01' lx470 mark levinson with nav - amp went out - what to do (1 Viewer)

[AnthraxVX]

alright, so i have a 2001 lx470 with the mark levinson with nav option - and today the amp went out (no audio, then started popping, and played for a second at full blast, went out again, etc etc.)

so i started thinkg, ok ill take apart the amp and repair it, but remembered i bought the landcruiser center console like 7 years ago to do the conversion to hard button hvac (and yes my replacement central dash luckily came with the plugs) so that got me thinking maybe i should go toward that route, and put in a double din unit. that had me thinking then i would have to replace the amp with an aftermarket amp. so i have two questions

where is the forum post where someone decyphered all the re-wiring of the harnesses to the non-nav lc hvac twist dials. ( i thought i had it saved from years ago but i cant find it)

And if i go with dual din and a custom amp, are the crossovers for the speakers in the doors near the components or were they built into the amp, and the amp restricted frequencies to each component?

i really appreciate the help and any input would be appreciated

 

[MongooseGA]

This one? 2001 LX Mark Levinson removal and replacement - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/2001-lx-mark-levinson-removal-and-replacement.1271986/

 

[Blake1]

there is a reset procedure.. I cannot find the instructions from Lexus at the moment.. Mine does this every 5 years. last time I had to physically unplug the amp and the battery for a while.. when all plugged in worked again. A lot of these amps "play dead".. but need this reset procedure.. there is also a key sequencing, etc. Part of dealer instructions.. There was also a bad run of ams in 2000-2001. the instructions came with my replacement .. I can't amagine too many original faulty ones still around now.

to unplug the amp you have to lift up unbolt passenger seat.. last time I found wiring diagrams/ had an amp ready to go.. but then it came back to life when I plugged it back in.. this was 3 years ago.. and it gets 10-15k miles annually.

 

[AnthraxVX]

there is a reset procedure.. I cannot find the instructions from Lexus at the moment.. Mine does this every 5 years. last time I had to physically unplug the amp and the battery for a while.. when all plugged in worked again. A lot of these amps "play dead".. but need this reset procedure.. there is also a key sequencing, etc. Part of dealer instructions.. There was also a bad run of ams in 2000-2001. the instructions came with my replacement .. I can't amagine too many original faulty ones still around now.

to unplug the amp you have to lift up unbolt passenger seat.. last time I found wiring diagrams/ had an amp ready to go.. but then it came back to life when I plugged it back in.. this was 3 years ago.. and it gets 10-15k miles annually.

Interesting. Did urs exhibit the same symptoms? (No volume control, no audio with some occasional intermittent popping, then everything full blast for a split second back to no audio/intermittent pipping?)

Also what are you referring to as "AMS"

 

[wthomp10]

If you decide to bypass your amp because the new Stereo can power the speakers, I confirmed this diagram is correct last week in my 01 LX470 with Mark Levinson stereo

Found here: DIY: 2001 LX 470 Apple CarPlay stereo install, Mark Levinson Amp Removal, Speaker Replacement - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/diy-2001-lx-470-apple-carplay-stereo-install-mark-levinson-amp-removal-speaker-replacement.1089276/

 

[AnthraxVX]

If you decide to bypass your amp because the new Stereo can power the speakers, I confirmed this diagram is correct last week in my 01 LX470 with Mark Levinson stereo
View attachment 3841828
Found here: DIY: 2001 LX 470 Apple CarPlay stereo install, Mark Levinson Amp Removal, Speaker Replacement - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/diy-2001-lx-470-apple-carplay-stereo-install-mark-levinson-amp-removal-speaker-replacement.1089276/

wow you are a godsend - did you end up using a separate amplifier or just used the new head unit?

 

[wthomp10]

wow you are a godsend - did you end up using a separate amplifier or just used the new head unit?

I used an Eonon android headunit which has an internal amp but has the option to buy a small external 60wx4ch that fits behind the headunit in the dash. I think most Double din stereos have internal amps. I ran some stereo wire down to the amp and just spliced the wires there. Left the stock amp in place. I used a Metra TYTO-01 amp harness which worked without bypassing the amp but sounded terrible. Once the amp was bypassed, the stereo sounded like it should.

That thread I linked above has a lot of great info though if you decide to go all out.

 

[Blake1]

Interesting. Did urs exhibit the same symptoms? (No volume control, no audio with some occasional intermittent popping, then everything full blast for a split second back to no audio/intermittent pipping?)

Also what are you referring to as "AMS"

No just dead no sound

 

[Desert Guy]

alright, so i have a 2001 lx470 with the mark levinson with nav option - and today the amp went out (no audio, then started popping, and played for a second at full blast, went out again, etc etc.)

so i started thinkg, ok ill take apart the amp and repair it, but remembered i bought the landcruiser center console like 7 years ago to do the conversion to hard button hvac (and yes my replacement central dash luckily came with the plugs) so that got me thinking maybe i should go toward that route, and put in a double din unit. that had me thinking then i would have to replace the amp with an aftermarket amp. so i have two questions

where is the forum post where someone decyphered all the re-wiring of the harnesses to the non-nav lc hvac twist dials. ( i thought i had it saved from years ago but i cant find it)

And if i go with dual din and a custom amp, are the crossovers for the speakers in the doors near the components or were they built into the amp, and the amp restricted frequencies to each component?

i really appreciate the help and any input would be appreciated

Just my opinion here, but I believe that is an 8 channel amplifier, and it sounds like it. Going to a 4 channel amp is degrading the system as far as I'm concerned. My system is the same as yours, '01 LX, and I didn't want to change it after mine went out several years ago. I sent it out for repair, which is a swap, for $450, and it's been fine since. I had a hard time locating it until I got help here. I also found where to send it here somewhere, but my encouragement is to search out the info on this forum and get it fixed. I'm glad I did, it sounds awesome. For me anyway.

 

[AnthraxVX]

Just my opinion here, but I believe that is an 8 channel amplifier, and it sounds like it. Going to a 4 channel amp is degrading the system as far as I'm concerned. My system is the same as yours, '01 LX, and I didn't want to change it after mine went out several years ago. I sent it out for repair, which is a swap, for $450, and it's been fine since. I had a hard time locating it until I got help here. I also found where to send it here somewhere, but my encouragement is to search out the info on this forum and get it fixed. I'm glad I did, it sounds awesome. For me anyway.

yeah i dont believe its an 8 channel amp, each driver isnt a channel, each door in the front has 3 component drivers with frequencies relegated to each driver by either a crossover or inline crossover components - i took the amp out today and its annoying to even diagnose because the entire thing is conformal coated.

because i plan on just keeping this car indefinitely, ill be swapping out t he center dash to a dual din, with a standard receiver, re-wire all the HVAC controlls to new center Landcruiser console (i have the one with the dials) and wire the amp from the head-unit. i feel like id replace the amp, and then the head-unit would go out and id be at square one lol