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Lexus LS Electrical Problems

cpfmonkeycpfmonkey Member Posts: 3
in Lexus
I have a Lexus LS400 from 1991. The problem is that every time i drive it somewhere and park it the battery dies. So i replaced the battery, i've done this multiple times, ive brought it to my dealer and they said there is an electrical drain from somewhere in the car. So im pretty much unable to drive this car, the only way i can make sure it doesn't die is to open up the hood when im done driving and take out CHIP #10. Then when i want to drive again i open up my hood and put chip#10 back into the engine and then it works. How can i fix this problem? its not the starter and its not the battery. many dealers have confirmed this. Please help!!
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Comments

  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    Trunk light.
  • 01is30001is300 Member Posts: 1
    I'm having a similar problem with my 01 IS. Did you solve your problem, was it the trunk? What was it?
  • cpfmonkeycpfmonkey Member Posts: 3
    yes i solved my problem it was not the trunk it was the alternator i replaced it with a new one and now no problems whatsoever :)
  • bmlexusbmlexus Member Posts: 755
    yes i solved my problem it was not the trunk it was the alternator i replaced it with a new one and now no problems whatsoever
    ----
    How many miles in your car? Did you buy it new? Impressive, lexus are so reliable.
  • goldman2goldman2 Member Posts: 1
    have your alt.checked sometimes the regulator stick and makek the alt.think its charging
  • truckbmetruckbme Member Posts: 6
    Have an LS400 with 300.000 plus miles, has anyone had a radio problem? Mine just started in which it doesn't get any station well & only brings in a static one & changing stations keeps it on the same static one. Makes me think the antena hook up is off or loose As 4 brief moments it comes back . Other than that, trouble free
    miles,19-22 city 25-28 hwy. Thx in advance for any advice/help
  • cpfmonkeycpfmonkey Member Posts: 3
    nope my radio works fine.. but my LS400 only has 186,000 miles
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    Pretty inexpensive to replace the antenna with aftermarket, ebay, even if it doesn't solve the problem.
  • ayakataayakata Member Posts: 14
    Hello there, I have a Lexus 1993 and whenever I drive, the dashboard light will sometimes goes off, and comes back on. It fluctuates but stays off most of the times. It really doesn’t bother me during the day but at night. I cannot even see or know how many miles I am going most of the times at night. Please does anyone experience the same similar problem and what can be the cause or how do I fix this?

    Thanks
    ayakata
  • reggiegreggieg Member Posts: 2
    I have a 1996 Lexus LS400 with a cigarette lighter that has no power. What could be the problem? How difficult is this to change?
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    Normally a regular blade fuse, but there is a fusiable link on the back of the lighter socket in case the cigarette lighter gets stuck and overheats.
  • reggiegreggieg Member Posts: 2
    What are the steps to remove the cigarette lighter and get to that fusable link....it didn't look like there was an easy way or removing it.

    Thanks.
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    Just pull outward on the ash tray.
  • torry2torry2 Member Posts: 1
    2004 LS 430 with very low mileage - approx 25K. Everything was OK at last use 2 days ago. When I went to start it today it was totally dead. Cannot turn ignition even when wiggling steering wheel, cannot shift out of Park, smart key will not lock or unlock doors or trunk, under-dash levers for trunk and gas door don't work, horn won't blow and cannot lock or unlock doors using rocker switch on arm rest. When I push a button on the smart key to lock or unlock doors/trunk a red light comes on on the smart key. In short it appears the entire electrical system is dead. I have checked most of the fuses. Would appreciate suggestions. Thanks.
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    It's SPRINGTIME...!!

    Time to remove, clean and burnish the battery terminals/connections, and reinstall them TIGHTLY..
  • alawood1alawood1 Member Posts: 1
    I have a 2003 LS 430 and all of the doors lock/unlock automatic except the passenger door. Have anyone else had this problem, if so, how did the solve it.
  • lexo_papilexo_papi Member Posts: 1
    I recently bought a 1994 lexus ls 400 and I was wondering how to fix the dashboard lights as well how to remove all the lights on the odometer saying I have the emergency on radiator problems supposedly oil light is on pretty much all lights are on and when I took the car in for a diagnostic test they said nothing was wrong with the car so how can I get rid of the lights and get my dash lights back like my ac controlling unit, radio, etc.

    P.S. also if anyone knows if the seats from a 1995 lexus ls 400 can be put into a 1994 along with the dashboard from the 95 it will be greatly appreciated.
  • jaginbluejaginblue Member Posts: 4
    edited September 2010
    I have a 2004 LS430 with 80K miles. Recently a number of electrical functions stopped working . All are related to the left side of the car. The Driver's switches for RF,LR and RR windows do not work, but those windows all work from their respective local switch. The driver's window works from the drivers' window switch. The Driver's door lock switch fails to engage any of the door locks but the local switches work and the remote control switch on the key fob works. The driver's electric mirror will not work but the passenger mirror works fine. The auto mirrors close the right side, left side is dead. The driver's seat belt height adjuster switch is dead. The driver door panels have not gotten wet and I checked all related fuses in both footwell kick panels and have not found any fuses blown. Does anyone know if there is a fusible link or master fuse upstream from these devices ?
  • nadolapnadolap Member Posts: 2
    my electrical problems were do to broken wires by left hinge in trunk due to age and opening and closing trunk 40 cent repair. Instrument panel issues are not working when cold or gas/temp gauge not properly working is bad capacitors about $100 repair
  • jaginbluejaginblue Member Posts: 4
    Believe it or not, all the problems I had went away when I installed a new battery. I never had trouble staring the car when the problems began and there was no traditional sign the battery was even weak, however it was six years old ( original equipment) . One night I was out visiting a friend and when I went to leave the battery was dead. I jumped it and got home. Next day I installed a new battery and voila everything worked as it should. I am stunned that with all the sensors on this car, a battery with insufficient capacity - even with the car running - would cause this issue. Then again it could be due to a reset of some setting on the car's systems which came about as a result of the battery disconnect and replacement.
  • saulssauls Member Posts: 2
    I have a 2003 LS430. Tried to start car, nothing. Turned key off and back on and it started up. Intermittently the transmission is not working properly either. Any ideas?

    Thanks
  • saulssauls Member Posts: 2
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    Sure, clean/burnish the battery posts and connectors.
  • casino2casino2 Member Posts: 26
    It has to be the battery and nothing else. These things do surprise you sometimes. It has happen me on several occasions. It could be something else that. Don't ruled anything else out just yet.
  • casino2casino2 Member Posts: 26
    Yes, it has happened to me before, but on the driver's side. I also have a 2003 Lexus LS 430. It has happened to me on 2001 Lexus RX 300 and also on my cousin's 2003 GS 300.
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    Yes.
  • scheidhscheidh Member Posts: 2
    The exact same thing just happened to my wife this morning; only it wasn't the first time! It was one of many. I am convinced that this problem has to be the result of a software design flaw, or just poor design on the part of Lexus. We purchased our LS 430 new in 2004, and every time someone forgets to close a door tightly, or trunk-lid properly, or forgets and leaves a reading light turned on, etc. overnight the next day the battery needs to be jumped or charged. This has occurred from time to time over the past 8 years ..... both before and after battery replacement was necessary. Any other car would start, (or at least attempt to start) under similar conditions; there is no way that there is not sufficient battery power available to open a door lock, or blow a horn. My opinion, is the software is "set" too conservately and locks-out these devices unnecessarily. Did you ever get a satisfactory answer, other than "clean the terminals". I've lived with the problem, and failed to ever discuss it with a Lexus dealer ..... shame on me. Hopefully I'll get an answer as a result of this post.
  • lexusls400lexusls400 Member Posts: 3
    I have a LS 400 2000. Going well for last 13 years until last month. Starting problems. Dealer changed battery. Did not use for 3 days and car did not start. This time they changed the alternator. OK for 2 weeks. Again did not use for 4 days and car did not start. They said maybe an electrical drain somewhere they cannot figure out. All fuses are good. An independent person verified that the battery and alternator are good. By the way, they also changed a terminal on the battery.

    Also the electricals on the driver side door do not work such as driver side controls for other door locks, other door glass up/down, side view mirror controls and the alarm. This happened since the battery went down the first time and I had to jump start the car. Dealer says these are unrelated. In any case they feel that there is an electrical drain somewhere and it will cost $ 1500 to diagnose. Not sure if it is worth it, because if I start the car once a day, then it is fine the next day.

    Regarding the electrical issue in the door, last week, suddently all of these electrical issues were gone, and I thought it was well and good. Again it seemed to not work. This has happened 4-5 times and I have just given up. Can anone make any suggestions. Thanks very much !
  • scheidhscheidh Member Posts: 2
    I'm was/am Post #28 above. My problem persists. And I think your dealer is "taking you across" /or whatever. New battery, new alternator, and now a $1500 diagnosis!! Yes "there is a power drain somewhere", but that isn't the real problem that needs to be solved first. Remember when a moderately "low battery-voltage" would first show itself as dim lights, slow cranking when trying to start, or horn wasn't as loud as normal, etc. etc. I wish Lexus' would come forward and admit that it's an "electronic sensing/control problem" that is unnecessarily Locking-Out-Power to all electrically controlled devices, and that they ......... they being, someone within the Lexus' design and manufacturing groups would come forward and address this problem. Well, I'll get off the soap box for now; I just keep hoping that someone like Edmunds would use their bully-pulpit and influence to address this problem with Lexus. .....I waiting! HDS
  • lexusls400lexusls400 Member Posts: 3
    Again, today the electrical problems are gone. But this started with opening the drivers side door with the alarm/ key chain. When I can open the door with the alarm key chain...then the electricals work. Sometimes the alarm disengage switch on the keychain does not work and I have to open the door with the key...then the drivers side electricals do not work. Is it possible that some of this is related to the alarm system.........working erratically. Is there a way to completely disengage the alarm system. Thanks
  • abs8abs8 Member Posts: 1
    edited April 2013
    I have a 91 Lexus LS400, the lights on the dash board goes on and off as I drive drive it. Also the gauges (Speedometer & RPM) wont move until I've been driving for a while. My main concern is that I can't drive it at night because as funny as it sounds, if I turn the headlights on, the car wont change gears. If I'm already driving at a certain speed and turn on my lights either 1. it will stay in the gear the light came on in or 2. it will go in neutral until I come to a complete stop then stay in first gear. This is so weird, has anyone else had or heard of this kind of problem. If so, how do I fix it? I've taken it to get checked and have changed the battery and the alternator was deemed fine. Is this the kind of car where if my tire pressure is low, the seat belts wont work...?
  • gfcrgfcr Member Posts: 1
    Has anyone experienced an electrical malfunction in a 2001 GS 430 sedan that resulted in windows and the sun roof opening to a full opened position but were left in the closed position when parked in a locked garage overnight.
  • rennyboschrennybosch Member Posts: 329
    A similar thing happened to my '01 LS430 about ten years ago. After much analysis I concluded that I must have accidentally pushed on the remote control button on the key.

    It never happened again.
  • turbinatorturbinator Member Posts: 5
    My car is a final year LS400 and also has some intermittent electrical gremlins. Some come and stay and some come and go (and return). I am listing, in case anyone has any thought on these issues.
    1. The Headlight Leveling warning comes on (but not all the time).
    2. The passenger side seat belt will not come out (but not all the time, or even most of the time).
    3. The Tail Light Malfunction light will come on (but usually will go out if I rearrange the trunk)
    4. The Low Windshield Washer Fluid light generally stays on now.
    5. The driver side rear window will go up and then right back down, unless finessed up.

    Any thoughts on these would be appreciated.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    edited December 2014
    hard to say without a thorough diagnosis, but a good shot in the dark would be to check, and clean, every possible ground cable and ground wire you can find.

    Also I would run a quick check on alternator output and battery condition if it shows any inclination toward weakness. If the battery is over 5 years old, you might consider replacing it.

    but again, these are all guesses.
  • Clubtech1Clubtech1 Member Posts: 2
    My mother has a 2013 Lexus 350RX having electrical drainage issue. We have had it to dealership and they said nothing is wrong with it.  But we have to jump vehicle at least once a week.  I have been reading thru some of the comments and find some people have been having similar problems, but I’m not sure if there is a consistent answer to it.  Does anyone have an answer to this problem in 2019?
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    How old is the battery? If it's original, then it's time for a new one, for the first step.
  • Clubtech1Clubtech1 Member Posts: 2
    Ok what do you think the next would be?
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    A parasitic drain test, which you can find on YouTube. The idea is to determine if something in the car is drawing more than say---oh, 50 milliamps or so, which would be about normal. If it's like 400 mA (4/10ths of an amp), that'll kill the battery.

    If the car gets very little use or is used for very short trips, and infrequently, it may be necessary to hook up a battery tender to keep the battery charged up sufficiently.
  • lexus1957lexus1957 Member Posts: 1
    2002 Lexus 430 LS Trunk wants to open going down the road and makes a clicking noise. I am thinking it is electrical but having problems pin pointing where to start? Any suggestions? Thanks
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