Here's a quick DIY video on how to replace the starter on a Lexus ES.


Procedure is straight forward, you have to remove the air box, air inlet tube and battery to get access to the starter. Its not like the older Gen 3 and Gen 4 Camry's where you could access the starter without removing any of that.

Tools needed include: a needle noes pliers, flat head screw driver, 10mm, 12mm, and 14mm sockets with a 6" extension and a ratchet.

A few photos of the procedure:

Engine bay, before removal:



Remove the battery and the plastic plate underneath:



Disconnect the mass air flow sensor on top of the air box:



Remove 4 vacuum hoses from the air box:



Remove the top of the air box:



Remove 3 bolts at the bottom of the air box, as well as the bracket below the battery, and three bolts on the rad cradle. The entire air box assembly should come free from the car, watching out for the mass air flow sensor wire tied to the back of the air box:



And that revels the starter, bolted to the transmission:



One connector to unclip as well as a 12mm nut to remove the wires going to the starter. Two 14mm bolts hold the starter to the transmission. They are pretty tightly torqued from the factory:



The stuff taken out from the car to access the starter:



The original starter:



Starters can be rebuilt for cheaper than buying a replacement. Usually the solenoids wear out causing them to fail. If replacing it, keep your old starter to return to the parts store, as they charge a core fee until you return.

Hope this helps someone!

 

Another one of your excellent DIY videos. Keep it up

Thank you

Phil

 

We need to get some of the regulars promoted to Mod status in order to organize this forum and give the spotlight to such shining stars, like speedkar9

 

nice work there speedy

 

Thanks guys. Hope it helps someone down the road. Surprised I didn't see a writeup on something this simple for the 4ES or 5th Gen Camry.

Heh... moderator.... I'm not sure about that ....

 

u make it sooooo easy ..also y did u change it and what problems u were having. i hope its the same in 1MZFE engine

 

According to YouTube, he simply removed it for the sake of making a video. His starter is good.

 

Thanks.

It is pretty easy. It only took me long because I wanted to remove everything out of the way to get a clear shot of the starter.

Mine is the ES330 so its the 3MZ-FE.

Like I mentioned before, the pre-2002 Camry and Lexus ES with the 1MZ-FE had much more space in the engine bay to access the starter.

 

Speedkar9 you're a God send, thanks for taking the time to do your videos and instructions!!!

 

speedkar:
great post.i would suggest if you could post on fixiig the starter itself using starter contact which are the common failures in starter. it is a cheap fix than replacing the entire starter. i assume 1mzfe engine doesn't require removing the air box like you did.

 

Thanks guys,

Yes I would like to investigate how to rebuild a starter. I'll have to wait until my starter fails to open it up!

 

Got a 2000 ES300 and while not all the cables were the same, with the help of your video I was able to take out my old starter and put a new one in. Thanks.