Tom_ES300

That's it exactly. The HU does not enable the CD audio inputs unless it get's a valid, digital data stream on the serial link. Lexus isn't telling and Blitzsafe is just guessing (and guessing wrong). Tom

Look here for info: click me Note that you are around the time of the switchover from ODB I to ODB II. Tom

I think I remember the post from yesterday. A guy suggested his own bussiness as the solution to a problem. That's a clear violation of the forum rules. Our friends at LOC allow this type of post in the other forum - after they've vetted the poster. A great service to us! Tom

I've been reading the related posts on turning off the "Check Engine Light". Time for an update on the 2000 year ES300. Most CEL warnings seem to be caused by transient problems, such as a dirty O2 sensor. I wanted to clear mine to see if the problem was still there. Past posts suggest 2 ways: 1- disconnect the battery. Always works but usually clears other items as well, such as the clock on the 2000 ES300. The radio, ignition key/immobilizer/alarm and everything else I've checked are not affected. This turned out to be the only technique that worked on my car; 2000 ES300. 2- pull a fuse. The fuse box is behind the coin tray, near your left knee. Pull it out by dropping it 1/2 way, then twisting the two pin hinges off. Usually the EFI fuse is called out. The 2000 ES300 doesn't have one. I tried the ECU fuse and the ODB fuse. Neither one cleared the CEL. In my case, the CEL has stayed off for 18 hours now. Probably a dirty sensor. PS: the CEL activation will kill the Traction Control and put that lamp on as well. This disables the ATC switch. Resetting the CEL returns the ATC function. Tom

This Aux input adapter has now moved down a notch on my list. The Autotoys guys say they met with the supplier, but they have offered no fix yet. I now don't have any confidence that the supplier intends to fix this problem. Don't spend you money here yet. I'll keep you informed. Tom

My 2000 ES300 starts up this way Tom

I'll try it tonite; but I don't get your point. You are surprised that someone, with your key, can steal your car without setting off the alarm? Even if your window was up (you don't really lock it up with the window down, do you?), they would hit the UNLOCK button on the key, jump in and drive off. ??? Tom

I agree with steviej.... umm ... what was the question again? Tom another CRS victim

Stevie, I spotted that trick. But, I don't lock my car at night. It's in a garage in a "no crime" town. I want to be able to just drive in, put it in park, take the key out & go into the house. A few times, when I've been opening & closing several doors (to get stuff in the back seat or trunk); I've gone back out an hour later and the lights are still on. Tom

I'd say "yes, the ES300 has a problem in killing batteries". My 2000 ES300 must frequently be jumped after sitting 3-5 days. I've measured the standby current at the battery + terminal and it's only a few 100 mA. This will take months to kill a battery; so it's not the usual standby drain that is the problem. It must be one of the automatic systems that doesn't always shut down. My current guess is the headlights. I leave them in the auto mode. I use the daylight running lights and the headlights on all the time. I know that this system can be fooled into thinking that I'm still in the car and it will not shut off the lights. The trick is to open and close the door a few times and maybe something else. I'm still working on it. Tom

Oh, and might I suggest these two reference documents? Written by an expert - me! The Pioneer Radio Removal Guide Tom

I've bought the Aux input adaptor for my 2000 ES300. It's the Pioneer radio. I've had some success with it but there is still a problem. See here: click for the Autotoys forum forum The sound of my mp3 player is so much better now. Tom __________________ Tom 2000 ES300

Pioneersby, I see what you mean; it definitely says for (1998+ ES, GS, LS RX) [Type II-NON=NAKAMICHI]. So you'd think it would work on the GS. I have an ES, the Pioneer HU has the 12 pin connector, so I think I'm OK. I wonder what Type II means?? Do you have a Type I HU? Check the connector on the left. Tom

I'm looking at these: Non-NAK NAK from Autotoys. What do you think? Tom

Alex No, I've never looked at the speakers. I also have an ES, not a GS; so our doors are probably different shapes. Let's wait for Zeta to answer; she seems to be our new forum elf <_< I mean moderator! Tom

Alex, Thanks. That was an old post. I'm pretty sure now that the amp is to the right of the glovebox. I just haven't looked yet - It's winter here! Too cold to work on the car. BTW, that link got me laughing. Dig down to the 2000 ES300, (click here) That's my workshop paper he's posting! What goes round ... Still a work in progress. I let him use it. Thanks Tom

Zeta, I see you've been digging through the archives! I fixed the image link so it shows the picture in my post. See that fascia in the lower left, labeled "Nakimichi"? Look at my Pioneer radio photo - it's a match. Got me wondering just who puts the stickers on these things and who really builds them! Anyway, I've given up for now on swapping my OEM "Pionaki" radio. It's not even in a single DIN slot; its a custom slot , close to a DIN but with doghouses out each side. No one sells fascia plates either. Tom

The reason it doesn't seems to be that it's a very old design CD player. I put in a NEO35 mp3 player (hard drive based chassis in the trunk, head unit controller in place of the ashtray). The OEM radio cannot not be replaced with out a very expensive custom install because it's not a DIN case. There is no DIN rail behind the fascia plate and no one sells a replacement fascia plate. We are stuck, for now, with the OEM radio. Tom Check out my paper at click here

Wow, you guys are fast! BTW, are you the Steve who wrote the similar post, "How to remove your Stereo from your ES300" in the Workshop? Just a suggestion; can you put the model year in your post title line so people will know which one to chose? Yours looks like a mid 90's model. Tom

Matt, Thanks for the help! There's another problem now; isn't new software great?? go here: http://www.lexusownersclub.com/us/forums/i...f=7&t=262&st=0& The new attempt at a link is shown literally, the url code is not interperated correctly. The HTTP button in this editing window is not guiding me anymore as I enter the link info. I'm getting an "page loaded with errors" and this: Unterminated string constant Help color is undefined "help quote" is undefined all are on URL: http://www.lexusownersclub.com/us/forums/i...ex.php?s=(bunch of junk here) Tom

Here's another document: The Pioneer Radio connectors and wiring info Click here to download another document showing the Pioneer connectors and wiring info. Tom

Matt, My old link for my workshop paper on removing the OEM radio in a 2000 ES300 (look here) http://www.lexusownersclub.com/us/forums/i...t=ST&f=11&t=263 (and here) http://www.lexusownersclub.com/us/forums/i...t=ST&f=14&t=264 is now broken on the new forum. How do we fix it? Tom

Steve, OK; I'll ask. What's CL? Tom DUH! ClubLexus??

SW03es, I understand the FWD=no fishtail. I was referring to the FWD version of it (that's why I said slide/fishtail) where a hard acceleration spins the front wheels, then the front end slides out down hill. This causes the car to be pointed somewhere else besides down-the-road. An old fishtail was the same thing except the rear slides downhill and the car points to the other side of the road. The result is that if your front tires finally bite in, you drive straight off the road! But not in a Lexus with TC. Tom

The TC does work great. It seems impossible to slide/fishtail on even a pedal to the floor start. You just go in a straight line, although if it's slippery - you go slower and slower. The key are the tires. Wide, low tread depth, quiet slicks will have you stopped dead in no time; but you'll still be pointed straight ahead! Tom