was up i need help on how to change the starter on my gs 400 1999... help

 

Here is how you do it:

Take off intake hose and piping
Take off intake manifold
Find starter and take it out
Put in new starter
Install everything in reverse


A vague post will get you a vague answer You need to be more specific.

 

easy.

Take the starter out and replace.

done.

jkk

a tip that i wish someone told me before i did it.. drain the coolant.. and if the job will take longer than a day or so.. (took me 7 days... but i bet i can do it under 7 hours now haha... ) is to unscrew the gas cap.. so the pressure excapes through the gas cap n rather than the pressure forcing air through the fuel lines.


.. yea ermm goodluck! did the starter change on my 92 SC400 and well the whole top of the engine has to come off.

 

Rate this DIY as Extremely difficult on my list.

Did the starter on my GS400 recently, and it's a PAIN if you don't know what you're doing.

Disconnect your battery
Remove all intakes
Remove all vacuum lines
Remove spark plug connectors ( not the entire set up )
Remove engine cover ( the back of it was tricky, move it left to right with a flat head on the butterfly until loose )
Remove starter
Clean bay area of starter of all liquids and debris with brake cleaner ( make sure you cover any gaping holes with rags )
Replace intake gaskets
Replace starter

Put together in reverse order

Total time if you have correct tools, knowledge, and a LOT of free time = 1 1/2 days

PS: You MAY want to change/tweak your spark plugs, throttle body, headers, etc while you're in there. Was a pretty long thing for me :[

PPS: You SHOULD grab about 10 cups, and write down where the bolts came from... VERY confusing!

 

dude...this is a tough job to take on. i paid a mechanic to do it for my GS400 rather than risk screwing up

 

thank god i paid for this replacement!

 

even a skilled tech it takes about 5-7 hours, depending on age and condition of engine...

even once you have gotten the intake and such out of the way, the bolts that hold the starter in can be a beast to get out... good luck... I highly recommend a repair shop with a warranty... starters are one of those weird electrical beasts that can die quite quickly even though they are new/reman...

if you feel like doing it yourself, as has been mentioned, make meticulous notes, maybe take pictures of where bolts go...

 

even a skilled tech it takes about 5-7 hours, depending on age and condition of engine...

even once you have gotten the intake and such out of the way, the bolts that hold the starter in can be a beast to get out... good luck... I highly recommend a repair shop with a warranty... starters are one of those weird electrical beasts that can die quite quickly even though they are new/reman...

if you feel like doing it yourself, as has been mentioned, make meticulous notes, maybe take pictures of where bolts go...

 

when i finished mine.. i only lost 1 bolt.. which is perdy dam good haha... lost it cuz i dropped it =[ n well.. i couldnt find it after.. i didnt drop it in the engine thank god but it somewhere..

 

How difficult is it to rebuild vs replacing the whole starter? I'm hoping that a rebuild is a lot easier. GL.. I hope mine doesn't fail.

 

depends on what is wrong with it...

if it just clicks but nothing else, then yes, quite easy, in fact usually all you have to do is clean the contact plates...

if it does what mine does occasionally and just spins but doesn't turn the engine over, then harder, might as well get a rebuilt unit, kinda pain in the *** to fix that - solenoid would need replacement...

 

I watch a friend of mine replace starters on Ls 400 Gs 300 an Toyota V8 Trucks in 2 hrs. That is why he works on my stuff. I will trade out work with him, Clean his cars or truck. I saw him do a Timing belt on a V6 Toyota on our lunch hour one day, had it out the door an to the customer in 1hr an 20min. It can be done! That is why a good flat-rate mech.make good money,they can do a job that payes good in lees time an go on to the net one. TIME IS MONEY!

 

would never trust someone that works that fast... not that they can't be good, but I want someone to take their time and double check everything... I got so good at timing belts on DSM's that I could do one, with a water pump, in a little less than an hour and a half, without a lift, but that was my own car... I would always take a little more time and double check everything on others cars...

if it works for him, then why not though...

 

man if you never wrenched before this will be a tough first job. I say pay some one if you never did anything before. this job still takes me about 3-4 hours...