I Have To Take The Key Out Of My Pocket

[Feckless Mancunian]

It started a week ago and it drives me crazy. I can't unlock the doors by tapping the handles, I have to put the key in the ignition. What happened? The car isn't seeing the key.

I can't live like that.

Any ideas? Fuse?

Cheers!

[cruisermark]

the keyless entry and start system is very reliable - I would start with replacing the batteries in the key fob and take it from there

[Stuno1]

As above, probably a week Battery pal.

[Feckless Mancunian]

Hi CM

The blipper works fine from quite a distance so it's not a Battery issue.

I ran it through a carwash earlier that day and wondered it could be related.

I might ask the local mechanic to plug it in and see if there any code faults...

[cruisermark]

just remembered

also check the system hasn't been turned off accidently - there is a swtich on the drivers footwell - while you there just switch it on and off.

also if you have another key then try that aswell to rule out a faulty key

hope this helps

[cruisermark]

here is a pic to help you find the button

http://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls430/562777-my-smartkey-stopped-working.html

[Feckless Mancunian]

You are a hero CM, cheers.

Last week a mechanic had plugged his laptop in the footwell and must have pressed it.

The long story is - I had a gearbox that was slowly starting to disintegrate so I had washed the car and taken the car to an autobox specialist. He was checking for code faults and it was all clear so it was a mechanical problem. I knew that, it was revving between gears and slamming into neutral. They opened the gearbox and found fragments from the torque converter had found their way into the gearbox, one of the clutches was wrecked. I sourced a second-hand box with a warranty and they fitted it yesterday. Although the box was fine, I thought the keyless entry had failed but fortunately it isn't.

I'm now sourcing manifold gaskets as they pulled the exhausts apart to drop the gearbox down. When they put it together, they couldn't be bothered using fresh gaskets, so it sounds like a motorbike. I'm in Warsaw at the moment so the word 'service' hasn't reached that far yet. I'll let you know.

Cheers

Dave

[cruisermark]

glad to help

hope you car gets sorted soon.

[steve2006]

When you get th chance have the transmission intercooler checked out, there have been several reports of this failing and allowing engine coolant to enter the transmission wrecking the box.

Just don't want you to write off another transmission, also did they refill with Toyoya type IV?

[Feckless Mancunian]

Hi Steve

I've now bought 10 litres of ATF from Toyota specifically for the LS so thanks for the tip Steve. I've booked it in at a different autobox specialist for fresh ATF and an oil change on Monday. I insist that I watch what they do. The last specialist wouldn't let me near the garage area and I don't trust them.

I also want the linkage slightly adjusted. The shifter is just a few mm too far forward and just seeing it ruins the pleasure. The specialist said it shouldn't be a problem.

Cannot source a single manifold gasket in Poland. The LS is rarer than rocking horse droppings over here. Are they readily available from Lexus UK?

Cheers

Dave

[Feckless Mancunian]

Well the replacement autobox is not ok, it is slipping in first and second. I'm clearly being ripped off, it's not easy having a Lexus box problem in a foreign land.

Any engineers out there? It seems there are Gear Box Fibre Clutch Kits retailing for about $160.

http://uk.alibaba.com/product/136639634-A650E-Gear-Box-Fiber-Clutch-Kit.html

If that's the solution, I'm going to order the kit and have it fitted. Will there be anything else I'll need? There's a local company who recondition torque converters so I might just get that done. It's about £100.

Anything else you'd replace while the box is down? Solenoids? Sensors of any kind? I'm not an engineer, and I'm sick of trying to learn about them on the interweb.

Thanks for any helpful solutions

Cheers

Dave

[Bluesman]

My experience of modern auto boxes is that if you haven't got an expert and I mean an expert in auto boxes pop the money you were going to spend on it into an envelope and if you PM me I will send you my address. Mike