Amplifier not working

[Graham Wilkinson]

Good Morning All,

In 2020 the previous owner of my Lexus 430 paid 3.4K to upgrade the hi fi system,I bought the car in 2022.Several speakers were replaced,the motorised Ariel,and the header unit replaced to a pioneer combined cd,dab,sat nav,phone,media connection,when working sounded excellent.I asked an auto electrician to have a look at it and he said the amp has packed in.

I have checked previous posts and checked the fuse in the n/s footwell and this was working fine.Could anyone tell me where the amp is situated and any recommendations of a specialist repairer or cost effective replacement please?

Thanks Graham Wilkinson.(Apologies if you have seen previous versions of this,having some IT issues)

[steve2006]

Assuming the amplifier is still OEM or the replacement is in the same place it is in the boot area as shown in the picture ( number 2).

No ideas sorry on where to have it repaired, did your auto electrician not locate the amplifier when testing?

 

[cruisermark]

The company that repaired mine no longer exist.

Might be an idea to source a used one - best to remove yours and get the same using the part number as there are many different types of amps used by Lexus

[Graham Wilkinson]

Steve and Mark,

Thank-you so much for your prompt response to the amplifier issue.Steve the voice navigation compartment in the boot is not the amplifier is it ? If not then the majority of the boots rear lining will have to be removed to access the amp is that the case?

The auto electrician was funded to do an initial assessment as I didn’t want major disruption to the interior.I got a second professional opinion and they both came up with the amp being faulty.

Both thank you for your help,will start my hunt for the amp tomorrow.

Best Wishes Graham.

 

[Neil E]

£3400 is a lot. If they replaced the speakers with 4ohms drivers then they probably (should have) upgraded the amp to something suitable. If you have the invoice it might confirm what was actually supplied.

If the system has been converted using an adaptor such as the Metra or Beat-Sonic, the Mark Levinson amp in the boot is retained and IF that's the case then there are some extra things to check. 

Unlikely but check that the steering wheel fader control has not been accidentally pressed and muted the sound. It can still control the amp but the adaptor takes the signal feed from 2 channels not 4. I'm sure a sparks would have tried it but you never know....

I think there are 3 radio and amp fuses to check and then if they are all good check the blue or blue and white remote lead from the head unit that triggers the amp to turn on. (Whether it's an ML or other aftermarket amp it has power and a remote trigger lead.)

If indeed the amp has failed, it should be possible to replace it with an aftermarket 5 channel amp connected to the pioneer by phono (RCA) leads but it's important to find out the details of the replacement speakers. If replaced with original speakers they are 8 ohms designed to work with the original ML (Harman) amp. Most aftermarket speakers are 4 ohms.

Paul Frost - Lexus Spares Direct has a Harman Becker amp on eBay

[Glyn Jennings]

I have seen secondhand amps on buyee.jp which is a Japanese company that facilitate buying from Japan yahoo auctions similar to  ebay in the uk. I think there is one on there where the bid is about £57. Obviously it would be more with shipping. I find it quite fascinating what you see on that site ranging from anything like red interiors to really nice body kits. However the problem is the bigger the item the bigger the charge for shipping so for small items it is great but for large items it becomes quite onerous.

[Graham Wilkinson]

Neil and Glyn 

Wow what a response thank you so much.I really hope the steering wheel issue is the culprit,this sounds a real probability.

Good to check the simple things out first.!

Will report back on all you have raised.

Thanks both once again.
Graham.

[Graham Wilkinson]

Neil just been out to the car,you’re a bloody star played around with the steering wheel controls and bang lovely sounds coming through.

Music is my life,I am so. Grateful.

Thanks and best wishes to all who have responded.

[Neil E]

Hi Graham, glad you got it sorted and I hope you didn't pay the auto sparks as they clearly didn't even check whether the amp was getting 12V.  

It's likely that your system has a (Beat-Sonic) interface to use the original amp.

Here is the pdf manual of the US version MVA 13  Your car should have the LE Euro version but the set up is very similar. The factory amp is set using the original controls before the install of the new head unit begins. 

 

 

 

 

[Graham Wilkinson]

On 6/30/2023 at 10:03 PM, Neil E said:

Hi Graham, glad you got it sorted and I hope you didn't pay the auto sparks as they clearly didn't even check whether the amp was getting 12V.  

It's likely that your system has a (Beat-Sonic) interface to use the original amp.

Here is the pdf manual of the US version MVA 13  Your car should have the LE Euro version but the set up is very similar. The factory amp is set using the original controls before the install of the new head unit begins. 

 

 

 

 

Thanks again again Neil.

I will be seeing the auto electrician on Wednesday as he will be fitting new reversing colour coded reversing sensors.Will have a chat about the amp thank you.I paid only 25 quid as a first stab to the issue re the amp.Once again thank you so much for you invaluable help.Have a great weekend.graham.

[Lexiguy]

12 hours ago, Graham Wilkinson said:

Thanks again again Neil.

I will be seeing the auto electrician on Wednesday as he will be fitting new reversing colour coded reversing sensors.Will have a chat about the amp thank you.I paid only 25 quid as a first stab to the issue re the amp.Once again thank you so much for you invaluable help.Have a great weekend.graham.

Hi Graham

Please tell us more about colour coded reversing sensors with pics if possible. 

Anthony