I have a classic 2002 with a 04/01 build date.
Blown front 6x9 speakers - repaired with repair kit and silicone (thanks to other threads for the help)
And now the common blown amplifier. I DIYd the amp removal and mailed it out for repair to United Radio yesterday. My question is to other members of '02s that also DIYd the removal; did you notice any other malfunctioning systems while you drove waiting for the returned amp?

 

Please help. I'm looking for a little help here.
Has anyone driven the SC430 with the ML amplifier removed?
And if so, did you notice any systems not working.
I have so far noticed that though the windows work, the 'AUTO' function does not work and also the NAV..
The local Lexus mechanic remembers that more goes through the amp than sound, however, he didn't remember all issues.

 

On an '01, I wouldn't expect it to affect anything but the sound system. Maybe there are other items that went out also or got disconnected as an unintentional consequence of removing the amp.

 

Thank you Harold57, however, I was hoping that with 110+ views that someone would comment that had actually driven the SC430 with the amplifier removed. Or am I the only one. The tech at United Radio called to confirm that the amp is defective and he jokingly mentioned he has done 10,000 of these. Let's agree that he has done a lot.

 

I have not removed my amplifier but I can see how it can affect the NAV, specifically the voice guidance since it does tie into the sound system. I'm not sure what other parameters are affected though, and your window errors seem odd in relation to the amp.

 

Thank you ShawnOk,
All are very reasonable and logical issues, however, I'm still looking for another person in the universe that ACTUALLY drove a 2002 SC430 with the amp removed.

 

Thank you to all that helped.

 

I have the same SC430 and the car will not start if sitting there for more than 10 days. After removing the Radio #1 30A fuse for the ML Amp, I can start the car even it has been sitting for 2 weeks now. The CD player works fine but it looks the amp drains battery, I hope to prove this is a problem of the ML Amp and I will save a lot of good batteries for other who has this problem. Would you show me some pictures and show me how to take the ML Amp out of the car for inspection?

 

I don't have info for you but I am very interested in the outcome of the amp draining power.

 

Could it be the clock that runs continuously? Just a thought. I noticed that it runs all the time.

 

That clock should run for months without draining the batt dead

 

I pulled my amp a couple of minutes ago. Is the 30 amp fuse in the engine bay or trunk. The only 30 amp I'm seeing in the trunk is for the defog.

Thanks for the help. Has anyone found an amp that is directly compatible in the sense that it just has to be plugged in?

 

Engine bay.

 

Thank you for the reply Iolmaster.

Anyone have suggestions for changing out the amp? I REALLY don't want to have someone rebuild the same amp.
Does any company make an adapter that plugs into the harness at the trunk so I don't have to splice into the 25 pin connector? I've never dealt with amplifiers before, but what I'm debating doing is ordering a 25 connector so that i don't have to splice into the factory harness. Then run new leads off the 25 pin connector to the new AMP, anyone done this?
Should I just delete the stock head unit and amplifier? My main concern is that the steering wheel controls still work. I could care less about the GPS NAV, I never use it

 

I replaced mine about 6 months ago. I bought a used one off ebay. There are a number of other functions this amp handles. Like the telephone sound, navigation. I would be careful cutting any wires if I wanted full functionality at the end of the process. I paid $99.00 for a used amp and just swapped it for the old one. Takes some time but is actually easy. I also got a quote from a car audio place to do it and they quoted me $100.00.