? You will need circuit diagram or experiment.

Another member in similar situation disconnected the battery for 15 min or so and that cleared out some software gremlin. If you have a hardware problem, this would not help.
Salim

 

wow so I popped out radio fuses 1 and 2 and put em back in after seeing they are not burn out and it works. my presets and eq settings still there too

hmm
wonder what happened

 

Either the fuses needed to be seated again or software gremlin. Later is more likely.

Salim