Kay33

This worked for my 1998 Lexus LS 400. I too had tried various alternative steps similar- this is the only one that worked. Just a note- i had one ignition key, one valet key. Ignition key Does Not have battery. I have no lock/unlock fobs. Was able to reprogram ignition key. I left valet key in house while doing this because some forums said having two chipped keys close together could mess up programming. Also- i did not open or shut any doors during the process- other than manually unlocking driver's door at the start. I didnt do it because i didnt realize directions said to leave drivers door ajar til the end. Despite having drivers door closed the entire time it still worked. O Hooray! My car's been dead in the water for 3 months- now she's back! & running fine as ever! 😉

Hi Everybody, This is Kay- posted my query in April '19. It is now July 19 & I finally finally have a Solution! Yay! So for anybody else who may have this trouble.... In my 1998 Lexus LS400 which I bought used, I have one valet key & one ugnition key. (i kno, i kno- need to get more keys.) In any case the ignition key stopped working with the security system- so the steering column wouldnt unlock with key in ignition. But then again- abt once every 30 tries, it would. There are not batteries in these keys, they dont have lock/unlock fobs. Very basic keys with very basic chips. This is what worked- HUGE, HUGE Thanks to Tyler of OReilly auto parts, in Pollock Pines, CA!!!

Thank you for sharing. I have checked all fuses. Also i tried the shift lock override button- which allowed shifting, but steering column still locked. Also security light flashes, but shuts off when key is inserted. & why does it work sometimes, sometimes not? Help Please!

BillydPowell- Please suggest away! I may well know what yr talking about- not an expert by any means, but I do minor work on cars & motorcycles. :) Update: 4-11 Left my LS400 sit over night. Today I unlocked drivers side door with key- one turn . Got in locked all doors. Tried to start, steering wheel wont give, key wont turn. Tried 2nd time- Started right up! Steering wheel did what it's supposed to- no problems. Quickly drove car the 20+ miles home. Car ran beautifully like it usually does. No hesitations, full function of all accessories, great pick up & speed- No issues. Got home, backed into driveway, shut car off. Did not remove key - tried to start- started like a champ. Locked car, left it alone about 3 hours- Did the exact same steps I did earlier when it did start- Steering column locked up- Key wont turn. Things I tried: Yanking hard on steering wheel to unlock- & I mean hard- No. Locked & unlocked from both drivers & passenger doors with key- No. Reprogramming key thru long procedure of pushing gas & brake pedals- No Checked all fuses in drivers side kick panel- all good. somebody on here suggested unhooking green & red wires from Drivers side kick panel & "grounding them" to circumvent alarm system. Located wires- not sure where to ground them to? Unhooked both, kept them separated & tried to start- No. Since it starts fine if anti-theft steering column lock is not activated- thinking either its something with the anti- theft system or possibly steering column? Any thoughts? Thank you.

Hi Everyone, great forum! I just replaced the battery in my LS400. Actually my car sat all winter & I recharged the battery it had- which had run down. Battery charged, replaced, car wouldnt start altho all systems, steering wheel tilt, lights, locks, radio appeared to be well juiced. Also steering column was not locked. Cranked steering wheel hard & it locked. Still could not start. Locked all doors & tried to rock steering wheel- nothing. Left it alone for 20 + minutes- started right up. Drove 20 miles to gas station, filled up- no start. Jimmied with steering wheel as before , locked unlocked doors, prayed- wallah, started. Backed up 20 feet, inflated tires- no start. Tried everything i had- No Go. Honestly I dont know what i did when it did start, different than when it didnt start. Any help- greatly Appreciated! Thx, Kristina