traderlou76

If you saw a post about a defective phone ECU in the trunk causing an LS400 audio system to go into mute mode, it might have been one of my posts since I've mentioned it a number of times. I got a friends 99 LS400 Nakamichi working again by disconnecting his defective phone ECU.

Be sure to verify that both the radio 1 and radio 2 fuses are good. One is in the engine compartment and the other under the dash on the drivers side.

One way to see if your amp is good is to try it in another 95-97 LS400 with Nakamichi. Know anyone who has one? That's how I tested my 00 LS400 Nak amplifier when the right side channel went out four or five(?) years ago. I pulled out my Nak amplifier, laid it on the rear floor of my friends 99 LS400 and plugged his amplifier cables into my amp. My amp worked fine so I sent my radio head unit to http://www.carstereohelp.com/ in Florida for repair. A wire at the balance control in the head unit was loose.

My understanding is the that the interiors of 95 through 2000 LS400's are basically the same. If so, you should be able to remove your amp without removing the front passenger seat. It was fairly easy to do in my 00 LS although I needed someone else to press done on the metal tabs on the front of the amplifier when reinstalling it so I could slide the tabs into the slots under the front of the passenger seat.

In theory it's possible that a grounded telephone mute is still causing your radio to mute but I think it is unlikely. If you haven't owned your car since new, check under the removable floor on the right side of the trunk to verify there is no phone ECU. On cars without a dealer installed Lexus phone, the phone connectors in the trunk containing the telephone mute are attached to the bottom of the tool kit receptacle where it is doubtful they could get wet and short out.

I was told by Car Stereo Repair several years ago that it was getting difficult for them to repair Lexus Nakamichi due to a lack of parts availability. Nakamichi when bankrupt a long time ago and the current Nakamichi is Nakamichi in name only.

If you have to pull the head unit, it is not difficult. Remove the center air vent, pry out the console wood panel and you will see the four 10 mm bolts holding the head unit in place - two top, two bottom. Be sure to cover the console area with a heavy towel or similar so you don't scratch it when you pull the head unit.

thanks alot for the reply. ok i pulled the amp out. Is there a way to test the amp besides putting in amother car, i dont know one here. thanks

I bought a 95 ls400 recently and i was driving it this weekend and the stereo sounded great. I shut it off and got out and when i started it back up there was nothing. Stereo turns on fine but no sound and the fuses all look good and i did check power to the amp and it was hot. Does anyone have any suggestions? I did see something about a phone but mine doesnt have one. Funny thing that it never even acted weird before it stopped, it was like someone muted the radio. Thanks with any help i can get. it is a nakamichi 50160 amp.