98 Ls400 Electrical Issues

[Ian R]

Hi,

Can somebody please help me with some odd electrical problems my LS400 is having?

The car was left standing for a couple of months and the Battery drained. I removed the Battery and charged it. When I refitted the Battery the car started fine but a lot of electrical items did not work. The drivers window works but none of the others do, the electric mirrors don't work, central locking does not work - remote or in car button and the steering tilt \ reach does not work.

I did some internet searching and the general recommendation seemed to be reset by leaving Battery disconnected or replace the Battery. I replaced the Battery.

All seemed to work until I started the engine when all the faults returned. I have a code reader and it is generating B1211, B1212, B1213, B1214, B1216, B1217, B1272 and B1273. Most of these seem to be communication failure related. Now for the odd bit. If I clear the codes then everything works again until the engine is started then the same faults occur. This cycle can be repeated over and over.

The alternator is outputting 14.2v.

I am at a loss as to where to look, has anyone come across anything like this before?

Thanks

Ian

[Beejay55]

Seems to be related to the doors and sunroof.

Hope these are of use (I found these, and more, at http://alflash.com.ua/OBDII/DTCe1.pdf) :

CodeNo. Description
B0100 Short In D Squib Circuit / 13
B0101 Open in Driver-Side Air Bag Module Squib Circuit /14
B01023 Short in D Squib Circuit (to Ground) / 11
B0103 Short in D Squib Circuit (to B+) / 12
B0105 Short in P Side Air Bag Squib Circuit / 53
B0106 Open In P Side Air Bag Squib Circuit / 54
B0107 Short In P Side Air Bag Squib Circuit (to Ground) / 51
B0108 Short In P Side Air Bag Squib Circuit (to B+) / 52
B0110 Short In Side Squib (RH) Circuit / 43
B0111 Open In Side Squib (RH) Circuit / 44
B0111 Cab Side Airbag Circuit (Range/Performance) Malfunction ( 4
AV.’99)
B0112 Short In Side Air Bag Module Squib (RH) Circuit (to Ground) / 41
B0113 Short In Side Squib (RH) Circuit (to B+) / 42
B0115 Short in Side Air Bag Module Squib (LH) Circuit / 47
B0116 Open In Side Air Bag Module Squib (LH) Circuit / 48
B0117 Short In Side Squib (LH) Circuit (to Ground) / 45
B0118 Short In Side Air Bag Module Squib (LH) Circuit (to B+) / 46
B0121 Seat Belt Buckle Swith, RH malfunction / 26
B0122 Seat Belt Buckle Swith, RH malfunction / 26
B0126 Seat Belt Buckle Swith, LH malfunction / 27
B0127 Seat Belt Buckle Swith, LH malfunction / 27
B0130 Short in P-Side Seat Belt Pretensioner Squib (RH) Circuit / 63
B0131 Open in P-Side Seat Belt Pretensioner Squib (RH) Circuit / 64
B0132 Short in P-Side Seat Belt Pretensioner Squib (RH) Circuit (to Ground) / 61
B0133 Short in P-Side Seat Belt Pretensioner Squib (RH) Circuit (to B+) / 62
B0135 Short in D-Side Seat Belt Pretensioner Squib (LH) Circuit / 73
B0136 Open in D-Side Seat Belt Pretensioner Squib (LH) Circuit / 74
B0137 Short in D-Side Seat Belt Pretensioner Squib (LH) Circuit (to Ground) / 71
B0138 Short in D-Side Seat Belt Pretensioner Squib (LH) Circuit (to B+) / 72
B1100 Airbag Sensor Assembly Malfunction (Progr. Avens) / 31 соотвт
B1135 SRS Control Module – poor multi-plug connection / 24
B1140 Side Airbag Sensor Assembly (RH) Malfunction / 32
B1141 Side Airbag Sensor Assembly (LH) Malfunction / 33
B1142 Door Side Airbag Sensor (RH) Malfunction
B1143 Door Side Airbag Sensor (RH) Malfunction
B1144 Door Side Airbag Sensor (LH) Malfunction
B1145 Door Side Airbag Sensor (LH) Malfunction
B1146 Side Crach Sensor, RH B post Malfunction / 32
B1147 Side Crach Sensor, LH B post Malfunction / 33
B1148 Front Crach Sensor, RH Malfunction / 36
B1149 Front Crach Sensor, LH Malfunction / 37
B1153 Seat Position Sensor malfunction / 25
B1154 Side Crach Sensor, Rear RH in C posts / 38
B1155 Side Crach Sensor, Rear LH in C posts / 39
B1156 Front Airbag (Front crach) Sensor (RH) Malfunction / 15
B1157 Front Airbag (Front crach) Sensor (RH) Malfunction / 15
B1158 Front Airbag (Front crach) Sensor (LH) Malfunction / 16
B1159 Front Airbag Sensor (LH) Malfunction / 16
B1160 Inflatable curtain RH short circuit / 83
B1161 Inflatable curtain RH open circuit / 84
B1162 Inflatable curtain RH short circuit to Earth / 81
B1163 Inflatable curtain RH short circuit to Positive / 82
B1165 Inflatable curtain LH short circuit / 87
B1166 Inflatable curtain LH open circuit / 88
B1167 Inflatable curtain LH short circuit to Earth / 85
B1168 Inflatable curtain LH short circuit to Positive / 86
B1180 Driver’s Air Bag, Stage 2 – short circuit / 17
B1181 Driver’s Air Bag, Stage 2 – open circuit / 18
B1182 Driver’s Air Bag, Stage 2 – – short circuit to Earth / 19
B1183 Driver’s Air Bag, Stage 2 – short circuit tp Positive / 22

B1185 Passenger Air Bag Stage 2 short circuit / 57
B1186 Passenger Air Bag Stage 2 open circuit / 58
B1187 Passenger Air Bag Stage 2 short circuit to Earth / 55
B1188 Passenger Air Bag Stage 2 short circuit to Positive / 56
B12115 No Communication Between Driver's Door ECU & Body ECU/11
B1212 No Communication Between Passenger's Front Door ECU & Body ECU / 12
B1214 Door System Bus Communication Circuit is Shorted To Battery Voltage / 14
B1215 Door System Bus Communication Circuit is Shorted To Ground / 15
B1216 No Communication Between Right Rear Door ECU & Body ECU / 16
B1217 No Communication Between Left Rear Door ECU & Body ECU / 17
B1221 Power Window Master Switch Circuit / 21
B1222 Driver's Door Lock Control Switch Circuit / 22
B1223 Passenger's Front Window Switch Circuit / 23
B1224 Passenger's Door Lock Control Switch Circuit / 24
B1225 Right Rear Window Switch Circuit / 25
B1226 Left Rear Window Switch Circuit / 26
B1231 Driver's Jam Protection Limit Switch Circuit / 31
B1232 Driver's Jam Protection Pulse Switch Circuit / 32
B1233 Passenger's Front Jam Protection Limit Switch Circuit / 33
B1234 Passenger's Front Jam Protection Pulse Switch Circuit / 34
B1235 Right Rear Jam Protection Limit Switch Circuit / 35
B1236 Right Rear Jam Protection Pulse Switch Circuit / 36
B1237 Left Rear Jam Protection Limit Switch Circuit / 37
B1238 Left Rear Jam Protection Pulse Switch Circuit / 38
B1241 Body ECU Switch Circuit Diagnosis ONE OF MONITORED SWITCHES HAS ABNORMAL OUTPUT / 41
B1242 Wireless Door Lock Tuner Circuit Malfunction (WIRELESS DOOR LOCK RECEIVER) / 42
B1243 GSW TERMINAL CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION / 43
B1244 Light Sensor Circuit Malfunction / 44
B1251 MIRROR CONTROL SWITCH / 51
B1256 Instrument Control Panel Circuit Diagnosis / 56
B1261 No Communication Between ECM & Body ECU / 61
B1269 THEFT DETERRENT ECU COMMUNICATION STOPPED / 69
B1272 No Communication between Power Seat ECU (W/Memory) & Body ECU (POWER SEAT ECU
COMMUNICATION STOPPED) / 72
B1273 No Communication Between Sun Roof Control ECU & Body ECU / 73
B1275 No Communication Between Accessory Bus Buffer & Body ECU / 75
B1276 No Communication Between Combination Meter ECU & Body ECU
B1277 No Communication Between Instrument Control Panel & Body ECU
B1300 Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor for Hydraulic Cooling Fan Circuit Malfunction
B1305 Solenoid for Hydraulic Cooling Fan Circuit Malfunction
B14216 Solar Sensor Circuit (Passenger Side) (Progr., RX3))
B1423 Open in pressure Sensor Circuit / Abnormal refrigerant Pressure (Progr, RX3)
B1424 Solar Sensor Circuit (Driver Side) (Progr.)
B2785 Ignition Switch ON Malfunction / 99
B2786 Ignition Switch OFF Malfunction / 99
B2790 Key Unlock Warning Switch ON Malfunction
B2791 Key Unlock Warning Switch Off Malfunction / 99
B2793 B2793
B2794 B2794
B2795 Unmatched Key Code 7/ 99
B2796 No Communication in Immobiliser System 8/ 99
B2797 Communication Malfunction No.1 / 99
B2798 Communication Malfunction No.2 / 99
B2799 Engine Immobiliser System Malfunction 9
C0200 FR Whell Speed Sensor Malfunction (Cald,Cam, RX3, Cel.)
C0205 FL Whell Speed Sensor Malfunction (Cald, Cel.)
C0210 RR Whell Speed Sensor Malfunction (Cald,Cam, Cel.)

C0215 LR Speed Sensor Circuit (Cel.)
C0226 ABS Actuator Solenoid Circuit (Cel.) or ABS Solenoid Valve Circuit (MR)
C0236 ABS Actuator Solenoid Circuit (MR, Cel.)
C0237 Speed Sensor Circuit (Cel.)
C0238 Speed Sensor Circuit (Cel.)
C0239 Speed Sensor Circuit (Cel.)
C0246 ABS Actuator Solenoid Circuit (MR, Cel.)
C0256 ABS Actuator Solenoid Circuit (MR, Cel.)
C0273 ABS Motor Relay Circuit (MR, Cel.)
C0274 ABS Motor Relay Circuit (MR, Cel.)
C0278 ABS Motor Relay Circuit (MR, Cel.)
C0279 ABS Motor Relay Circuit (MR, Cel.)
C0274 Water Pump Motor Relay Circuit Voltage to High (?)(Cam.)
C0278 Solenoid Relay Circuit Voltage to Low (Cam.)
C0279 Solenoid Relay Circuit Voltage to High (Cam.)
C0371 VSC Sensor Signal or Circuit malfunction
C1200 Brake Boost Sensor Circuit Malfunction / 98
C1201 Brake Boost Sensor Circuit Range/Performance (!?)
C1201 Engine Control System Malfunction (VCS lamp ON-RX3) or ECM/TCM malfunction / 51
C1203 ECM/TRC communication Circuit malfunction / 53 (RX, LC)
C1207 Starter Signal block malfunction / 37 (?)
C1208 Steering Position Sensor Signal or Circuit malfunction / 72
C1210 No learned (adaptation) VSC Sensor/36
C1223 Malfunction in ABS Control System (RX3) / 43
C1224 NEO Signal Circuit Open or Short / 44
C1231 Steering Angle Sensor Signal or Circuit malfunction (Progr.)
C1232 Accel. Sensor Signal or Circuit malfunction/32
C1233 VSC Sensor Circuit Open or Short/33 or Yaw Sensor Circuit Open or Short (Progr., RX3)
C1234 VSC Sensor Signal Out of Range (malfunction) / 34
C1235 Speed Sensor Rotor / Right Front (Cel.)
C1236 Speed Sensor Rotor / Left Front (Cel.)
C1336 No learned (adaptacion) VSC Sensor/39?
C1238 Speed Sensor Circuit (MR), Speed Sensor Rotor / Right Rear (Cel.)
C1239 Speed Sensor Circuit (MR), Speed Sensor Rotor / Left Rear (Cel.)
C1340 Block Diff. Circuit malfunction/47?
C1241 IG Power Source Circuit (MR, Cel.)
C1244 Deceleration Sensor Circuit Open or Short (Progr.)
C1249 Brake Light Switch Circuit Malfunction (Cam., MR)
C1251 ABS Pump Motor Lock (MR, Cel.)
C1271 Low Output Voltage of Right Front Speed Sensor (MR) / 71
C1272 Low Output Voltage of Left Front Speed Sensor (MR) / 72
C1273 Low Output Voltage of Right Rear Speed Sensor (MR) / 73
C1274 Low Output Voltage of Left Rear Speed Sensor (MR) / 74
C1275 Abnormal Change in Input Voltage of Right Front Speed Sensor (MR) / 75
C1276 Abnormal Change in Input Voltage of Left Front Speed Sensor (MR) / 76
C1277 Abnormal Change in Input Voltage of Right Rear Speed Sensor (MR) / 77
C1278 Abnormal Change in Input Voltage of Left Rear Speed Sensor (MR) / 78
C1511 -
C1514
Torque Sensor Circuit Malfunction (11 / 14)
C1515 Calibration of torque sensor zero point Not Performed / 15 10
C1516 Calibration of torque sensor zero point Not completed / 16
C1521 11 Power Steering Motor Malfunction / 21 12 (MR2, Pri)
C1522 Power Steering Motor Malfunction / 22 (MR2, Pri)
C1523 Power Steering Motor Malfunction / 23 (MR2, Pri)
C1531 - Power Steering ECU Malfunction / (31-33) (MR2, Pri)

[Ian R]

Thanks for the code list.

What is confusing me is the fact the codes only appear at engine start. Once the codes are there the systems do not work until the codes are cleared. If I turn on the ignition but do not start the engine and then clear the codes then all the systems work fine. If then turn the ignition off and turn it back on but again do not start the engine then all the systems are fine. As soon as I actually start the engine the codes appear and the systems stop working.

Ian

[Cotswold Pete]

Not an expert, but I wonder if what is happening is that one of the other ECU's is faulty enough to report a fault back to the main ECU.

So the car thinks there is a major door/sunroof problem and feels unsafe to continue.

Not sure if you can reset the other ECU's and see what happens.

I assume disconnecting the other ECU's will not work, as the main system will still see a major problem.

A bit weird I must say.

[Ian R]

Thanks for the suggestion. If I do a full code read, the only one that comes up that does not clear is to do with one of the O2 sensors. When the codes are there the car starts and drives fine, as long as you don't want to open a window, move the steering wheel, use the central locking or adjust the mirrors. Oddly, even though it is reporting a fault, the sunroof works fine.

I'm wondering if there is some kind of earthing issue or a corroded connector and the voltage drop caused by starting the engine is enough to trigger the faults.

Ian

[Beejay55]

Perhaps someone with more expertise than I could tell you the location of the ECU for the doors etc, and you could check for a bad connection?

[Ian R]

The body ECU seems to be a common factor. I have read about the engine ECU capacitor problem and am wondering if the body ECU has a similar issue.

Does anyone know where the body ecu is located on a mk4?

Ian

[kayble]

Hello Ian,

 

Sorry to resurrect an old thread - but my '01 GS300 mk2 is suffering similar codes & symptoms. All seem to have come at the same time; I have

B1261 Engine ECU communication stop

B1262 Air conditioner ECU communication stop

B1266 Instrument panel system communication bus circuit short to Battery (+)

B1271 Combination meter ECU communication stop

B1273 Sliding roof ECU communication stop

B1281 Airbag ECU communication stop

 

That group was my latest scan from my Autel scanner; they're hard codes in that you can clear them, and they come straight back. The group I had before that was:

B1211

B1212

B1213

B1218

B1271

 

I've posted on Cam Snape's post where his GS430 was doing similar things - did you get this fixed on yours in the end - what was the source of the issue?

I'm thinking BCM fault - but that's a complete guess!

[donalexinder24]

Hello,

The ECU in the body appears to be a common element. I've heard about the capacitor problem with the engine ECU and am wondering whether the body ECU has a similar problem.

[donalexinder24]

The ECU in the body appears to be a common element. I've heard about the capacitor problem with the engine ECU and am wondering whether the body ECU has a similar problem. 

 

Edited February 14, 2022 by steve2006
Link in post edited by steve2006