Herm

1993 LS 400 - Just was wondering - Since starter replacement seems to be a major project, are there any tricks to get the car started if the starter fails ? Was concerned if failure occured far from home.

Can anyone comment on how long it takes to do a starter replacement, assuming advanced home mechanic doing it for the first time ? Any tricks or things to watch out for ?

Do they fail often ?

Thanks , Herm

mtsao

Hi Herm. If the starter is totally dead, I don't think there's any way to get the LS started. Obviously, push-starting is not an option on automatics (nevermind that the LS tips the scales at nearly 2 tons). Often though, starters begin to go bad noticeably--that is, they become temperamental and work/fail sporadically. You might hear the dreaded click when you turn the key and nothing happens, but then 5 seconds later it might crank just fine. FWIW, this is how starters have failed me.

I've not had the pleasure(?) of replacing the starter on the LS, but I'm sure others here have and they can comment on the job.

Mike

VVT-i

I would say about 8-10 hrs for home mechanic and the first timer. You will have to remove the intake out, both top piece and the intake itself. You can leave the fuel line connected to the injector fuel rail and let the intake sit upside down.
Becareful not to break the EGR pipe that bolt on the back of the intake( 2 12 mm bolts).
Then you will have to drop the transmission mount and sometime you have to undo the exhaust hangers(not remove the complete exhaust) so you can to the starter bolts from the bottom with a 42" extension.
A lot of work and good luck.

Faceless1

First, let me say that the starters don't typically fail on the LS400. However, like anything man made, it can and will fail at some point in time. With that being said, I would agree with VVTi that it will take you about 8 - 10 hours, even with a lift of some sort. If you don't have access to one, I wouldn't even attempt the operation. You will not be able to remove the starter from it's mount without lowering the tranny a little. The earlier design of the LS dosen't leave room for the mounting bolts to be removed. The newer LS models leaves room for that operation without lowering the tranny.

Good Luck

Jasoneo5

iTrader: (4)

They wanted to charge my dad $1,100 for LABOR ONLY on his LX470, so expect the price to be around that on a V8 JUST for labor.

Luckily, warranty covered it

-Jason Elcan

VVT-i

Wow, that a lot of labor. In Chilton book only call for 5.0 hrs. No more than $500.00 around here in Atl. at the Lexus dealer.

Faceless1

We rarely go by chilton here. We tend to do 1.5 times warranty times and also factor in potential problems. Replacing a stater on a LS would be 6 - 6.5 hrs. plus the cost of the starter. Oh! the labor rate is $90.00 per flat rate hour at some lexus dealerships in the area.