Help; I'm Laid-off...'98 Es300 Nakamichi Stereo

[jsantos615]

Hi All -

I'm glad to have found a place with so many Lexus enthusiasts. Hopefully, someone can give me some guidance on my beloved '98 ES300.

Here's the gist:

About a week ago, I started hearing a noise from the Factory Nakamichi Sound System. The noise sounds like a lawn sprinkler; you know, the kind that makes "ssst" noise as it slowly moves in a semi circle. When the sprinkler gets to the end, it resets itself and makes the "sssst-sssst-ssssst" noise pretty quickly and then repeats the cycle. This noise would only happen when the radio was on, not when I was playing a CD or Tape. It didn't appear to be related to jarring caused by going over bumps. Also, when it made this noise, it seemed to be coming from the rear, and was always the same volume whether the radio was blasting or near muted.

This problem persisted until yesterday, when the Radio/CD/Tape continued working, but without any sound from the factory subwoofer. When this happened, I turned off the Radio, since my drive from work is only about 10 minutes. On the way to work this morning, I listened to the radio for about 10 minutes and parked the car. After work, I listened for about 2-3 minutes and I heard the sprinkler noise start to come back. This time, the sound didn't last very long, because I soon heard a small pop from the speakers and smelled burning wiring (I think there was even smoke). At the same time, the LCD display on the radio flickered and the whole sound system went dead. I couldn't even eject the magazine from the factory CD changer. When I got home, I checked the fuse box on the driver's side of the dash, behind the change pouch and the fuse for the radio was still intact.

Does anyone know what happened? This car is comepletely factory and I really don't crank the radio that loud. I've heard the sprinkler noise before, but that was on an aftermarket subwoofer amp with a substandard ground lead. I'm fairly proficient with electronics for a do it yourselfer, but I don't know much about the sound system in this car, since I have not tinkered with it. I don't even know where the amp is!

Please help, because:

1) I'm laid-off and poor.

2) I drive back and forth between Detroit and Columbus twice a week and I need music to keep me from falling asleep watching the cornfields on some of the more lonely streches of road.

The optimist in me would like to think that perhaps the amp went (since that seems to be a common radio issue with us Lexus owners) and the receiver has some type of protection circuit that keeps it from turning-on when the system is not intact.

I want to keep the audio factory (unless someone can recommend a good aftermarket replacement for the factory speakers/subwoofer), so any suggestions as far as a replacement amp or head unit and any tips and tricks would be greatly appreciated. BTW - if the amp did go and the radio is still good, is there an easy way to replace it with an aftermarket amp?

Cheers -

Joe

:o

[amf1932]

Sorry about your problem Joe, but it sounds like the power supply for the amp crapped out. :( I can't really advise what your next course of action should be since you're low on cash, but I would try to get a schematic of your radio from a Lexus dealer and take it from there, since you mentioned you're familiar with electronics. I don't think there is an aftermarket amplifier that is manufactured for your system, but if there is I'm sure it would be pretty expensive.

[jsantos615]

Thanks! Do you think that is why the Radio won't turn-on and the fuse is intact? Looks like I'm going to eBay for a replacement amp. Does anyone know if any amps from other Lexus models will work with my system?

Joe

[amf1932]

Generally, the amps for Lexus cars are model & year specific, ie: ES, GS, LS,etc.

It's very hard to troubleshoot where the problem lies in this situation, so before I would look to buy an amp from eBay or whomever, I would either take the car to a reputable radio shop or a Lexus dealer to get an estimate for this repair. In the long run this might be the most economical way of handling your dilemma. ;)

[jsantos615]

Thanks Alan!

Is there any way to easily duplicate this post in the electronics forum? I just discovered it today.

[amf1932]

You could put a link from this thread into the electronics forum.......that might be the easiest way of doing it, unless the moderators can move it for you.

[PIONEERSUBY]

i have a 98 nakamichgi amp and live near columbus ohio. if you want to swing by we can install the amp and see if that cures the problem. email me at pioneersuby@woh.rr.com and we will arrange a time to do that.