Yay, Radio won't power on

[revkev]

My 2006 GX470's radio will not power on. It is the Mark Levinson. I have spent about 2 hours researching online before posting here. I now know the amp is notorious, but through my research, I could not find anything about amp + powering on radio. I did call the Lexus Stealership and the service guy said it's not the amp as that controls volume and thinks its my head unit. Of course it will cost $180 to diagnose the issue. I just got this rig shipped in a few days ago so I don't know if the amp is blown. I already checked both radio fuses and they are fine. I might change them out anyway. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[Scat Adams]

If you can't figure it out, try and take it to a Toyota dealership, should only be about $100 to diagnose it. Good luck

 

[mtwilly87]

Keep us posted, this is my worst fear as a fellow ML Sound/Nav user. I wish there was a write up out there to switch out the radio and climate controls to the non nav version-thereby allowing an aftermarket audio set up. I would think it would be as simple as buying the radio and climate controls off a non-nav version, and just dropping them in.

 

[revkev]

I wonder if Toyota can diagnose it since it is a ML which is not in any Toyotas. Will update this thread if I can get something going.

 

[Scat Adams]

Keep us posted, this is my worst fear as a fellow ML Sound/Nav user. I wish there was a write up out there to switch out the radio and climate controls to the non nav version-thereby allowing an aftermarket audio set up. I would think it would be as simple as buying the radio and climate controls off a non-nav version, and just dropping them in.

Someone was or was suppose to be attempting it on ClubLexus a while back, never saw what eventually happened though. I do remember him buying the pieces and wiring.

 

[dogbite]

Did the dash get taken apart before it went out or Did it go out for unknown reasons with the dash untouched?

 

[revkev]

As mentioned, don't know anything on the Audio history. I am happy to report that it is working. After I checked the fuses and confirmed they were fine...I walked away. Today when I went to start the car I noticed the radio lights went on. Thank God NO speakers were blown and the amp is working...whew...saves me $700 (based off research. You can only use a ML amp since this damn thing is proprietary to Lexus). I will also say that I am very happy with the stereo. I am 110% some of you have rigged up something that kills mine, but I didnt have to spend an extra dime. So I wonder if it was just a loose fuse?