Starter relay inspection
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: CA
Starter relay inspection
Hi all, my engine won't crank, battery terminals are fine, and I want to inspect the starter relay. In the repair manual, it looks like the whole cartridge fuse pops right out, but I couldn't pull it out as shown. With pliers and a rag, I only managed to pull off the plastic housing and crack it. Is there a trick to pulling out the relay? Any other suggestions? The relevant repair manual page is attached.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: CA
Thanks Debonair, that did the trick. The relay failed the third load test, so hopefully that's the problem rather than the starter, and the test didn't fail just because of the ghetto method I used to apply 12 V across the terminals. I'll pick the new one up tomorrow and give it a shot.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: CA
Awesome. That did it. To be sure, it might not have been the relay, because I replaced the battery (Interstate Megatron 800 CCA) at the same time as the relay. The service tech at Miller Toyota where I got the relay ($66, Lexus Santa Monica wanted $100) said that relays don't go bad that often, and that the reason it might not have jump started was that my 4-cyl Highlander wasn't up to the job.
Trending Topics
ClubLexus Stories
Celebrating Lexus & Toyota from Around the Globe
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
Top 10 Reasons to Buy a Lexus TX 550h+ (& 3 Reasons to AVOID!)
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Lexus & Toyota Models of the 1990s RANKED!
Joe Kucinski
10 Great Toyotas That Could Have Been Lexus Models
Joe Kucinski
Racer
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 1,525
Likes: 354
From: Utah
What specifically are the symptoms your car has? There is another component that can go bad and will usually be attached to the starter, called the solenoid. They can sometimes be replaced separately, but if your car is the V8, it’s pretty much just standard maintenance to pull the intake at around 150k, and replace the starter, knock sensors some wire harnesses, and the VSV for the variable intake. And then replace all the gaskets and such while your in there and give the throttle body and MAF a proper clean up. I also suggest doing the coolant temp sensor and intake air temp sensor along with any damaged plugs Or wire harnesses. It’s pretty easy to just or replacement plugs and build an all new harness for the front of the engine too.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Mattkz
GS - 2nd Gen (1998-2005)
8
Jul 7, 2023 03:13 AM
pandulce
SC - 1st Gen (1992-2000)
2
Jan 3, 2009 08:33 PM
cfuller74
GS - 2nd Gen (1998-2005)
6
Jul 21, 2008 08:04 AM
