Title pretty says it all...how difficult a job is this? It appears the dealer is going to want $600+ and I would just as soon not spend that much if I don't have to.

I've done a search and found a lot on the previous model, but can't find much on the 1998-2000's. Is this something I should have sense enough to do myself (moderate mechanical ability), or do I suck it up and get bent over by the dealer?

Any comments/suggestions would be welcome.

 

A rebuilt (Denso) alternator is approximately $250 and labor (not at the Dealer) is about $50... at least less than $100. Sounds like you could do it yourself if you find a link on here and follow directions. Good luck.

 

Yeah, I found an alternator at O'Reillys with a lifetime warranty for $215...at first I was thinking dealer all the way, but damn...$380 is a little steep (part only).

If anyone has any knowledge on this, please feel free to chime in.

 

i just bought one of these.and it is working....has a 1 year warranty http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/LEXUS...Q5fAccessories

 

If you can't do the alternator yourself you should get your *** beaten

 

DIY all the way! I just got mine done a few months ago, I got stuck in west bubba-f%$ and had to let the local mechanic do it for parts and labor $300.00 with a lifetime warranty. I would have done it myself if had my tools and a good jack. Job took 20 minutes from the bottom, the mech took the power steering pulley off for easier access.

 

I have a 1999 Ls400 with 110K miles. I changes my alternator 2 months ago. I have limited mechanical skills, but I read here on forum that it shouldn`t be hard at all. I did it in like 1,5 h(I was taking my time though). Like someone said here on a forum, it is a very tight fit and it`s like your car having a baby You work from underneath the car and wiggle the alternator to make it come down. I also had to remove a pulley to have access to one of the bolts. I bought mine new from Carson Toyota $367.38 AND I mailed the core back and got a $30 refund. I heard many people don`t recommend using non-Lexus electrical parts, that`s why I bough a new OEM.
Hope this helps,
Val

 

That made me snicker. I'll be be first to admit I could use a good *** kicking.

Thanks for all the replies.

 

It is not the easiest to replace because the pulley does need to be removed on teh power steering (?) pump to slide it off the main bolt mounts.
1.5 is amazingly fast for a novice.

 

I removed three 14mm bolts and one 14mm nut on the P/S pump and just slid it forward a few inches. I am not going to get tough on the precision moving parts of the P/S pump trying to break the pulley loose. Leak-free at 105 k miles.

 

wowww!!! really i just got a rebuild all oem internal but higher output 220AMPS!! from the "BAY" for 200$ shipped something to think about when you consider a high end system and hell even if not its still cheaper and higheroutput soOOO do the math save save save!

 

except most ebay alternators ive seen go bad within a year or just outside of the "warranty"

 

I changed my alternator without removing any pulley. I removed the alternator from the bottom.

 

Well i hope the one i got lasts ! Ive had it for a 2week just been way tooo cold and plus i wanted to check around and see what other people got to say on the install. so i think i got it ..its getting warmer so tomorrow i will tackle the job. try and take some pics im also installing an additional 4g power line fused w a 250a. wish me luck i will post results w pics if i can figure the upload part (im nwe btw) anyways

 

Wouldn't quite say that. I bought an "EBAY" alternator a few years back for my 92; was performing flawlessly. It died a pre-mature death due to me not fixing the power steering leak, so it literally drowned in the car's own fluids.

I have changed my alternator out on my 92 a few times and have pretty much gotten it down to about 45 minutes from start to finish. Hardest part is trying to get the belt lined back up correctly over all of the pulleys. The tensioner only givers but so much so it takes me a lil while to remember the trick to it. Not sure if the later UZ engines are much different from mine, but it is completely do-able.