The Dreaded Cd Error Code 4

NEILJ · February 7, 2015

Back again. After the usual flat Battery after not using the car again I Recharged the Battery with my new Lidl charger which I must say is very good. So reconnected the earth lead and started the car, reset the seats and went to check the CD and got the error code 4. This has happened a couple of times before after recharging the Battery but after switching the ignition off and on a couple of times the CD sequences the discs, you can hear it doing this, and when you then switch on all is OK. This time no such thing not a murmur from the cd. Radio works fine and the cassette too. I have read all I can find and one chap said holding down the power button whilst turning on the ignition clears the code and all works fine. Tried it today with no success. The only other option I have read is to disconnect then reconnect the Battery but not yet tried that one. So Here we are again does anyone else know any other trick to try before having to take it all apart which will be a reluctant last resort. Absolutely love the car but am getting a bit fed up with the Battery drain problem and now this but I can't think of anything comes that close to replace it with.

Thank you in anticipation of your replies, everyone is very helpful on this site as I think they too are as enthusiastic as I am about these cars.

Neilj

john leeds · February 7, 2015

As I said on a previous post there's a wire attached to my positive terminal on my Battery, it came off and the Battery kept going flat after two days,I reconnected it and now problem since, I'm not mechanic so I don't know what it does but it works at keeping the Battery alive.so does any one know what it is, it would help alot of people.

Agonyuncle · February 12, 2015

I had the same experience and there is a post from me on this forum with a chaps name and number who fixed it for me. I tried to do it myself initially but made matters worse.

After about 18 months I now occasionally get a error 4 message again but fortunately it clears itself after a while.

NEILJ · February 14, 2015

Thanks for your replies. I have researched the other forums and have tried the following suggestions without any success.

The first suggestion was to hold down the power button on the cd player as you turn on the ignition let go then hit the button again to switch the unit on.

It was said that this should clear the code and all would be well again, but it didn't work for me. The second suggestion was to disconnect the Battery again and reconnect after about ten minutes again no success. The third suggestion is to pull the fuse for the Radio/CD and leave for ten minutes before reinserting. I pulled the radio 1 fuse in the under bonnet box and as instructed replaced after ten minutes still with no success. I really want to exhaust all possible fixes before taking things apart to remove the unit but it is looking like I have got to bite the bullet. The only last question to anyone reading is, is there a no.2 radio fuse anywhere that I should have also pulled. The reason I ask is that so many replies to this fix said it had worked so I wondered if I hadn't followed the procedure correctly and powered down the system. So any further suggestions please would be helpful. In each instance of disconnecting the Battery to recharge before I managed to get everything to work again and some how am hoping do the same again.

Neilj

alphacat · February 27, 2015

I have a Battery drain issue and once my car was left long enough for everything to be flat. I mean completely flat had to use the key in the lock to enter the car. But I had no problems with the entertainment system it just reset itself when I had recharged the Battery.

NEILJ · February 28, 2015

Thanks Peter. On two or three occasions before I have recharged the Battery and all has been fine but this time the error code has remained. As I have said I have tried all the suggestions on other websites without success. I am still reluctant to take the unit out just yet as I can't think there can be much wrong. The one thing I have noticed though is that the deck isn't sequencing when you turn the ignition on you could always hear it before. The one last thing I haven't tried is pulling both the radio n0.1 and no.2 fuses together to completely power down the unit. I tried contacting our Lexus dealer who wanted £95 just to look at it, they said to put it on their diagnostics which is rubbish the cd isn't part of the diagnostics system and anyway just to check I connected my eobd scanner and all was clear which it would be, not impressed by them at all. When I do get to the bottom of this I will report my findings hopefully to help anyone else with this problem. I just can't get it into my head at the moment that disconnecting and recharging the Battery can take out the CD player. I suspect that lexus could perhaps fix this in a jiff but want to milk as much out of you as possible. I will ask them again this next week can you fix it and how much that will be interesting.

Neilj

Neil E · February 28, 2015

It takes about 10 minutes to remove the audio head unit and CD player. It's a little harder to take it apart but if it's done slowly and carefully to avoid damaging any of the ribbon cables it should be possible to check the mechanism and remove any jammed CDs.

Alternatively a good car hifi shop should be able to repair it. It's Pioneer/Fujitsu Ten so most will be familiar with it.

NEILJ · March 1, 2015

Neil and co.

I have started to take things apart, first the heated seat switches then the centre wood panel. I know the top heater control module has to come out as I have watched this on utube but have pulled at it as hard as I dare and cannot get it to budge. With the cd door up you can just see under the retaining clips but my fingers are not long enough to get behind. Are there any special tools to use or is it a case of brute force and hope you don't break anything. Perhaps this is the first time it has been out and everything is tight too tight. Any hints and tips would be much appreciated thanks.

Errr I have just got my thumbs underneath and gripped as hard as possible and riggled it and pulled straight back but no movement.

Neilj

Neil E · March 4, 2015

It's always a bit harder to take a apart when it's the first time.

It does take a fair bit of force to remove the control panel and it helps if you use some plastic audio/panel removal tools to gently lever the top but it can be done without them.

Consider using tape or foam to protect the surrounds. It's easy to mark the wood or the leather when removing some of the components.

The Ipod car kit interface you tube video is correct and easy to follow but I do have a few pics from my archive that may help.

The audio head unit is secured by 4 x 10mm bolts. The bottom 2 are easy to access after removing the gear surround and the ash tray panel. the top 2 have to be unbolted after the heater / control panel has been removed. Move the head unit door to help gain access. see pic.

The heater control panel is a press fit. Try one side and then the other at the top and at the bottom. It will pull out towards you to reveal the connectors. They are also tight so may need a little flat screwdriver to help gently push down the tabs to release them.

Then you can remove the head unit and unplug the connectors to that.

With it all removed from the dash you can then begin to access the unit itself. I suggest indoors on a desk or bench with plenty of room and trays or small boxes for storing bits in order as you remove them.

I separated the door mechanism as I fitted a double din unit in place of the head unit. I think you will need to take it off to get to the CD unit.

I have taken apart the LS model and IS model units and they are not too difficult but you need to be very careful not to trap or cut any of the exposed ribbon cables. With the lid off the CD player you can gently fix any issues with the CD tray mechanism. It sounds a bit daunting but it really isn't if you take care and be methodical. I fixed one unit simply by manually winding the CDs up and down to remove them and then made sure they were all aligned correctly.

When you are ready to put the unit back in just connect it up to see that it loads correctly before you put everything back together again.

NEILJ · March 6, 2015

Neil E

Thanks very much for taking the time to post your pictures on the forum they are very clear and informative.

I have had a look again and tried to pull the AC control module but just cannot get it to budge.

Having watched the Utube video he prizes the unit out against the wood facia but I would be scared of cracking it given how much pressure you have to apply.

The only place I can see is to go in underneath with some sort of pry tool and get onto the front spring lugs but again this is very close to the wood door. At the moment I am at a loss as what to do next. Even spoke to Lexus again and they say they haven't fixed any in years and if one comes in with the fault they offer it for sale pointing out the fault exists and let the customer decide which indicates to me perhaps they don't want to attempt taking the car apart. I would be interested to hear a lexus technician comment on this as they must see this problem all the time judging by the amount of problems reported. I will continue to try and think of a way around this. I have even wondered weather I could get a couple of cable ties around the back tie them off and put a lump of wood through at the front to pull on but I don't think it will be possible. Plod on I reckon and hope I get a spark of inspiration.

Thanks again for the pics.

Neilj

NEILJ · March 6, 2015

Something has just occurred looking at the photos.

Could I take out the whole centre console which carries the cd and AC module. I noticed that the two screws by the front lugs are angled over to be accessible from under the AC module. If that is possible then I could access the clips from behind and pry out. A lot more work perhaps but the safest way I would presume.

Neilj

Neil E · March 7, 2015

It just needs sufficient bravery to use enough force. Try pulling very slightly up and down (in a wiggle motion) as well as outwardly pulling on the heater control module, try one end of it and then the other. It's wedged in, feels tight but it's just a press fit with lugs. Otherwise purchase a set of the plastic pry tools.

You can't remove the whole centre console before disconnecting the cabling so I don't think that's an option.

NEILJ · March 7, 2015

Just reporting that I tried yet again to pull out the AC control Module and it was making noises that seamed to indicate something was about to give. So I am not wrecking 500 quids worth of module, it will have to stay as it is for now. I have therefore put it all back together and am conceding defeat. Ocd as I am I can for see this leading on to chopping it for something else in the future and letting some other poor so and so have the problem. Such a shame as I really do love the car. I will however perhaps contact Lexus or a specialist to see if they can get the module out without breaking it as I don't mind paying if it can be done with no damage.

Neilj

Neil E · March 8, 2015

It does sound like a particularly stubborn one. A local specialist car hifi shop would probably quote for doing it?

Is Warrington Car Audio near to you?

NEILJ · March 9, 2015

Neil E

Warrington is not too far about an hour away and I will have a look at their website thanks. I have contacted Lexus to see if they could remove the Cd for repair and they have replied saying they need to see the car first but why. In other words as they have said earlier they want to charge £95 to look at the car to tell me what I already know. They know very well what work is involved and could give a straight answer and quote a price which is no doubt ridiculous. They are not doing themselves any favours and I have had similar experience with Jaguar in the past. So we will persevere and see some way around the problem.

Neilj

alphacat · March 10, 2015

Yes dealers are the most important reason not to buy a car in the first place. never have so many been ripped off by so few.

I am so glad I am an engineer and know some very capable motor engineers.. They have saved me thousands of £s over the years. dealers would have cost me double.

They are getting worse too and they have the support of most manufacturers. But the fact is they even rip the manufacturers of on warranty claims.

The dichotomy is this.... if the manufacturers make a reliable car the dealers don't get income apart from sales and cant run a competitive business. If the manufacturers make an unreliable product the fact will get through and sales will fall . Today this is more true than ever. What some manufacturers are now doing (and this goes particularly for second level up market marques like BMW , Lexus, Audi and Mercs ) is to have a policy of 'Claw Back' by this means they recover money from the sale spares to enhance their dealers and their own profits. Some parts of these cars can now cost thousands.. Steering arm for a 5 series £3500, Audi flywheel (standard failure) £2000 = fitting and they go at 30000 miles etc etc etc. Built in Obsolescence is now common and includes substantial labour.ie Audi S4 and S5 V8 timing chain guides (made of nylon and ear after as little as 40000 miles).

NEILJ · March 21, 2015

Well Neil E and Peter thanks again for your replies.

I have signed in to report that after purchasing a set of trim removal tools I copied the chap off the youtube Video and successfully managed to get the AC control module out Eureka. I didn't like levering off the wood facia and I did use a duster for padding but thankfully it worked with no damage that I can see.

Went on to remove the CD player and remove the door cover unit. Have taken the top off the cd and cannot see anything obvious. My eyesight these days is not what it used to be and whilst I can see the springs around the cd stack I cannot see well enough to dare unhook them to take the stack out and remove the CD's. So will have another look around it and reconnect it to see if my fiddling has done anything positive but its looking like Boxing it up and sending it off for repair. I have seen a place called Cartronics but will have a look to see if there is anyone nearer the crewe/stoke on trent area. If anyone has any recommendations I would appreciate it thanks.

Neilj

Neil E · March 24, 2015

It's a while since I looked at the LS and IS CD mechanism but I recall having to take the jammed CDs out and then winding the CD sleeves down to the bottom on one of them and that fixed it.