N55GUS

I removed my boot bulbs when I first bought the car but I still have battery problems when the car has been standing for a week or more, and I don't have a metal emergency key to access the 430. I posted on here a while ago about my tales of woe, but my mechanic friend has come up with what I consider a good idea. He has connected two wires to the battery terminals and duct/electrical taped them to the bottom of the windscreen, so that if the battery is completely flat and I cannot access the car then i just need to connect my charger to the two wires for a few minutes and I will have enough power to open the doors. Then the battery can be charged safely and properly.

Thanks again for the help, when I bought the car I was given two plastic access keys, but neither had the metal section tucked inside. I have released the small plastic clip on the end and slid the button on the side, but there is nothing there. If the only course of action is to go to the main dealer, then I have all the documentation to show that i am the owner of the car, the £100+ may take a little longer. :).

Thanks for the heads up mark. I have looked on ebay uk and there are some metal keys on there, however I believe that once I buy one of these blanks it has to be cut. As I do not already have one to copy for my 430, it would seem that I would still need to go to the main dealer with all my registration details to have a key cut, is that correct? TIA

When I bought my LS430 2 or 3 years ago it came without a metal key folded into the plastic access key, incidentally i have 2 of these. Realising that access to the car is very very difficult when the battery is flat I went to my local main dealer who told me it would be over £100 to obtain a metal key. Is there any other way of obtaining a metal key? Confidentiality is assured if you want to send me a PM. TIA

My LS430 has surprised me with its handling in this snowy weather with TC engaged, excellent. :)

I have tried the two quick fixes suggested by amber and steve,without success, also I have disconnected the negative battery terminal for 30 mins to see if that would help, alas no. In fact I cannot see the 2 green lights flashing on the CD holder cover flap now. If the worst comes to the worst i can listen to my music through my MP3 player but in the past when I did that, I don't think it sounded so good as my Mark levinson, at least the radio still works. :)

Thanks amber and Steve. I will try as you have both said, trying ambers first :) It was the first time anything like this has happened, it was a smooth bit of road as well with no bumps. I am away on my (extended) Hols on Monday so if these two simple fixes do not work I will have to review the situation at the end of December, hopefully it won't come to buying another unit.. ps: the CD is an original :)

Hello guys, I have searched the forum but couldn't find anything to help me. I was pottering along this afternoon listening to Lionel Ritchie on my CD player when it suddenly went dead. The radio works fine, I didn't have a cassette with me so have not tried that. The screen shows 'Error' with no number, I have looked in the handbook but nothing of note in there. Additionally when trying to change CDs it shows the number of the disc and 'change' but nothing happens. When I press the unload button the green light flashes on both ends of the holder, and it sounds as though it is trying to do something, but again, nothing happens. Would it be possible to gently prise the CD holder out of the player with 2 small screwdrivers? If not the CD is out of action and a trip to the main dealers is necessary. TIA Gus

My 2001 LS430 is up for MOT in a couple of weeks and I wish to change the pads all round. After reading this great forum I ordered some Ferodo Premium off Fleabay. The rear ones came today followed by an e-mail saying the front ones were not in stock and not available anywhere in the country, they had taken my money but say they will refund or they have BREMBO in stock. Are Brembo pads OK? If any negatives I may just order the front ones from my Lexus main dealer as I want the job done next week. FYI The company selling pads they do not have are Auto Performance of Dewsbury Yorkshire. The rear ones came fine and well packaged but they actually arrived before the e-mail, not very good advertising stock they do not have and then very slow to notify. Edit I have now been refunded for the first order and have found that premier Motor Factors of Walsall have some front ones in stock, ordered and paid, coming tomorrow, and £2 cheaper as well to cover my 0845 call. They were on fleabay but after my first experience I decided to call the factor to see if they had them in stock.

Thanks very much Dave, sounds reasonable in this day and age.

Congratulations on the new web site, a big improvement on the older one. I was looking at service plans and note for £129 I can have a 'Minor' service, what does this include? I have a 51reg LS430 146K on the clock. TIA

Cheers John I suspect the rain sensor is Kaput, as even with rain on the screen it never budged, that's why I pulled the lever towards me for a one sweep, maybe sometime the car had a replacement screen without a sensor, if that's how the rain sensor system works. On the steering wheel, I can't hear the motor struggling when trying to get in the telescopic position, but I'll have a real good listen just to make sure. Cheers Guys

Thanks for the help guys, the collar on the stalk doesn't make any difference, maybe the rain sensor is kaput, however that works.

Hi All I've had my LS430 for just over a month and I am pleased with the improvement from my 95 LS400, I just have 2 small probs the board may be able to help with. 1/ The steering wheel will go up and down but will not go in and out, any ideas? 2/ The wipers do not work on intermittent, if it is not raining too much then I can pull the handle towards me and that will do one sweep, otherwise it is low speed and sometimes that is too much, again any ideas? TIA

Although not really answering your question, last week I bought a FM transmitter off Ebay for £5inc P&P for my LS430. Now I have access to the hundreds and hundreds of tracks on my Creative MP3 player whilst cruisng in my recently purchased car. I believe that Belkin do a transmitter that suits Iphone/pods etc.

Well I eventually took delivery of my 430 just over 10 days ago, it is 51 plate, Platinum Ice,Blk leather, 140,700 miles, FLSH, and two previous owners, last change 2003. I had a 120 mile drive home and the car drove beautifully, I didn't check the fuel but I think it did about 24/25mpg. I had one small problem a week ago when I left the car with the smart key in the lock on ACC, it drained the battery very quickly, a jump start was required, so now I will make sure i remove the key when leaving the car. ps I do like my wood steering wheel. :)

Is there a 3 number code on the LS430 audio for when the battery is disconnected as there was on the LS400? The reason i am asking is that i am due to upgrade to a 430 and if the system is the same as the 400 I will have to find out the code that has been input into the system. TIA

LS430 still not on my drive after 2 weeks, there is a problem on the paperwork. First V5C lost before reaching the dealer, replacement V5C still not arrived. There is a way around this prob and I am hoping to collect the newie on Tuesday. N55GUS went to a breakers yesterday, £200 but that included the reg which I no longer wanted to keep. Cherished Regs are attention seeking and stay in folks memory, I have gone through that stage of my life, now I want to keep under the radar. :) I'll keep the board informed when my LS430 eventually gets on my drive.

Although i am still awaiting the paperwork so I can complete the sale of my LS430,whn the deal is completed I would like to put in the boot a liner to protect the carpets from marks etc Can any members recommend a good supplier of Boot Liners? TIA

My LS400 has terminally expired and I have no electrics whatsoever, is there any way I can eject the CDs from the player? If push come to shove I can probably remove the unit altogether as the car will be broken up later anyway. TIA Gus

When my LS had a catastrophic electrical problem last week it meant the car had absolutely no power at all,not even to close the drivers door window. Any idea if there is a way of getting to my CDs when I am clearing the car out? TIA Gus

Today I have agreed to buy a 2002 (51)LS430, more details when it is on my drive. I will not be transferring my cherished reg to my new car as I don't want to attract attention, especially from the boys in blue if I have had a glass of sherry.:)

Parrot If it is the Gold one from Stockport congratulations, my LS expired on Friday and I rang the garage and they told me someone had left a deposit on it, hope you enjoy your time with the car.

My LS400 has just got its own back on me. Remember I started the thread about breakers fees? I now have no choice, my LS400 has passed away, and will have to be cremated shortly. I was driving in leicester on friday and I heard an unusal tinkering type noise from under the bonnet, I thought it may have been water pump or alternater. After the noise getting louder I pulled into a side street to see lots of smoke in my rear view mirror and a smell of burning. I managed to pull the car into a parking space and smoke was now coming through the gaps in the bonnet area, I switched off the ignition and waited. Fortunately things got better and no actual fire broke out, although later their was no dashboard lights so I couldn't even wind the window up. The Churchill relay wagon got me home in good time and the car is now on my drive. My mechanic friend brought over a battery and we tried to get some power just to close the window, but when he connected his jump leads there was heavy sparking and he reckoned something was stuck electric wise. Just over a year ago i had the alternater rebuilt because it had become damaged with power steering fluid dropping on it, do later models of the LS have this problem? My friend thinks it may have been the alternater which failed causing something to burn out and create all the smoke and burning smell. We have decided not to attempt a repair and I am now looking for a replacement. I just thought that I'd keep the board informed.

Steve Yes, 24 posts in 8 years, just shows how reliable the car is, doesn't time fly when you're enjoying yourself. Malc Close to Leicester Many Thanks Guys