openroad

On a 2004 LS430 UL, the Smart Key system works for ignition and trunk but not the door. This happens with both smart key's. The outer foot lights on the side view mirrors do not come on (but they do come on when I push the unlock button on remote). The car is new to me so I don't know when it stopped working.

I have tried the following but can't get it to work:
Reading the manual
Searching the forums
Changing the batteries
Push the smart button under dash off and on.

Anyone have any ideas on how to fix?

Thanks

gailr42

Same thing here only it is the trunk that won't open. I did all the things you did, but no luck. Plus I wiped off the electric eye just in case it was dirty.

As someone on here pointed out, there is a learning curve with the smart system, but it is hard to figure out why it would work/not work for one function and not another.

chunkyda

Does the interior dome light turn on when you walk up to the door with the key and not touch anything? Does the same nothing happen at all four doors?
I believe there is a control box inside the door that senses the key proximity. It is expensive and probably not worth replacing to the previous owner. Might be a simple loose wire to that box. There is also a custom programing that can be accomplished at a Lexus or Toyota dealer. Perhaps that function was tuned off at some time.

jayclapp

The smart key should recognize you when you walk up to the car with the smart key in your pocket. The interior light will come on at that time. You should then be able to just touch the door handle and it will unlock. The door sensor is on the inside of the door handle and you must make sure that you touch that surface. You should then be able to start the key my merely turning the ignition switch. No need to ever have the smart key in your hand.

legend921

I have the same issue as well. didn't want to start a new thread since the question has been asked. One of my keys does not get recognized by the car when I approach it, however, I am able to unlock it using the button and start the car by inserting the key into the ignition. I know that the smartkey system is okay with the car due to the fact that it recognizes my other key when I walk up to it and whatnot. Anybody have any ideas on what's going on with the key? Should I just buy a new one? Thanks again.

legend921

Never mind. I saw another post and it confirmed the key types. I guess the one that wasn't working was the valet key since it was missing the trunk button. Just recently bought the car and it came with two looking the exact same so I just went ahead and assumed that it was a master key. Now that explains why the key couldn't unlock the trunk lol