why does lexus put the starter in the intake
Its not in the Intake... Its on top of the transmission. On RWD its going to be a P.I.T.A. to change no matter what the brand. It just so happens, on a Lex, you have to remove have the engine to get to it! 
Rookie
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
From: Canada
Yep, it's under the intake manifold and it is an awful place to put it. Blame packaging on this one - cars are not designed to be fixed anymore. The Cadillac/ Olds Northstars have the starters in the same spot - and they fail often and they cost a fortune to replace. I think the idea is that by putting the starter on the "cold side" of the engine, it is less effected by the heat of the engine which generally kills starters when they are placed in the conventional spot under/ near the exhaust manifolds. Old Ford Explorers had the starter right beside the manifold and were particularly bad for needing them replaced. This theory seems to work (for Lexus at least) because the starters seem to last a long time in an LS.
Originally Posted by Stage3
Its not in the Intake... Its on top of the transmission. On RWD its going to be a P.I.T.A. to change no matter what the brand. It just so happens, on a Lex, you have to remove have the engine to get to it!
Several of our past RWD Toyota's have not had starter problems. Me thinks that the engineers figured this was a low maintenance item and hence buried it under the intake plenum. The way they organized the bottom of the engine, it doesn't look like they have room for the starter down there anymore. The crossmembers and steering rack seems to lie in this area...might have been tight. Dunno...
Mine went out at somewhere around 85K miles and was a 7 bill expense.
Mine went out at somewhere around 85K miles and was a 7 bill expense.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Originally Posted by RA40
Several of our past RWD Toyota's have not had starter problems. Me thinks that the engineers figured this was a low maintenance item and hence buried it under the intake plenum. The way they organized the bottom of the engine, it doesn't look like they have room for the starter down there anymore. The crossmembers and steering rack seems to lie in this area...might have been tight. Dunno...
Mine went out at somewhere around 85K miles and was a 7 bill expense.
Mine went out at somewhere around 85K miles and was a 7 bill expense.
Trending Topics
Originally Posted by RA40
Several of our past RWD Toyota's have not had starter problems. Me thinks that the engineers figured this was a low maintenance item and hence buried it under the intake plenum. The way they organized the bottom of the engine, it doesn't look like they have room for the starter down there anymore. The crossmembers and steering rack seems to lie in this area...might have been tight. Dunno...
Mine went out at somewhere around 85K miles and was a 7 bill expense.
Mine went out at somewhere around 85K miles and was a 7 bill expense.
ClubLexus Stories
Celebrating Lexus & Toyota from Around the Globe
8 Tips for Improving Your Hybrid or Plug-in Hybrid's Efficiency!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Best Lexus Models No One Remembers
Joe Kucinski
TRD Off-Road Premium: Best 2026 4Runner, Except This One Thing
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Lexus & Toyotas to Drive Before You Die!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Lexus/Toyotas With The LEAST 5-Year Depreciation
Joe Kucinski
Lexus LC500 Convertible Auction: A Preview of Rising Values?
Brett Foote
GX 550 vs TX 550: Best 3-Row Luxury Lexus Family Hauler
Michael S. Palmer
9 Best Lexus Models You Can Buy for Half Price (And 1 You Shouldn't!)
Joe Kucinski
2026 Lexus NX Buyer's Guide: Models, Features, Prices & More!
Brett Foote
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,328
Likes: 236
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Originally Posted by Stage3
Its not in the Intake... Its on top of the transmission. On RWD its going to be a P.I.T.A. to change no matter what the brand. It just so happens, on a Lex, you have to remove have the engine to get to it!
Yes...but how often does a Lexus starter break? Like most Lexus parts, used with common sense, they are virtually bulletproof unless you do something really dumb like overgrind it and heat it up to the point where the solenoids cook.....and EFI, you should never have to grind more than a second or two anyway unless it has been sitting for weeks.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,328
Likes: 236
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
It may also be that hard-to-get place on purpose...to keep it sheltered from road salt spray in the winter.......one of the chief reasons why starter cables and wiring corrode.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: TX
My question is why the hell were the heads of those two bolts on the side closer to the tranny? They are damn near inaccessible! instead 
. Toyota should have placed the bolts in such a way that the heads were on the side of the timing belt facing the tranny. In this way (1) i would not have busted up my damn fingers banging them on metal trying to twist like a damn pretzel to get at those damn bolts; (2) I would not have had to remove the engine wire housing unit nor the rear water by-pass joint and pipe; (3) I would not want to get my damn hands around that engineer's neck 
. Toyota could have made the life of its own techs and DYIs so much simpler and not change the design or the location of the starter.
Do y'all you all agree?
I just took the starter out over the holiday and getting the bolts off was painful...very painful.
Bill
. Toyota should have placed the bolts in such a way that the heads were on the side of the timing belt facing the tranny. In this way (1) i would not have busted up my damn fingers banging them on metal trying to twist like a damn pretzel to get at those damn bolts; (2) I would not have had to remove the engine wire housing unit nor the rear water by-pass joint and pipe; (3) I would not want to get my damn hands around that engineer's neck . Toyota could have made the life of its own techs and DYIs so much simpler and not change the design or the location of the starter.Do y'all you all agree?
I just took the starter out over the holiday and getting the bolts off was painful...very painful.
Bill
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
RomanTPA
LS - 3rd Gen (2001-2006)
5
Nov 18, 2010 03:46 PM
michael200
GS - 2nd Gen (1998-2005)
9
Nov 1, 2007 06:17 PM
