GS400 didn't start this morning
 

I'm wondering if anyone has heard of this, or seen it happen before.

I went to start the GS this morning and was greeted with a bunch of standard dash-panel lights, working radio and radar detector, but no cranking at all! I repeated that about 4-5 times. Same every time.

I thought, certainly the battery isn't dead, what with all these standard dummy lights, the ding ding ding, the radio, the steering wheel telescoping......

So, I turned on the headlights, tried to crank, and again,....nothing. Off-on-crank-off-on-crank-off-on-crank-off-on-crank. Same thing. The headlights didn't even dim at all.

I made a phone call to have someone come pick me up, then tried a few more times and BAM, she started! No hesitation what-so-ever. Obviously not a battery problem.

Could my starter be going out? Do we have a solenoid/starter combo, or are they separate parts?

The car has 123,000 miles or so on it now, kept in a garage, and it was only 46 in the garage today. Drove it yesterday with not even a hint of a problem.

Any idea's?

I'm 99.9% sure it is a starter

Sounds Like A Starter To Me
 

YES,
You seem to have the age-old starter problem. It could be the solenoid, or the whole starter.
There are numerous links on this, including HOW to change it. Lexus gets about $1000.00 parts and labor. That is ridiculous, but thatis how it is. I changed my own after getting a remanufactured Lexus starter from Carson Toyota. It ran $328.00. Because there is so much labor involved in removing and replacing the starter, it made no sense to change just the solenoid and put the old starter back in. But it is up to you.

The intake manifold has to be removed because the starter is under there in the intake valley near the back. Just a minimal amount of coolant will be lost in the process. The starter is held in place by 2 bolts going through the back of the block coming inboard. You will also need 2 intake manifold gaskets..(1 for each side on top of each head).

I did it in 2 1/2 hours on a COLD engine. DO NOT attempt to do this on a hot engine. You have to remove the fuel line, and disconnect all the electrical connections for the 8 fuel injectors and spark plugs because they are in the same harness.

GOOD LUCK!

I agree with Lexsoos. When the starter is on it's way out, there is no ryhme or reason to when it acts up. If your car is on it's original starter you have doen better than average.

G

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^what he said ;-)

cool, thanks guys.
I've always wondered what people meant the couple of times I read about some kind of popular starter problem on the Lexus. :) I guess now I know. lol.

GSV8 - I'm glad you mentioned that there is no rhyme or reason too, because that was going to be my next question!! "how long until total failure?"

Guess I'd better order one asap. (with intake gaskets) I sure as hell ain't paying a dealer to do it.

Two thumbs up guys, thanks!

From what I have read, it can be a week up to a month. This of course depends on temperature and usage. This is def. something worth shopping around on. I was lucky enough to have had it done by the previous owner.

Good luck!

If you want a factory replacement, it will cost about 300 bucks. Carson Toyota has them on the west coast, and I am sure that the Texas dealerships have them as well. You'll need to trade in your old one in any event.

Aftermarket starters are available at places like AUTOZONE, SCHUCKS, and PEP BOYS, but I am not convinced they will last as long as the Toyota starter. With all the work involved in changing it, I want to be sure it will perform for a LONG time.

Be sure to get the two intake manifold gaskets. They sit between the intake and the top of the head on both sides. No sealant needed. It is a phenolic spacer (thick plastic spacer with a gasket on the top and the bottom. That helps on the heat dissipation of the aluminum intake and aluminum head.

Plus you need 2 WATER gaskets out back near the starter. These fit a crossover pipe that goes from one bank to the other. This crossover pipe must be removed in order to get access to the two bolts that hold the starter in place. They are METAL with a rubber insert that seals things out back. No sealant on this part either if the mating surfaces are clean. You can see the coolant in the head and the block while removing the starter. It should be nice and clean.

GOOD LUCK! It is really pretty straightforward.

Does anyone have torque specs for me? Most specifically, the intake bolts so that I do not crack anything there.

The starter bolts would probably be a good one to have also.

For future reference:
Starter: $248
Intake Gasket: $22/ea
Coolant Crossover pipe gasket: $10/ea or something.

Carson Toyota


Still would like torque numbers though, dont' want to overlook that! :)

Only wish I saw this thread earlier

http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...99&catalogid=1

$194+shipping for a new starter (after $30 core charge)

Torque spec for Starter

Page 15/16 (EM-75) shows the torque spec for the intake manifold:

http://www.flyupload.com/?fid=31921082

it's probably the solenoid contacts, not the whole starter. there's an oem $15 diy rebuild kit.
here's my infamous link

http://www.off-road.com/toyota/tech/starter/

This is probably just my opinion, but do you really just want to replace the solenoid contats and reinstall? If it was a 20 or 30 minute job removing the starter I could see it, but this is a complex installation, and I would hate to have to replace it again a few months later.

I guess I would also look at the complete starter, and replace borderline parts. Once you start doing that, you might as well replace the entire starter. It has lasted 8 or 9 years already, and replacing just the solenoind won't give you that kind of reliability again.

Just my $.01