Lexus IS250 Radio Not Working – Why And What Can You Do?

Lexus is a great car to own and drive. The amazing sound audio system accentuates its elegance and class. Many people who have had an experience of owning a Lexus IS250 can attest to the relaxed, lively ambiance that the eight or thirteen speakers add to the journey.

Music problems highlights

• Reasons:power supply, software, radio issues
• Quick fix:check the fuses and wiring
• Price forrepair:$50 - $350
• Time forrepair:0.5 - 1.5 hours
• Howcommon:not that common
• DIYrepair:possible

The Lexus IS250 radio is not working

The many people who have reported that their car radio in the Lexus IS250 is not working keeps growing by the day. But it is not a Lexus IS250 problem alone; owners of the Lexus IS350 also encounter this issue. For most people, the issue is usually a lack of sound from the numerous speakers in the car. The infotainment works just fine, but no sound is coming from the speakers.

When the radio fails to work in your Lexus IS250, it can be exhibited in a number of ways. The most common symptom is a non-responsive screen. While you can press the volume, treble, and volume buttons on the screen, nothing will happen. The other symptom of this problem is the speaker line will remain stuck on the rear right speaker on the infotainment screen.

What are the common causes of the radio not working in Lexus IS250?

To diagnose this problem effectively, you should follow a certain procedure. Many IS250 owners have fallen victim to lazy dealership attendants and incompetent mechanics when they take their Lexus in with this issue. For starters, you will hear many mechanics recommend a replacement of the amplifier or amp whenever you take your car in. However, while a faulty amp is a leading cause of this problem, it is not the only one.

1) Bad head unit

Lexus IS250 has the head unit, which is located in the cabin, among other dashboard components. It has an LCD screen from where you can enter commands. You may find the screen unresponsive and not sending any radio signal to the amplifier.

The head unit is exposed to touch and sunlight. Don't forget that the unit is found on the dash, where there can be extreme heat during summer. All these are factors that can cause the radio unit to malfunction. Inside the head unit is the Multi-media Module Receiver Assembly, which is responsible for the radio signal.

Solution

The answer to this problem is to replace the unit. Of course, this is not something you should rush, given the cost of one is between $1,000 to $3,000, excluding the installation cost. When the head unit is diagnosed to be the reason why the radio is not working, consider updating the head unit software. When this fails, you can shop around for an aftermarket Lexus IS250 head unit, which will be considerably cheaper than a new one.

2) Outdated software

The head unit in your car works seamlessly because the sophisticated hardware runs on Lexus software. When Lexus updates head unit software, you should, too, because outdated software will cause problems. A software issue in the head unit will normally cause it to act up, become unresponsive, or fail intermittently.

Solution

The answer to this radio issue is to take your Lexus to a Toyota or Lexus dealership and have them update the software. Depending on the age of your car and warranty condition, the update can be free, or you can be asked to pay for the service.

3) Dead fuses

Two fuses support the Lexus IS250 radio. These two fuses, RAD No.1 and RAD No. 2, are found under the driver's side panel fuse box. In case of any doubt, check the user manual, which describes the location of the fuses in your car. The fuses will work if the amplifier has power on the two green wires on Pin 1 and Pin 16 on connector A. But experienced mechanics or electricians know simpler ways to confirm whether a fuse works.

Solution

The radio fuses are pretty cheap, and it should be a relief to the car owner if it proves they are the ones faulty. The cost of a fuse is as low as $4, while the labor may go up to $100. For DIYers, if they suspect it's the fuse that is faulty, they will just buy the item and replace it. If the radio still doesn't work, they will search for the root cause.

4) Faulty amp

The amplifier in Lexus IS250 has been found to be a major reason why the radio in the car stops working. The amplifier is simply a device that receives the radio signal from the head unit and distributes the sound to the speakers. Of course, when the amp dies, there will be no way the sound signal received from the head unit in the dash will be transmitted to the speakers.

The amplifier is located inside the trunk under the right-hand panel. Its location has been seen to be susceptible to humidity and accumulation of rust. This will be caused mainly by driving your car through puddles of water or if water pours inside the trunk. The other possible cause for the amp to fail is if the vehicle is hit and damaged on the rear of the side where the unit is located. This can damage the unit or the wiring to it.

Solution

Many people have resolved the amplifier issue in their IS250 by simply opening the car windows and doors and letting all humid air out. If this doesn't work, it is time to replace the unit. A dead amplifier can be repaired, but this is only possible and practical if you are a DIYer. Once the diagnosis establishes the amp is the problem in a dealership shop, they will replace the unit with a new one.

A new amplifier for Lexus IS250 will go for as much as $1,500. While the replaced unit will be brand new and probably covered under the warranty, most people find this cost too high. For the many people who have found themselves in this position, searching for an OEM online has proved an excellent solution. A used amplifier can go for as low as $75. The good thing is that you can find a Lexus IS350 amp compatible with your IS250.

Many technicians will jump to the conclusion that the amplifier is the issue even before investigating other possible causes for the radio not working. For a technician to be sure that the amplifier is the cause of the radio issue, they should use an oscilloscope.

5) Bad wiring

As you may already be aware, the real machine is found in the boot of your car, even though you regulate the volume and everything else while seated in the front seat of your Lexus. The carrying of wires and signals relies on the good network of the vehicle wiring.

In a good number of incidences where the radio of IS250 has stopped working, bad wiring has been established to be the cause. Bad wiring can be caused by rust or the wires getting cut. In some cases, the connectors to the amplifier can become disconnected.

Solution

Bad wiring will be best solved by a professional technician. Under normal circumstances, resolving a wiring issue can be pretty expensive. However, the problem can be resolved by simply testing the radio components in the vehicle.

It is easy to assume the amp is the culprit when the radio stops working in a Lexus IS250. However, a diligent technician can establish a wiring problem after properly testing the amplifier. The signal cable from the head unit has been seen on several occasions to be disconnected, and this causes the radio to stop working.

6) Bad speakers

A speaker can receive the sound signal, but no music will come out if it's bad. Even though it is highly unlikely that all 8 Lexus IS250 speakers will stop working at once without you noticing, it is worth considering when diagnosing a dead radio issue.

Conclusion

In this article, we have looked at the various reasons why a Lexus IS250 radio may stop working. Given that the radio in this luxury car has components located in different places, professionalism on the part of the technician is important.

To get the best solution to your problem, you should start by diagnosing simple problems rather than the difficult and expensive ones. In our case, you can start by establishing whether it's water that has damaged the amp and, if so, whether drying it will resolve the issue. The idea is to start with the easiest and cheapest option.