I have a 1999 GS300 and need to replace my starter. I'm guessing that I'm going to have to get to it from underneath the car but don't know its exact location and what needs to be removed to get to it. Can anyone help?

 

Its located where the engine and transmission meets. 2 Long bolts

 

Thanks. Does anything need to come off before I can get to it?

 

Do I need to remove the fuel line, drop the transmission, etc? I've heard all sorts of things.

 

I don't mean to come of like an *** but if you can't just look at it and determine what needs to be moved out of the way, then maybe it's not a good idea for you to try and repair your starter on your own. I learned this the hard way years back when trying to dismantle a transmission from a corolla.

 

Credit goes to Jefftsai:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/per...placement.html

No interest is what I'm assuming lol.

I can do a writeup with pictures, but it seems like not so many people DIY on these cars to that level. Most guys here will do basic stuff like intakes, exhaust, lights, body panels, etc. But when it comes to actual engine work, most people shy away.

Honestly it's not that hard. I've had to do it 2 times already because I shattered my flex plate one time and it took out the starter with it. I replaced my starter a second time when I realized that the broken flexplate was killing the starter lol. I'll do a quick written guide below.

Tools needed:
- The commonly obvious stuff like jack, and jackstands.
- 14mm and 12mm 3/8" drive sockets. Clearance is tight so 1/2" sockets might not fit.
- A second jack, you're going to use it to hold up the transmission.
- Long 3/8" extension like around 18inches or so. Or you can double up two shorter ones.
- A 3/8" universal joint or as some people call it, a wobbly.
- Air tools will make this go a LOT faster.

Steps:
1. Disconnect negative battery terminal. You don't want to be sparking down there when you're working on the starter.
2. Get under the car and undo the power cable to the starter(12mm nut). Then unclip the conector for the starter solenoid on the side of the starter.
3. Unbolt the exhaust where the header meets the mid-pipe.
4. Put jack under the transmission pan with a piece of wood on top of the jack so you don't dent the pan in. Unbolt the 4 transmission bracket bolts near the rear of the trans. Lower the jack slowly until it's just hanging there and then push it up just a hair so the engine isn't hanging too hard on the engine mounts.
5. Get the long extension, wobble joint, and put the 14mm socket on. You should now have enough clearance to reach the two starter bolts. They go in from the back of the engine where the transmission bellhousing mates to the engine.
6. After bolts are out, remove the starter and swap out to the new starter. Or you can rebuild the old starter with new brushes and contacts.

That should be it really...pretty straightforward. Just put everything back in reverse order.