Paul Cook

For the electrical types out here I have a question. Where is the switch unit that is mounted to the steering wheel, that you use to change radio modes i.e. AM, FM1, FM2, and volume, located in the electrical schematics of the "2002 Electrical Wiring Diagram" manual? My audio door does not work and while looking at the plug itself, I have two extra wires (W/G and G) that come in on pins 1 and 5 that are not shown in the manual for plug A25. The other wires are correctly identified as coming into the "Audio Door Control SW". I have looked high and low for where those two wires come from with no success and have made an assumption that maybe they are coming from the modulator switch on the steering wheel. But I cannot locate that switch in the schematics. Of course. Lexus manuals have always left me wanting for something that resembles accuracy. Any help is always appreciated.

Did you ever get this problem sorted out? The reason I ask is because I had a similar experience this morning except I was opening my top. The top folded in normally but then the rear deck and trunk sequence that was supposed to activate back to the down position just stopped with the trunk lid still open and the deck lid still in the up position. Tried resetting everything also. Ended up lifting the hard top on the corners a couple of inches while it was packed in the trunk and then it closed completely and opened again with no further issues. So I was just curious if you had any luck. Paul

Thats funny because that is the same bulb on their website that was called out in the Sylvania guide in the store. I did find a pair of Sylvania bulbs with the number P/N "57" which work but are only 3.5W. And even though they are half the wattage called for, I kind of like the soft yellow glow instead of the brighter, harsher white of the original (?) Bulbs. Just more SC strangeness I guess. Thanks for the assist though. Paul

Anyone have a good P/N for these bulbs. Owners manual just calls it a type F (single end bulbs) that is 8 watts. The one that came out is indeed a 12V 8W bulb but no joy at my local auto parts store. The guy at the counter said he didnt even have one listed in their computer. In my manual, its listed on page 336 with no bulb number so here we are. Thanks for any assist. Paul

Can't sleep so may as well continue my research. Looking at all of the available used OEM Mark Levinson units I can locate on ebay, this is what I find. Units have a different P/N depending on year manufactured with some mixing towards the end of the calendar year. In at least one case I found that happened which kind of makes sense since next years models start hitting around October I think. You could probably get similar info from Lexus Parts but I haven't gone there yet. Year MFR P/N 2001-2002 86120-24390 2003-2004 86120-24391 2005-2007 86120-24392 And they also have a second identifier I decided to call a SUB P/N that changes in 2005 from FX-MG8217 "ZT" to "ZT-03" that applies through 2007 which is the latest year manufactured that I found so far. YEAR SUB P/N P CODE 2001 FX-MG8217 ZT P6813 2002 FX-MG8217 ZT P6813 2003 FX-MG8217 ZT P6832 2004 FX-MG8217 ZT P6832 2005 FX-MG8217 ZT-03 P6846 2006 FX-MG8217 ZT-03 P6846 2007 FX-MG8217 ZT-03 P6846 So, my best guess is that "I" am looking for a head unit with P/N 86120-24390 and P Code of P6813 for my 2002 SC430. Will one of the others work? No clue. But I cant spend several hundred dollars to find out even though I would like to get the newest unit I can for wear and tear reasons. Why the P/Ns changed is most likely due to electronic/software updates and possibly even specific features for a specific car. But that's just a guess. Hope this helps others or others can even add to this as new information becomes available. Paul

The only information I have found that is probably note worthy in the aftermarket is the two different P/N's for the Beat-Sonic harness adapter, P/N MVA-12L applies to the 2002-2004 years. MVA-13L applies to 2005 to 2009. So something changed in 05 that will affect my choice in replacement M.L. units. But I am interested in checking out the Toyota Tech Info website. Could you post a link at your convenience Please. I'm sure it would be handy for my 97 LS400 also. Thanks. Paul

Just left my local Lexus Dealer for as much information as I could get on replacing a unit with a like unit. The service department rep said I would need the same "P" number as the original unit. AND the ability of the replacement to work without a code was a crap shoot depending on if the replacement unit was properly pulled. If it was, then plug and play is the order of the day. (Although the next time it needs resetting, you are probably out of luck again) But I also have no idea what "properly pulled" actually means. They stated that there is no service bulletin relating to this subject. So, disconnect the battery before actually pulling plugs? They also stated that if the unit was locked, they would need the VIN of the original vehicle and I imagine proof of purchase so the dealer could then call Mark Levinson and after verification that they were a dealer, Mark Levinson would then provide a code to unlock the replacement unit. At a cost of $149.00. Replacement cost of a like unit goes up again. I'll update when I have something else to contribute on this subject. Paul

Thanks for the response. And even though my window sticker says the vehicle is equipped with an "Audio Theft Deterent Design", the owners manual says nothing about what happens if the battery is disconnected or you have to remove the head unit as is my case. (Error 3) Talked to the dealership over the phone and the person I talked to stated that the is a Code number on the unit that starts with a P. And on the front of the Tape Deck door there is a number. P6813. The person stated that he thinks that is the number he was told about. And that any replacement unit would need the original VIN from the vehicle it was removed from as well as the P code. My unit was made in May 2002. I have seen other units on ebay from other years that have a different "P" number on the tape door. Is there anyone else who has replaced or even have had to have their original unit recoded? Lexus isn't the most helpful when dealing with their out of warranty vehicles sometimes. Thanks. Paul

So, I didn't really want to go the whole route of a $400.00 Beat Sonic adaptive wiring harness plus new installation cost of an after market stereo. The Mark Levinson that came stock is good enough. I could use a little more wattage but wants versus needs etc. My problem is my OEM unit has a broken ribbon cable inside the face plate. This makes the unit unusable. I can get a complete used unit from ebay for less than the adaptive harness and just keep on rolling. Now comes the question, do I need the "replacement units", "original" security code to even make it work? I doubt if the code (if there actually is one) assigned in the theft deterent system to my original unit will work unless it is stored in an ECU outside of the stereo unit. So, what say all? How difficult is it to make a same but different Mark Levinson stereo work if that is the route I wish to go? Thanks in advance for any assistance. Paul

ARRRHHH! Knew I couldn't get so lucky. 02 430. My antenna cable broke off inside too. The AM plus DISC trick (see above) works though. But since my mast cable is broken, I had to remove and take apart the power antenna to get the remaining broken cable out. Sticky, black, waterproof gunk around the seal gets everywhere. Got the old mast cable out and reassembled the power antenna without installing the new mast because that is basically impossible to do since the gear inside cannot be turn by hand. Now, when I turn my key back to lock, the antenna mast retracts but the motor doesn't stop so it just sits there and grinds for about 15 seconds once the Antenna mast hits the bottom. (Seems like forever.) When it does finally stop, I turn on the key again normally without using the mast hyper-extension trick and it extends normally. It just wont retract normally. Probably a limit switch in there that isn't turning off when it should. Checked Lexus Parts and Ebay. The cheapest OEM Power Antenna replacement is like $390.00. Lexus parts are over $420.00. Talk about bumbed right now. I know there must be something I am missing. Lesson learned here is that if you just toast your antenna at the car wash, you might be OK with just replacing the mast without all of the rear trunk disassembly, etc. Otherwise, if you have Lexus do it, you are probably looking at about $800.00+ if they say that they have to replace the entire Power Antenna. If I figure out why it is not stopping at the bottom of travel, I'll update this post. Paul

Well Peggy. I know this has been sitting here for a long time now and I'm not going to be much help because the Owners Manual just states to take in for repair. I have an 02 that JUST started flagging this. These are "my" symptoms. My VSC (Vehicle Skid Control) clears when I turn the car off. Then when I start the car it remains off "until" I put it in gear and actually start rolling. If Im in gear but sitting stationary with the brake on, it doesn't light up on the dash. But the second the car starts rolling, it comes on. I cleared a DTC C=1336 code which equates to a "Zero Point Calibration of Deceleration Sensor Undone." Since it just came on within the last 24 hours, I have not had a chance to delve deeper on this issue. Like I said, not much help but if you have any info it would be great to hear back. Good Luck. Paul

It should be under the drivers side dash. It possibly has a black cover that you just pull down on. I have an 02 and mine is located in front of my left knee. The connector itself is rectangular in shape. You can do a quick search on OBDII connectors and their should be a gazzilion photos out there to narrow down quickly exactly what you are looking for. You can usually take your car to any auto supply store and they will put a scanner on it for free just to be helpful (and hopefully sell you a part) Hope this helps. Paul

NOT SPAM I have a set from "Lift Support Depot.Com", P/N PM3808-PR on my 02. Looks like those are discontinued now. But they do have two other P/N's for the trunk. It shows one for a trunk w Spoiler and one without spoiler. They also list Hood Struts. Seem to be reasonably priced too. Check their website out at www.liftsupportsdepot.com. Good luck. Paul

I'm looking for the 1997 LS400 Repair manual. I realize that they are probably similar across model years but since I don't know the differences between them, so I am looking for the 97 manual pecifically. I have the "Electrical Wiring Manual" but can't spend $400.00 for a danged repair manual. Anyone have one they want to unload? Thanks. Paul

Sweet ride. I bought mine earlier this year with 234,000 miles and it was still a steal. I love my car. My GF named her "Lady Pearl." Changed the Timing Belt, had paint correction done, repaired an outer tie rod and not much more. If you decide to keep it, it should serve you well. Paul

While doing an inspection of my 97 LS400, I found one of two hoses to the "Power Steering Air Control Valve" (located below the power steering pump, passenger side) disconnected. The other hose was still connected but neither hose had a clamp so they could have been correctly or incorrectly installed in the past. Investigating the air control valve component, I determined that there should be a connection on one of the two valve nipples to the Air Intake Hose just after the MAF, and one that goes to the upper Intake Manifold. From the pictures I can find of the valves operation, and research I have done, it shows air flows through the valve to affect the engine RPM while turning the wheels to their maximum. (I don't believe it because the vacuum created by these two air supply points on valve would only open to allow more power steering fluid to flow through. More differential pressure (higher RPM's), the more the valve opens. But hey, what do I know.) What I cannot determine is which nipple is the one that connects to the air intake hose and the one that goes to the intake. One nipple has a tab. One does not. Does anyone know if the tab is the inlet side? Thanks.

There are no user serviceable parts on the speedo. The Lexus instrument cluster boggles my mind at how beautifully complex it is. An engineering work of art is the best way I can put it. As long as everything else is working (i.e. trip meter, odometer and cruise control, lighting) you can be certain that the speedo itself is at fault. The only way to repair it is to either replace the speedo assembly itself (which is not too terribly difficult "or" replace the gauge cluster. The same goes for any of the actual gauges. I am an electronics tech of 35 years. It's not difficult to pull the cluster, get the P/N off of it and find one on ebay to replace the gauges. Just swap the "top" board with all of the coils of wire and other components to move your original/true mileage (stored on one of the chips) over to the new cluster. Takes less than an hour to do the whole thing. You need a phillip's screwdriver and a thin blade flat is helpful. There are if I remember correctly, three ribbon cables at the top to switch over and three other normal type of connectors on the bottom. That's about it. I had the same issue. Did what I am recommending. worked fine. No more speedo issues. Easy squeazy. Just a little costly to buy a used cluster. Good luck.