Smart Keys

the duke · June 27, 2010

Hi i've recently purchased a five year old LS430 and three times in the last week when i've returned to the car after it being used for a short journey (between 1 to 5 miles) i can gain entry into the vehicle but it does not seem to recognise the key to allow the ignition to be switched on. I retrieve the spare key from home (between 10 and 40 mins) and up to now doing that has got me going again. Of the three keys that came with the vehicle it doesn't matter which of the keys i use the problem has occured with all of them. Has anyone had this or a simular problem?

Dell · July 26, 2010

Hi....I don't know if my recent experience is the answer to your particular problem but the circumstances appear rather similiar.

I have an LS430 2005 like yourself and having collected it just last week I was rather perplexed when on my second day of ownership the ignition would not turn on.

I was using the smart key which allowed me entry but whenever I turned the switch it would only turn so far. The steering wheel which had started to move out would return to the off position , the red light on the dash would flash , then nothing.

I came to the conclusion that the Smart Key was at fault.

I had fortunately spent the previous night reading the owners manual from cover to cover and was aware there was a switch hidden under the dash which would switch of this function , and after groping around I found it and managed to switch it off. I was then able to start the car after fitting the key in the slot (the old fashioned way).

Happy to be on the move , but unhappy to have found a fault so early in my ownership.

Later that day I switched the Smart Key system back on and had no problems with it all.

It was only the next day that I recalled an incident during my handover of the car at the garage.While running through some of the many features on the car the salesman invited me to turn the ignition to start it and when it would not turn he advised that the steering lock was engaged and a slight wiggle of the wheel was required !

Doh !!!!!!

I have had no further problems and believe this was the cause of my inital failure.

Gripping the steering wheel while fumbling under the dash must have moved it enough.

Embarrassed as I am to relay this schoolboy error I hope it may be of some use.

Dell

Parthiban · July 26, 2010

Hi i've recently purchased a five year old LS430 and three times in the last week when i've returned to the car after it being used for a short journey (between 1 to 5 miles) i can gain entry into the vehicle but it does not seem to recognise the key to allow the ignition to be switched on. I retrieve the spare key from home (between 10 and 40 mins) and up to now doing that has got me going again. Of the three keys that came with the vehicle it doesn't matter which of the keys i use the problem has occured with all of them. Has anyone had this or a simular problem?

Have you tried changing the Battery in the fob? Also next time it won't start try holding the key next to the ignition and then try again. Could be a faulty key if the spare works fine and it's just one key causing trouble.

passman53 · July 26, 2010

[it was only the next day that I recalled an incident during my handover of the car at the garage.While running through some of the many features on the car the salesman invited me to turn the ignition to start it and when it would not turn he advised that the steering lock was engaged and a slight wiggle of the wheel was required !

Doh !!!!!!

I have had no further problems and believe this was the cause of my inital failure.

Gripping the steering wheel while fumbling under the dash must have moved it enough.

Embarrassed as I am to relay this schoolboy error I hope it may be of some use.

Dell

Er, I did the same thing a few months ago but what was worse was that it happened when I had just filled up with petrol. I actually went in to say I was sorry for blocking up the fore court-talk about embarassing! However after another few minutes of cussing my wife said "I usually wiggle the wheel in my car if the key won't turn, I suppose that won't help".

It helped but I've not been allowed to forget that she "mended the Lexus".

Pete

Parthiban · July 27, 2010

Er, I did the same thing a few months ago but what was worse was that it happened when I had just filled up with petrol. I actually went in to say I was sorry for blocking up the fore court-talk about embarassing! However after another few minutes of cussing my wife said "I usually wiggle the wheel in my car if the key won't turn, I suppose that won't help".

It helped but I've not been allowed to forget that she "mended the Lexus".

Pete

That's a really poor design fault in such an expensive luxury car. I'm not sure about all of them, but know in Mercs that even if the steering is locked, it unlocks when you turn the key. The fact that you have wiggle the steering like in a nissan micra is really disappointing.

steve2006 · July 27, 2010

We've moved slightly off topic here but for the new member asking about the key fobs I would recommend the batteries are replaced in all the fobs, don't take too long replacing them once the old Battery is removed or they can de-programme.Do one at a time and test before starting the next you don't want to replace the batteries then find all your fobs have decided not to work!

The proceedure should be shown in your handbook but if you have any doubts as to your technical ability ask your dealer if they will replace them,this will obviously cost you but if anything goes wrong it will be their problem.

I think the batteries are supposed to be replaced at Lexus service times but this may have not been the case.

passman53 · July 28, 2010

Forgot to mention earlier but on my 01 430 when the key Battery is low you get a message saying so on the dash. I would have thought this was still the same on later models?