Lexus LS430 Mark Levinson Sound System Permanent Fix

I fully diagnose the root cause of the ML stereo issue. With this and my last video you will be able to fix your stereo yourself.
First video showing how to remove and diagnose if the amp has gone bad:
• How to Fix or Diagnose...
Song in the stereo test is:
• Warriyo - Mortals (fea...

[@chrispritchard4676]

Excellent video, thanks. Useful information gained with locations. I love the Levinson stuff on my 05 model. Even the old cassettes I have sound better than anything I drove in the early days. It is nice to revisit all the music of my youth. Also an early Fluke 7-300 meter will quickly diagnose all there problems whether voltage loss, resistance and continuity. Hope everything goes well now.

[@edwardfletcher7790]

For 95% of Lexus owners the screen saying "AUDIO OFF" means the Mark Levinson AMPLIFIER IS THE PROBLEM !! They suffer from dry solder joints, bad capacitors and blown MOSFETS ! If you're watching this and have the battery drain problem, just remove the under bonnet AMP fuse until you get it fixed....

[@andrzejkuakowski3067]

you should remove ground cable from battery . positive should be installed all the time.

[@tomfrahm2674]

I have the same car, one nice radio feature is to add the blue tooth radio adaptor available from crutch field

[@ardentbull5867]

Wld you give me details on the adapter please

[@JohnSmith-ve8pd]

Keep seeing these Mark Levinson fixes and speaker fixes. Sort of regret forking out a big sum of money for a Focal audio system. I really think the Mark Levinson speakers are on par with these Focal ES speakers I have... supposedly near top of the line from the range. Although I think the tweeters are a bit better, more clarity/brightness.. but was it really worth the cost... not happy about it and don't like to think about it.

[@Lethalpancakes]

Dont know if you will see this but here I go. 1. Ive seen part 1 before this and completed the same steps, take out ML amp and clean it. 2. The way you edited THIS video was confusing. So Im assuming the electric grease dye did nothing OR you used it as a preventative measure. My conclusion is the battery was the culprit the whole time, including the time period in which part 1 was filmed. 3. Im assuming your amp never worked or it worked very little/poorly. 4. Assuming the battery was always the culprit, im going to clean my battery posts in hopes it will fix my issue as well. Mine only comes on for 1 sec and cuts off, during drives it will randomly come on for a second as well. My battery posts are dirty so I will update afterwards for anyone reading. Edit: Cleaning the battery seems to have done something, now there is cracklin coming out the speakers. No full sound yet

[@AaronAnonymous]

Capacitors on amps degrade overtime depending on what material was used. I’d discharge and replace all the caps.

[@mairoaru2111]

Keep up the good work. I´ll be waiting for another vid on ls430. Planning to buy ls430 myself as well :D

[@Tigeryoudothejob]

My stereo nav, (external system) went out due to water. Most impressive about lexus the horn and AC also went out fortunately the ac came back to life after two days of drying out

[@Kemet09]

That positive battery terminal is Toyota’s Achilles heel! Not sure why it is made of such crappy malleable material! Have replaced quite a few of these with heavy duty marine type terminals

[@joachimparker9163]

Triple A (AAA) batteries caused my check engine light to turn. I spent grand upon grand trying to fix the check engine but it turns out the battery was the problem. They might have good services but stay away from their batteries.

[@ORTLIEBRC]

Do you still have this car? I am thinking of buying one and curious if you like it.

[@leonhenning6432]

Hey man, My 2001 ls430 has 2 Problems. 1. That the car cranks very long before starting...atleast 3 full seconds. 2. The audio system sometimes (especially when its cold outside) has some loud crackeling noises im the beginning and the audio options are greyed out so no sound at all. The Audio comes on only after driving it for like 10 minutes...but you habw to drive it hatd or rev it high for the audio system to start working. The battery has 12.57 volt when the car is turned of so this thould be okay. Any ideas what could help? Dont want to buy a new ultra expensive amp for now.

[@harryballs1234]

I had to recently replace the subwoofer foam on my 03 ls430 and the sound system sounds 10x better

[@shelleygold4923]

Did you replace it with another Levinson? Or aftermarket?

[@harryballs1234]

@@shelleygold4923 I didn't replace the whole speaker, all I did was replace the foam rim on the stock subwoofer and it sounds like it's brand new

[@nesssal6558]

@@harryballs1234 did you end up cutting through the board to get to the subwoofer?

[@Fernan2010]

"IDK why but that never gets easier" he's done this before!

[@SuperJoes70]

Ok so this is your oringinal amp ?? and the cause of you not getting sound was a bad battery conection ?? and then it works ?? thanks for the video

[@paultaylor4460]

Please explain how to release the two white plugs holding amp in place in addition to the two screws.

[@twzted_synapse221]

Thanks Napoleon Dynamite...

[@Maybe1Someday]

No problems

[@lauraprincipato8079]

I get in, turn the key. Whole dashboard stays black. Nothing lights up, engine doesn’t start. I bought a new battery two months ago, but still having problem with car starting some days. 🤷‍♀️

[@will900rr]

What kind of battery did you put in the LS430 and is there a on-and-off button to turn the sub woofer on and off

[@rasii3502]

My farther is about to give me his 04 ls 430. He told me the radio has this issue. This is why Im on youtube now , hoping to figure it out before i get the car.. if you dont mind and still remember, which battery did you end up getting as well as the prongs? Has the problem ever returned since?

[@Maybe1Someday]

Im pretty sure if you watched the video all your questions would be answered. You’re lucky you can talk to your dad

[@rasii3502]

@@Maybe1Someday yes, Iam.... / ok, ill rewatch it. Heard you mention triple A battery was bad but didnt catch the new battery name.

[@Maybe1Someday]

@@rasii3502 Its some kind of optima red top battery. Basically a higher amp hr battery than I had

[@rasii3502]

@@Maybe1Someday ok, cool... appreciate your response. By the way,, had me and my pops Lol'ing on your initial LS 430 video, or what looks to me to be the first video. Going over the car and using the meter stick to prop the hood. Funny content and thanks for the other videos such as fixing the sub woofer. That might come in handy for me as well.

[@MM-ll2sp]

Man i m hearing ncs from ls for the 1st time... and they’re really amazing 😻 damn

[@gennaro4941]

I agree with you on the AAA issue...i locked my keys in my car one day..had AAA come out..guy uses his door jimmy's...and took the paint off my driver's side jams on my LS430..Wasn't happy at all... The service people are not that experienced i think...they hire anyone.. I have an issue with..1 speaker in my left passenger door..all other speakers work great...even bought a new speaker for the Levinson..for that door.. Still don't work??..any ideas??

[@Maybe1Someday]

Thi wiring in the door speaker may not be getting power, could test it. Thanks for watching

[@jamalwalker2104]

Did the amp have something to do with the dead battery?

[@bmanstyle661]

I think I need to replace the amp in my LS 430, did you have any issues with your volume after disconnecting the AMP? Just been reading some horror story threads online.

[@Maybe1Someday]

Stereo worked great since I made these videos. Its now on the fritz again. Its a nice system when it works though

[@bmanstyle661]

@@Maybe1Someday Today i had a Grom adapter installed and new front speakers, realized my two back speakers dont work. I have the crackling sound. I replaced the batterey cause it needed replacing anyhow, still the crackling. Thinking the amp is my only hope now. Thanks for the quick response, hope your doing well!

[@bmanstyle661]

@Maybe1Someday Replaced the amp and finally fixed my crackling sound, thanks again for your great videos, couldnt of done it without you. Heres to another 100K miles!

[@thegonzalezfamily7407]

Ok same car my dad everything works but for some reason draining battery we uplugged the amp and no more draining the battery but no sound ? Possibly?

[@Maybe1Someday]

Try opening it up like I showed in video or buy a new one

[@prod.vandenplas6038]

the tweeters are a nightmarman, been tyring to find resources on bypassing because I refuse to remove or pay to remove the dash

[@Maybe1Someday]

Never heard of the tweeters going bad

[@4sstylz]

@@Maybe1Someday Personally I have some issue with the passenger side, twitter and probably the side speaker. But the worst was the loudspeaker : foam was cutted all arround the speaker. I used a foam repair kit and now tha car sound good except for the passenger lol. To access to the loudspeaker I do not suggest to cut the back of the car to remove the loudspeaker. That's the lazy way, and even on my UL I got access to the loudspeaker without any damage. I have to remove the seat, and side panel inside, but better this method who take time than te destroy something. Also you don't need any special tools.

[@prod.vandenplas6038]

@@Maybe1Someday I don’t know what to do, where to take the car to get it diagnosed. I suspect it might not be the tweeters at all, it mean it wouldn’t make sense for them to be blown considering you’d have to blow the whole system to blow the tweeters

[@andyman8662]

Just yesterday I did it without removing the dash, Just take out the glovebox and the front trim of the dash. with the right extensions and a lot of cursing you can get it out and replace it. took me about 2 hours

[@prod.vandenplas6038]

@@andyman8662 any resources for me to follow bro? I wanna do it

[@nello8630]

There are foam kits for the sub woofer

[@Maybe1Someday]

Id start watching at 6:44 the begining is fairly informative though

[@BleechMedia]

can i just get new speakers, sub, and amp ? or is it not compatible. i saw on the forums that you need a 16ohm subwoofer in the mark levinson. that is a crazy number

[@Maybe1Someday]

Ive seen people put just another same size sub in there of different kinds. You can also put in different speakers. The amp though is a big situation because its not like an aftermarket amp

[@zombieoozaru9135]

Which ls430 do you prefer 5 speed or 6 speed?

[@Maybe1Someday]

04-06

[@t.l.robinson2162]

Thank you for this video.

[@Josef_R]

What's the wire sticking out of your tape deck? What hardware are you using to connect your laptop to the stereo?

[@Maybe1Someday]

Its a cassette mp3 player, a great invention whoever made it

[@Josef_R]

@@Maybe1Someday What hardware are you using to connect your laptop to the stereo?

[@Maybe1Someday]

@@Josef_R my laptop is a 2016 era macbook so it still has a aux jack. Has no usb ports, has the stupid lightning slots or whatever

[@Josef_R]

@@Maybe1Someday that's not what I asked. The LS430 ML stereo has no aux jack, so what are you plugging the laptop into?

[@Maybe1Someday]

@@Josef_R what I said earlier, the casset tape to mp3 lets you plug in an aux cord in. Its a tape deck that is an aux cord. Sorry for the miscommunication

[@rudymonopolio9283]

I had a very loud crackling sounds on my dashboard speaker I bought a use amplifier on ebay and fix all the crackling sounds

[@djerniet350]

AAA uses contractors, i had them check my battery once and they said my battery was fine. i have had AAA for 15 years and they have always taken care of my needs. Locked doors, and tow service to home or mechanic. i even use them when i am riding with some one else and their car breaks down. Just my 2 cents worth. I have a 1999 land cruiser with over 400 thousand miles and runs like a champ. I use synthetic oil and routine maintenance, your lexus is a toyota and it will last forever, just keep up the maintenance.

[@BBSBULLIESofficial]

Looking to get mines together

[@Maybe1Someday]

Check out my new video on fixing the subwoofer. Thanks for watching

[@BBSBULLIESofficial]

@@Maybe1Someday what if the bass not working at all?

[@mbsm.b.s.6009]

thanks that's would help

[@Asad-NBT]

Nice video brother.... Keep up the good work 👍👍

[@t.l.robinson2162]

Replace your subwoofer with a speaker from Crutchfield which does not have paper cone. They are not expensive.

[@Chris-od1jp]

Dielectric grease is an insulator, dielectric means something is non conductive, which is the opposite of what you want in your car audio

[@Maybe1Someday]

Its used to protect electronic connections from corrosion and dirt which you can clearly see is a problem. Thanks for watching

[@theodoreyoung8777]

Thanx bro 😎

[@nathanrotar5012]

Show us the bolster prior to him sitting on it.

[@kcb55]

Lmfaoooo. This guy should call himself "ever since". If I was the AAA guy I would've told him to fuk off.

[@Mazdatechsenior]

I haven’t experience any issue w the amp.. I got a optima battery. Like you said this cars got bunch gadgets. NEXT TIME DO THE STUFF YOU SELF BRO. I notice some people don’t know what they doing for them it’s a job.

[@sameerahmed1868]

I sell ls430 13 inch vertical tesla style screen. Check my profile

[@turbomike8933]

Napoleon dynamite is that you??

[@edjackson4389]

Not taking up for the fat man, but there is no way he screwed up that bolster in one sitting. That's totally normal for the outside of the drivers seat to be worn or wrinkled more than the rest of the seats. You and whoever have been climbing in and out of that drivers seat for close to 20 years now. The wear is from that. If those seats were that easily damaged they would be in pieces by now.

[@Maybe1Someday]

Go watch my first video and see the interior friend

[@kcb55]

Exactly. This guy is delusional.

[@jeffluvjoy]

The fat man part is hilarious...great video bro!

[@jameyzell8270]

ok step 1 put a new battery in it!!!!!

[@jamalwalker2104]

Some people don’t care about other peoples things. It’s terrible.

[@Maybe1Someday]

Very true

[@imadjawad4408]

Intended