QuestionHi Brandon,
I have a 1997 Lexus LS400 and I must say that it is one of the most reliable cars I have ever come across. It has about 190,000 miles on it and still runnin strong. Now to the point, I have a problem with my Lexus stereo system. My stereo seems to only work when I turn the ignition to "Accessory" mode. When I start the car, the stereo system gets power and everything but I do not hear any sound at all. Then when I turn the engine off and turn the ignition back to accessory mode, everything works fine again. I have noticed that even when it works in accessory mode, when I try to plug my phone charger into the 12v/3.5A power outlet (located inside the center console), the stereo will once again go mute. As soon as I take the charger back out, the sound comes back. I personally thought that I may have blown a fuse or circuit, but why would it work in accessory mode then? I checked all the fuses related to the stereo and they are all in good condition as well. Please help. Thanks.
AnswerYou're drawing too much power through the circuit.
Oh don't get me started LoL! It may only be 3.5 amps, but be weary of using it for anything. Until very rescently Toyota's were noted for useless cup-holders (Because the Japanese, and Europeans think it is stupid to do anything while driving.), The other is cig/power outlets that are very under-wired for the kinds of loads people put on them.
You probably have blown a fuse, or the wiring from the switched 12v rail is bad. I don't have a '97 LS400 manual on hand here at the house. You might could dig one up @ www.Lextreme.com, www.clublexus.com, or LexusOwnersClub.
For that matter $10 will let you logon to Techinfo.Toyota.com Toyota/Lexus/Scion's factory resource center.
And yes! The LS / Celsior has been *the* single most reliable vehicle on the planet since it debued in 1989. (Barring like... Commercial Semi-truck type stuff) And it's done it by such a wide margin it's unbelieveable. Toyota only spent ***2 billion US dollars*** developing the original 32v all-aluminum v8 for it. Hell it's a completely certified aircraft engine & the vvt-i 1uz-fe powered the Epic craft. Toyota's brief stint in the skiboat building biz.
If you REALLY stay on top of basic maintenance, please routine maintenance to stave off failures you would expect to happen. They're million mile cars every one of them. LS/Celsiors will do 300,000-500,000m just off routine maintenance by the book.
5w-30 Mobil1 synthetic (or EP). I've been watching oil anylisis for along time on the internet with these aluminum Toyota engines. Nothing beats that stuff. Even at 4x the price AMSoil is only argueably better at best.
