New Member - Quick Electrics Question!

[Gorodish]

Hello everyone

I'm new here but have been reading the forum for a few months after buying my '98 LS400 Mk4 in the summer. It is really useful resource - thanks to everyone for sharing and I look forward to doing the same!

My LS400 is lovely, and pretty much faultless. I've put 8k miles on in 4 months and am going to LPG her soon! However there is a small niggling issue I'd like your collective opinions on...

Occasionally, perhaps twice a week, the 'Check VSC' message appears with the VSC and ABS warning lights. All times bar one, this has been solved by a simple switch off/ switch on, but once it wouldn't go until I unplugged the Battery. A minor annoyance and I know the VSC works the rest of the time!

Just in the last week though, this has been joined by the car alarm spontaneously going off - twice. First time I had to unplug the Battery - second time I realised I could lock the car on the key without setting the alarm. This one is a more than minor annoyance though as it could be the middle of the night or parked up anywhere. I'm trying removing all metal items from the storage box between the seats as I've read that can trigger it.

Also - as one offs - the touchscreen wouldn't go on the other week - switched off and it was fine again. Later that day the car wouldn't lock with the remote key. Again, later it was fine.

Does anyone have any idea what could be causing these electrical glitches? I'd consider the Battery needing replacement but it as only done a year ago.

Sorry to kick off with asking for help but hopefully I'll be able to help others in turn at some point!!

Cheers

[ambermarine]

Hello everyone

I'm new here but have been reading the forum for a few months after buying my '98 LS400 Mk4 in the summer. It is really useful resource - thanks to everyone for sharing and I look forward to doing the same!

My LS400 is lovely, and pretty much faultless. I've put 8k miles on in 4 months and am going to LPG her soon! However there is a small niggling issue I'd like your collective opinions on...

Occasionally, perhaps twice a week, the 'Check VSC' message appears with the VSC and ABS warning lights. All times bar one, this has been solved by a simple switch off/ switch on, but once it wouldn't go until I unplugged the battery. A minor annoyance and I know the VSC works the rest of the time!

Just in the last week though, this has been joined by the car alarm spontaneously going off - twice. First time I had to unplug the battery - second time I realised I could lock the car on the key without setting the alarm. This one is a more than minor annoyance though as it could be the middle of the night or parked up anywhere. I'm trying removing all metal items from the storage box between the seats as I've read that can trigger it.

Also - as one offs - the touchscreen wouldn't go on the other week - switched off and it was fine again. Later that day the car wouldn't lock with the remote key. Again, later it was fine.

Does anyone have any idea what could be causing these electrical glitches? I'd consider the battery needing replacement but it as only done a year ago.

Sorry to kick off with asking for help but hopefully I'll be able to help others in turn at some point!!

Cheers

The Battery is not guaranteed to be ok just because it is reputed to be only 12 months old a Battery can develop a fault at any stage of its life .The first step is to check that out ,difficult to ascertain without the right equipment so get a new Battery that is speced for the car from Lexus or Toyota will cost approx ninety pound There seems to be a multitude of occurences that relate to electrical outage and it could be a poor grounding or earth connection on the relay box.If you have no luck with the Battery take the car to Lexus as they will be able to diagnos the problem on their equipment .Do not start playing around with the electrics you will end up with a broken heart.

[Gorodish]

Hi and thanks for the response. I think I've got to the bottom of the VSC light issue. The car has a slow puncture on the front nearside, and I think the change in rolling diameter against the driver's side one was enough to make the VSC software think there was a problem - sometimes! That's the theory anyway - see if it is proven right. The alarm is I think a separate issue and one I have decided to ignore by locking her on the key, thereby not setting the alarm.

Still love the car to bits! Will post some pics later when I've figured out how!

[willskoda]

Locking it with the key still sets the alarm! My vote is the Battery is either knackered or needs a good charge

[steve2006]

Also check all your courtesy light door switches are working, an intermittent one can trigger the alarm as it thinks a door has been opened.

[Gorodish]

Cheers - I've checked the Battery and it is spot on, newish alternator too. I'll have a look out for the courtesy light issue as my 11 year old has a habit of random button pressing in the back - perhaps Lexus could use him for quality control!

[ManicMark]

If you are getting random faults, It has been posted that the boot hinge wiring can wear & chaff causing random faults. May be worth a look at.