GS400: I'm starting to hate it already (kinda long)
03-16-06, 01:13 PM
#31
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Location: Maryland
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Am i the only who thinks a starter going bad after 2 weeks is a sign of a BAD sale...I mean there should be some recourse because starters just dont go bad there are signs (my starter died and i saw the signs but were in denial for about a month b4 the actual death)...Lex is VERY reliable built like tanks don't let this make you hate the brand...Also starter change done in secret location + Rushing because of hiding from parents= DISASTER just be up front homie...
THE GS MUST LIVE!!!!
THE GS MUST LIVE!!!!
03-16-06, 01:21 PM
#32
Actually I dont hate the car. I was overreacting. lol.
The car started fine today (3 out of 3 tries). Perhaps it's just the starter relay.
On the good note though, I just spent $24 on front tire balancing through discount tires (using Hunter Road force machine) and now the car is so smooth that a baby's butt would envy. No more shakey steering at ~70mph!
I guess everything is okay so far. The starter incident only happened like 4 times, and it was within a 2 day period. Now it's perfectly fine after many starts. Oh yea, I tightened up the battery terminal also!
:
The car started fine today (3 out of 3 tries). Perhaps it's just the starter relay.
On the good note though, I just spent $24 on front tire balancing through discount tires (using Hunter Road force machine) and now the car is so smooth that a baby's butt would envy. No more shakey steering at ~70mph!
I guess everything is okay so far. The starter incident only happened like 4 times, and it was within a 2 day period. Now it's perfectly fine after many starts. Oh yea, I tightened up the battery terminal also!
:
03-16-06, 01:46 PM
#33
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I'm happy for you, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but it might still be your starter just take it to advanced auto parts for a free diagnostic 2 make sure...Mine worked fine for a week before it finally died just my .02
03-16-06, 03:12 PM
#35
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more starter lessons i picked up as my starter died: if your car sits for over 2 days at a time and you dont start it, it might become harder for it to start when you try, like mine did.
03-16-06, 05:52 PM
#37
Lexus Fanatic
Originally Posted by GSteg
Perhaps it's just the starter relay.
it's the starter solenoid, and it's part of the starter, which means the starter must be removed to fix. the oem solenoid kit is about $15,but getting to starter is the hard part.
glad the balance smoothed things out
03-16-06, 05:54 PM
#38
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well i was looking at the same car Gsteg bought, and the owner told me about it. He said that after it sat for a few days that it would take a couple tries to get the engine to turnover, but would be fine once regularly driven. That car also has the TPS issue as well, but the owner said that he hadn't low idled once since his last throttle body replacement (i believe there were three lol). Either way, it appears the starter is the only issue with that car at this time. And for a car thats 7 years old with 125K miles on it, its justifiable that starters will start to go out. But the car still is almost immaculate, and I would've bought the car had my insurance not wanted to stick the car up my *** in insurance for it 
03-16-06, 06:07 PM
#39
Pole Position
Originally Posted by lexus_gs4
well i was looking at the same car Gsteg bought, and the owner told me about it. He said that after it sat for a few days that it would take a couple tries to get the engine to turnover, but would be fine once regularly driven. That car also has the TPS issue as well, but the owner said that he hadn't low idled once since his last throttle body replacement (i believe there were three lol). Either way, it appears the starter is the only issue with that car at this time. And for a car thats 7 years old with 125K miles on it, its justifiable that starters will start to go out. But the car still is almost immaculate, and I would've bought the car had my insurance not wanted to stick the car up my *** in insurance for it
On a related note, I was thinking about something. Replacing the timing belt, like replacing the starter, is very labor intensive. Does anyone know if it's any easier to replace the starter while you're replacing your timing chain? Everyone says you should replace the water pump when you replace the timing belt because it's right there, but what about the starter? Is it anywhere close by? If so, maybe it would make sense to replace the starter while doing you're 90k service. It's bound to go out sooner or later, right?
03-16-06, 06:45 PM
#40
Lexus Test Driver
Originally Posted by e-man
Hmm. I've been watching this thread closely (and I feel incredibly bad and partly responsible because I was the one who told GSteg to hold out for the exact car he wanted and not to settle). I wonder if the seller told GSteg what he told you about the starter issue. Either way, I agree that 7 years/125,000 miles is not bad for a starter. As we all know, no one is complaining about how long the starter lasts, but rather, the fact that Lexus designed the car in such a way that it costs an arm and a leg in labor to replace it.
On a related note, I was thinking about something. Replacing the timing belt, like replacing the starter, is very labor intensive. Does anyone know if it's any easier to replace the starter while you're replacing your timing chain? Everyone says you should replace the water pump when you replace the timing belt because it's right there, but what about the starter? Is it anywhere close by? If so, maybe it would make sense to replace the starter while doing you're 90k service. It's bound to go out sooner or later, right?
On a related note, I was thinking about something. Replacing the timing belt, like replacing the starter, is very labor intensive. Does anyone know if it's any easier to replace the starter while you're replacing your timing chain? Everyone says you should replace the water pump when you replace the timing belt because it's right there, but what about the starter? Is it anywhere close by? If so, maybe it would make sense to replace the starter while doing you're 90k service. It's bound to go out sooner or later, right?
03-16-06, 08:30 PM
#41
Actually I did ask the previous owner about the starter before i bought the car and he said the car did have that problem once a month, but was able to start the engine after the second try.
Then again, i didn't think of how much it'd cost to fix the starter.
So total of 8 times i tried to start the car today, it starts up each and every time. The car didn't take long to crank. It was about 2-3 cranks before the engine runs.
Then again, i didn't think of how much it'd cost to fix the starter.
So total of 8 times i tried to start the car today, it starts up each and every time. The car didn't take long to crank. It was about 2-3 cranks before the engine runs.
03-17-06, 01:57 AM
#42
I checked this car out for lexus_gs4 too, and honestly it’s not that big of a problem.. Like I understand your situation.. Moneys tight and so on.... but your driving a 50+k vehicle there buddy, If it was a civic which most of us young'ins should be driving we wouldn’t have to worry about such expenses...
You gotta pay to play... U wanna roll like a baller, you gottta pay... I have sunken soo much $$ in my pile but you know what no one stood there with a gun and forced me to buy this car....
My honest opinion if it does eventually start, and its just a mere inconvenience leave it until you can afford to change it... its not gonna kill ya to crank it 3 times to get it fired up.... save up and do it when you have the cash.... if your willing to come to the valley... I'll be more than happy to try and source you the part for as cheap as I can and refer you to my mechanic who does an awesome job for very little cash..... So let me know if I can help...
Oh yea and the shimmy.. That has to be the tires/balancing because when I drove this car he had no such issues, I also know another shop here that I can refer you to and they will flip/remount/balance all your tires for like 10-15 bucks…
Tommy
You gotta pay to play... U wanna roll like a baller, you gottta pay... I have sunken soo much $$ in my pile but you know what no one stood there with a gun and forced me to buy this car....
My honest opinion if it does eventually start, and its just a mere inconvenience leave it until you can afford to change it... its not gonna kill ya to crank it 3 times to get it fired up.... save up and do it when you have the cash.... if your willing to come to the valley... I'll be more than happy to try and source you the part for as cheap as I can and refer you to my mechanic who does an awesome job for very little cash..... So let me know if I can help...
Oh yea and the shimmy.. That has to be the tires/balancing because when I drove this car he had no such issues, I also know another shop here that I can refer you to and they will flip/remount/balance all your tires for like 10-15 bucks…
Tommy
03-17-06, 02:17 AM
#43
Honestly, I think my problem is a bit blown out of proportion. The first time that it happened, it was on a raining day and when i checked the battery the next day, the terminal was a bit wet and had rusted (or the water contained rust).
I changed the battery and then from that day, it only happened once. I checked the battery voltage at the terminal and it was 12.5v (without the car running). This morning, I found out the positive battery terminal was just a bit loose, so I tightened it up. So far no problem.
The previous owner before had the starting issue about once a month. Then again, when i bought the car, the rust problem was there already so hopefully that was just it and that now it's back to normal. Knock on wood please
I changed the battery and then from that day, it only happened once. I checked the battery voltage at the terminal and it was 12.5v (without the car running). This morning, I found out the positive battery terminal was just a bit loose, so I tightened it up. So far no problem.
The previous owner before had the starting issue about once a month. Then again, when i bought the car, the rust problem was there already so hopefully that was just it and that now it's back to normal. Knock on wood please
04-08-06, 11:34 AM
#45
$730 for a whole new starter replacement. that's parts and labor.
$500 for new starter contacts. parts and labor included.
The lexus independent shop said since my car has 126k miles already, he wants to let me know that the job is not guarantee if the car does not start in the new future because the starter is getting old.
Worth the extra $230?
$500 for new starter contacts. parts and labor included.
The lexus independent shop said since my car has 126k miles already, he wants to let me know that the job is not guarantee if the car does not start in the new future because the starter is getting old.
Worth the extra $230?