'97 Es300 Remote / Security Problem

JWI1965 · December 31, 2012

[ SOLVED ]

Hi Gents! I own a 97 ES300. Recently the battery in the key fob went dead. When I used the key to open the door,the alarm went off and the ignition was disabled. Does anyone know how to overide the system so the car can be started? Thanks !!

Page 95 of your owners manual:

Cancelling the system

Open any of the doors using an ignition key or wireless door

lock remote control.

This cancels the system completely and the starter circuit

will be reactivated at once.

this did not work for me. here is my original problem..

"1997 Lexus es300. Remote stopped working to lock and unlock doors. Panic and trunk still work fine. With key in the ignition, If doors are all closed, only lock works from the electric switches. If a door is open, only unlock works from electric switches. If I remove the key from the ignition, only lock works. Remote confirms current state. Meaning if the doors are locked, pressing the remote lock button results in a click from the receiver, but unlock does nothing. If the doors are unlocked, or open, pressing the remote unlock button results in 2 clicks from the receiver, but the lock button does nothing"

Now, to add insult to injury, I was told to test the alarm system. I rolled down the drivers side window, closed all doors, waited for the alarm to set, then reached inside and unlocked the door. This set off the alarm and the remote wouldnt shut it off so I put the key in and turned it to acc. This shut off the alarm but locked out the starter. There is no indication of a prob except it will not start. Nothing from the security light. Ive locked and unlocked both front doors with the key but it wont reset the system. I dont think disconnecting the batt would help since that would make it too easy to steal the car. Anyone have any suggestions?

not sure if it could be related, but the key works perfectly in the passenger door, but in the drivers door it will not imediatly work. It has to be jiggled around quite a bit to work, then it operates fine until you remove it. Could the security sys be trying to lock out the key? The key is the factory master key and has never had issues before.

Steve · December 31, 2012

try and reset the ECU, the key is tuned to the ECU.

If that fails then you may ned the key reprogramming to the car

JWI1965 · January 1, 2013

Thank you for the suggestion. I reset the ecu and the alarm went off again. The key wouldnt shut it off from the drivers door, but it did work from the passenger door and I was able to start the car again but the locks and remote still behave the same so I assuming the original problem must be with the sensor in the drivers door?

JWI1965 · January 4, 2013

solved for now. This problem started after the car sat for 3 days in freezing temps. After 2 sunny days, the problem fixed itself so I assume there is moisture somewhere that froze and interfered with an electrical connection. It has to be in the door lock mech because everywhere else would have thawed due to running the heater while working on it.

Stan0521 · August 19, 2016

I tried every way possible that I could find still can't get my fob to work took the remote to AutoZone it is broadcasting and RF or infrared signal one don't know what to do at my Wit's End about it can't help but to think that the little red security light by the dimmer switch might have something to do with it because it no longer blinks but stays on constantly can anybody please give me any kind of advice my car is a 97 Lexus ES300