Power tilt be gone!

"Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's" (africantacoman)
07/05/2020 at 18:57 • Filed to: None

My 97 LS400 has the signature Lexus “Easy-out” feature, wherein the steering wheel moves each time the key is inserted or removed from the ignition. The motors are 20 years old, and on hot days like what we have now, those motors cant quite do the whole task. Sometimes the wheel gets stuck at a very inconvenient tilt angle, like driving a school bus. The motor that brings the wheel close/further from the driver works fine.

I have a toggle switch thats currently unused, I figured I could run the + wire of the tilt motor through the switch. Its fr om back when I had a FM transmitter hardwired to my stock pioneer headunit. I have since added a sony ax5000 double din. While digging around trying to find the wired to the tilt motor, I found a random broken ground wire. Not sure what it was grounding, but fixed that.

And after sweating and only swearing a little for ~30 minutes, i now have a toggle switch for my tilt wheel.

I called my local U-pull-it to have my 99 LS parts car towed away, but no answer. I guess too much fun on july 4th? Ill try again on a week day. Cant wait to put this thing back in;

SLAMMEDLYFE ls for your time

DISCUSSION (18)

HammerheadFistpunch > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's
07/05/2020 at 19:25

Why not just disable the feature? My Lexus dealer did it for free. The software is called techstream and you can also find on in ebay and some other places if you want to do it yourself. It’s really nice not having to worry about that “feature” anymore. Or does this predate techstream?

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > HammerheadFistpunch
07/05/2020 at 19:36

I work at a lexus dealership, they will never touch this car lmfao

I did think this was something that techstream could solve, but I havent found a copy that works for my 97 and I dont want the headache of trying all of that. This gives the switch I installed long ago a purpose again, and cost me $0 in extra supplies.

I think it would would still cost me like $150 to have my work do it with a techstream. Im not friendly enough with any techs to get it done free

HammerheadFistpunch > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's
07/05/2020 at 19:38

I had some basic work done on the GX and asked if they could do it and they didn’t charge me, which is nice.

avalonian > HammerheadFistpunch
07/05/2020 at 20:01

I feel baller when it does it, I'd rather repair it then not have it lol.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > HammerheadFistpunch
07/05/2020 at 20:22

I tried for 3 months going to every toyota/lexus dealership around here and trying various Techstream bootlegs and knock off cables to no avail. Fucking infuriating. Big part of the reason I sold my LS.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's
07/05/2020 at 20:23

Did you originally have the pioneer stereo? Do the whole factory amp replacement thing to put that head unit in?

HammerheadFistpunch > avalonian
07/05/2020 at 21:06

It’s not really a benefit in the gx, since you’re inclined to use the wheel as a push off point when exiting but it’s annoying to have it drive out of the way just when you want to use it. Plus the gx is roomy and tall so no need

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's
07/05/2020 at 21:40

Nice work. What a pain in the ass though.

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > avalonian
07/06/2020 at 00:10

Eh I dont get the appeal. The steering wheel still pushes itself into the column, just doesnt rise up unless I turn on the tilt motor.

Repairing it would require new motors, and that shit hasnt existed "New" in 15+ years

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/06/2020 at 00:12

And this is why I didnt bother doing any techstream nonsense, my dealer already told me they didnt have the right techstream version to program a key for my 97.

Wiring the switch took 30 minutes, super simple. Im glad my black/black 98 LS doesnt have this issue

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > HammerheadFistpunch
07/06/2020 at 00:13

What year is your GX? I know newer Lexus models have the easy-out settings in the infotainment screen settings. So no techstrean needed

HammerheadFistpunch > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's
07/06/2020 at 01:25

08, no dice

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/06/2020 at 01:34

Originally the Pioneer system, still runs the stock amp. I do have a seperate amp and subwoofer, original blew out. Not sure if this setup would retain factory sub, but it keeps the factory amp and sounds excellent.

avalonian > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's
07/06/2020 at 08:33

Oh so they also stopped making the part? I now understand, mine is a 15 so hopefully I've got 10 more years before I worry.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's
07/06/2020 at 09:01

How the hell did you interface with the pioneer amp? I spent hours with a power probe trying to figure that thing out unsuccessfully. Plenty of documentation for earlier model pioneers or the late model Nak units but my specific one was just people telling me to fuck off and replace the amp.

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/06/2020 at 14:57

Everything I researched said I would have to replace the amp OR buy a $200 beatsonic adapter that is out of stock.

None of that made sense and I have access to full wiring diagrams from Lexus, and both the nakamichi and pioneer are wired basically exactly the same.

I needed a 12v accessory On wire (grey), a ground wire, an amp signal wire, and the + - for each of the 4 door speakers. Install was the same for both my 97 pioneer system and 98 Nakamichi. I never tried either system with the stock rear shelf s ubwoofer since both mine were blown, but adding a sub/amp for $200 instead of buying some chinese wire junk for $200 seems like a better use of $.

I have the wire diagrams if you ever want to see!

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > avalonian
07/06/2020 at 17:33

2015 most likely has a setting in the infotainment screen for the easy-out. Menu, setup, vehicle customization (if I remember correctly)

And even if the tilt motor was still in production, I guarantee it would be like $300 and this is an $1800 car lol

avalonian > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's
07/06/2020 at 19:31

Lol, facts. Yeah, you can control it in the infotainment, imma keep it on