I have over 30-years in electronic interconnection manufacturing, also have a background in pro-audio, and owned ALL the LS400-series cars! I currently have a 2001 LS430 w/ 100k miles, and a non-working CD-changer. LOL. Honestly - You were very close to diagnosing the problem when you were looking at all that DUST in the trunk. That is#1 cause for intermittent or open circuits in connectors. Hopefully, the contact interface plating for the amp terminals is gold. If so, the contacts should have been cleaned with a spray cleaner that leaves no residue (alcohol) & blown-out with compressed air. If they are tin plated, they would need cleaned with Deoxit, which removes the tin-oxide, cleans the dust, and then blown-out with compressed air. If that doesn't work, there may be a bad solder joint on the socket connector, which is cause #2. After that, you're chasing bad components on the PCB which requires special equipment. My reasoning: That ML amp had a fan, which exhausts hot air from inside the amp. That means cold air air is sucked through all openings. Those connectors weren't sealed like under-hood connectors, so guess what - the dust is being sucked into the back of the connectors. It's just enough to gradually foul the connectors over time. This is why simply disconnecting & reconnecting connectors works FOR A WHILE. Without cleaning the dust out, the smallest vibration allows dust to divide the interface again. The tape you added stabilized the connectors, but the problem WILL RETURN from thermal cycling.
Thanks for your insight, sometimes I feel Im on the verge of fixing it and it works with no problems for a while, then the static comes back and its back to not working. It really has to be the connectors because bumps and dips do affect it
@@Maybe1Someday i have the same issues just bought a 04 ls430 ML and my radio turns off and on randomly it’s really annoying i’m gonna try what you did and tape down everything to make sure it doesn’t move hopefully that fixes it all my speakers and what not work it just loses some type of connection somewhere and btw what is that cord coming out of your casset player and how did you install that?
Man you are Gutsy! Thank you so much for sharing your Video's, Opinions & Tenacity to tackle these problems on the LS. I just bought a 2005 UL Model in LA last week & waiting for its delivery. Cheers from Toronto, Canada!
My 07 ES has the subwoofers in the back static. When I get a chance think will just do what you did. I actually have the documentation from Toyota/Lexus saying what to do and to check for whatever scenario comes from the audio system, specs to measure, etc.
thanks for taking the time to do this. I’m having some intermittent bass frequencies drop out. OBD reader points to this amplifier, Maybe it’s quite dirty inside. will soon find out.
i have '01 LS430 with a Levinson system..CD/Cassette player will not eject/play. is there a fuse? where? i'm told will cost mucho $ to fix, as the dash has to come out. any suggestions? radio works fine. thks
Im still learning how to make videos, its a never ending thing. There is usefull info on how to at least inspect the amp and everything. I want to say the capacitors get old and then dont work as well.
2001 Lexus LS 430, radio sometimes turns on or not when starting the car, works great when it does turn on. What is issue, does radio need replacing or other? Please help that’s Fernando
Change the air dampers. You have exhaust fumes and earth in your cabin. This is not only dust in the trunk, but also in all your blocks, will disable them in turn.
I can't even see how the unit comes out of the console. Where are the screws? Also how do I fix a broken cassette deck? It won't play... it just ejects cassettes (or my cassette adapter.) I don't actually play cassettes... I only need the deck to play a cassette adapter connected to an MP3 player. But after some years of use it suddenly started spitting it out.
You can actually take the whole back tray apart lifting out the seats and all and replace it with an aftermarket sub. I'll be making a video on replacing the sub as well. Thanks for watching.
Damn only 92k miles and this issue? I'm in a very rainy area and that air vent thing seems spooky, but I'm also feeling like covering them might cause some kind of other issue that Lexus foresaw
CornerOfTheOval yeah Id only cover up the right one that has all the electronics. I think the trunk gets too hot for the amp. I did the ceramic myself and have a video or 2 on it.
I have over 30-years in electronic interconnection manufacturing, also have a background in pro-audio, and owned ALL the LS400-series cars! I currently have a 2001 LS430 w/ 100k miles, and a non-working CD-changer. LOL. Honestly - You were very close to diagnosing the problem when you were looking at all that DUST in the trunk. That is#1 cause for intermittent or open circuits in connectors. Hopefully, the contact interface plating for the amp terminals is gold. If so, the contacts should have been cleaned with a spray cleaner that leaves no residue (alcohol) & blown-out with compressed air. If they are tin plated, they would need cleaned with Deoxit, which removes the tin-oxide, cleans the dust, and then blown-out with compressed air. If that doesn't work, there may be a bad solder joint on the socket connector, which is cause #2. After that, you're chasing bad components on the PCB which requires special equipment.
My reasoning: That ML amp had a fan, which exhausts hot air from inside the amp. That means cold air air is sucked through all openings. Those connectors weren't sealed like under-hood connectors, so guess what - the dust is being sucked into the back of the connectors. It's just enough to gradually foul the connectors over time. This is why simply disconnecting & reconnecting connectors works FOR A WHILE. Without cleaning the dust out, the smallest vibration allows dust to divide the interface again. The tape you added stabilized the connectors, but the problem WILL RETURN from thermal cycling.
Thanks for your insight, sometimes I feel Im on the verge of fixing it and it works with no problems for a while, then the static comes back and its back to not working. It really has to be the connectors because bumps and dips do affect it
@@Maybe1Someday just wondering all this time later is it still not working?
@@toxichawkz885 Its been working just fine since the second video “permanent fix” video I made
@@Maybe1Someday i have the same issues just bought a 04 ls430 ML and my radio turns off and on randomly it’s really annoying i’m gonna try what you did and tape down everything to make sure it doesn’t move hopefully that fixes it all my speakers and what not work it just loses some type of connection somewhere and btw what is that cord coming out of your casset player and how did you install that?
Man you are Gutsy! Thank you so much for sharing your Video's, Opinions & Tenacity to tackle these problems on the LS. I just bought a 2005 UL Model in LA last week & waiting for its delivery.
Cheers from Toronto, Canada!
Thank you so much! I bought a used 2004 gx470 and did everything you instructed. Radio started as soon as I turned the key. I am so happy. :)
Glad everything worked, congrats on the car
My 07 ES has the subwoofers in the back static. When I get a chance think will just do what you did. I actually have the documentation from Toyota/Lexus saying what to do and to check for whatever scenario comes from the audio system, specs to measure, etc.
thanks for taking the time to do this. I’m having some intermittent bass frequencies drop out. OBD reader points to this amplifier, Maybe it’s quite dirty inside. will soon find out.
Even still you could open the amp and see if anything is distinctively blown
My stereo will not power on is if you think it's the fuse I just bought a 430 LS 2001
The advances theyve made in these robot mechanics are amazing
Thanks for this. Having the same problem with speakers going in and out. Will try this soon.
Same what Lexus do you have
Probably something with mark levinson. Its amazing most all american cars with high trim sound systems have bose. Bose never seems to fail...
I just bought a 2001 LS430. How can I tell if I have the ML sound system?
i have '01 LS430 with a Levinson system..CD/Cassette player will not eject/play. is there a fuse? where? i'm told will cost mucho $ to fix, as the dash has to come out. any suggestions? radio works fine.
thks
i wonder if we can just use an aftermarket amp and toss the oem out... mi music sound real distorted and extra bassy even with new speakers i put in
Ceramic coat still looking hot!!!
How do you do a reboot for the radio? My screen is on audio off. It just happen
My radio won’t even work. Theirs no sound. Do you know what the problem would be
Those vents are to cool the electronics
That sound system does it still have good bass for today? How does it compare to today speakers?
DURK BROS I mean when it was working it was really clear and had good base. Still better then most any stock system
this video was comedic gold and might fix my crackling issue. thanks
Im still learning how to make videos, its a never ending thing. There is usefull info on how to at least inspect the amp and everything. I want to say the capacitors get old and then dont work as well.
2005 LS430. No sound from the radio, but I get sound with the navigation. Definitely the amp right ?
That'd be my guess
Question, what is that black rectangle thing in the left side of the trunk
I think you are asking about the tool kit
Bruh your personality is funny sound like a Cali Venice man
2001 Lexus LS 430, radio sometimes turns on or not when starting the car, works great when it does turn on. What is issue, does radio need replacing or other? Please help that’s Fernando
You mean the radio turns on but no sound comes out? Or not lights on the the display?
I can’t even get my cassata player out . What can it be
Heaven: Good people, famous people and furniture.
Hell: Bad people, corrupt politicians and audio systems.
Man if hell is full of Mark Levinson sound systems that need to be fixed I better start being a better person...
Mine just popped yesterday, 2015 RCF and seems like the crap levinson is still a problem in the Lexus cars.
Check all the fuses first 👍 I had no music for a month over a damn fuse smh
Theres a radio fuse?
Lemme know what fuses it could be
Maybe Someday check your owners Manuel I had like 5 on the passenger side and two in the trunk and it was the very last one I checked in the trunk
That one is the amp fuse @@tinoperez6877
Would have been cool if you had actually pointed the camera at anything you talked about.
Did your battery light come on when your sound would die out??
Nope, nothing on the dash would say there is any problem, fortunately it has been working now
Change the air dampers. You have exhaust fumes and earth in your cabin. This is not only dust in the trunk, but also in all your blocks, will disable them in turn.
gonna try this tomorrow on my 2000, its just a mess man every time i get in there is a different issue than the last with the amp
Thats why I say it’s designed by satin. It’s really nice it’s just old complicated. I may be making a new video for a new symptom
what’s that cord coming out the casset players?
Its a cassette adapter, you can get them at a lot of places or online
Hes in Nort Carolina
We litt
I can't even see how the unit comes out of the console. Where are the screws? Also how do I fix a broken cassette deck? It won't play... it just ejects cassettes (or my cassette adapter.) I don't actually play cassettes... I only need the deck to play a cassette adapter connected to an MP3 player. But after some years of use it suddenly started spitting it out.
There’s a gear you have to take out of the cassette player if it’s an aux cord look it up
I NEED TO HAVE MY ML AMP RECAPPED, CAN YOU REFER ME TO THE COMPANY THAT RECAPPED YOURS PLEASE 🙏
Sir, you missed your calling as a NASA Space Engineer! I wouldn't last 5 minutes trying to do what you did.
bro its just my sub in the back that isnt working, what to do?
You can actually take the whole back tray apart lifting out the seats and all and replace it with an aftermarket sub. I'll be making a video on replacing the sub as well. Thanks for watching.
@@Maybe1Someday waiting for the replacement video!
Napoleon Dynamite
Damn only 92k miles and this issue? I'm in a very rainy area and that air vent thing seems spooky, but I'm also feeling like covering them might cause some kind of other issue that Lexus foresaw
Also, how much did your ceramic coat job cost? Did you do it yourself?
CornerOfTheOval yeah Id only cover up the right one that has all the electronics. I think the trunk gets too hot for the amp. I did the ceramic myself and have a video or 2 on it.
DPS the GPS Issue ever resolve itself
Like where it showed the wrong location?
@@Maybe1Someday Yes
@@bmanstyle661 yeah it just needs to drive a little bit and it always syncs up
Did you ever find out what was wrong with it?
Yeah
Watch the second “final” 2nd video, the connections were corroded from the vent in the wheel wheel
Satan indeed!
The next time you do a video please leave out the personal venting and rambling. just Get to the fix or repair.
The ramblings are good 👍