SC400 starter - here goes :(
#1
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OK guys, I bought an SC400 that has been sitting for a while. Towed it back to the house as there were some steering column issues. Took care of those and went to start the car. Single click. Tried jumping at the starter relay and it does the same single click. Can turn the motor at the crank so I know it isn't seized. Any ideas before I get tearing into the starter?
New battery. Single click... Was thinking maybe something to do with the ignition/security because I had the whole steering column out but wasn't for sure... Any ideas?
Jonny
New battery. Single click... Was thinking maybe something to do with the ignition/security because I had the whole steering column out but wasn't for sure... Any ideas?
Jonny
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Oh no...man I feel bad for you. I know all the trouble you went through to get the car and such. Which reminds me, have you made any progress? I'm deathly afraid my starter will die on me. I don't have like 700$ to fix that = /
I'd attempt it myself but I just failed miserably at changing shocks so I'm going to avoid this at all costs. Best of luck to you!
I'd attempt it myself but I just failed miserably at changing shocks so I'm going to avoid this at all costs. Best of luck to you!
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before u change that hard to get as starter. i found out that sometimes it could be ur alarm. if u go to the passenger door stick the key in to unlock it then go to the driver door nd do the same thing then get in the car to start it. if it doesnt start up its the starter, i replaced my starter for now reason wen i had that problem but hell had to do it someday
#9
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ya sounds like you have the starter click of death, that sucks man. have fun getting that thing out! I did mine not too long ago and I had a lift when I did it plus all the fancy tools and it still took me 4 hours. as far as the rebuild kit, just go to the dealer and get them to pull up the diagram of the starter, you need the two contacts and the plunger. the contacts will come with the new bolts and everything. thats pretty much all you need. good luck! oh and be super careful with that egr pipe, dont bend it any farther then you have to because chances are it WILL crack.
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I bought a membership in ALL DATA for my SC400. It has a step by step procedure for replacing the starter. YOU NEED THAT!
The worst part of the entire deal was getting the starter mounting bolts back in from the rear of the engine between the firewal. A total royal nightmare. It take two mechs 4 hours at the dealership and they HATE the job. They put my name up on the wall with a gold star because I did it alone and that isn't supposed to be possible.
My fix was to drill out the threads from the new starter. Then I installed long cap bolts with the allen head. With the starter out I could easily slip the bolts thru the rear plate and into the starter location. Being long I could start the bolts into the starter by hand. I secured it with a flat and lock washer and nut just like millions of starters. Using the high speed butterfly impact air wrench the bolts didn't even need held to tighten.
HTH
John
The worst part of the entire deal was getting the starter mounting bolts back in from the rear of the engine between the firewal. A total royal nightmare. It take two mechs 4 hours at the dealership and they HATE the job. They put my name up on the wall with a gold star because I did it alone and that isn't supposed to be possible.
My fix was to drill out the threads from the new starter. Then I installed long cap bolts with the allen head. With the starter out I could easily slip the bolts thru the rear plate and into the starter location. Being long I could start the bolts into the starter by hand. I secured it with a flat and lock washer and nut just like millions of starters. Using the high speed butterfly impact air wrench the bolts didn't even need held to tighten.
HTH
John
#11
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Oh no...man I feel bad for you. I know all the trouble you went through to get the car and such. Which reminds me, have you made any progress? I'm deathly afraid my starter will die on me. I don't have like 700$ to fix that = /
I'd attempt it myself but I just failed miserably at changing shocks so I'm going to avoid this at all costs. Best of luck to you!
I'd attempt it myself but I just failed miserably at changing shocks so I'm going to avoid this at all costs. Best of luck to you!
before u change that hard to get as starter. i found out that sometimes it could be ur alarm. if u go to the passenger door stick the key in to unlock it then go to the driver door nd do the same thing then get in the car to start it. if it doesnt start up its the starter, i replaced my starter for now reason wen i had that problem but hell had to do it someday
![Uhh...](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/1387914497.gif)
ya sounds like you have the starter click of death, that sucks man. have fun getting that thing out! I did mine not too long ago and I had a lift when I did it plus all the fancy tools and it still took me 4 hours. as far as the rebuild kit, just go to the dealer and get them to pull up the diagram of the starter, you need the two contacts and the plunger. the contacts will come with the new bolts and everything. thats pretty much all you need. good luck! oh and be super careful with that egr pipe, dont bend it any farther then you have to because chances are it WILL crack.
![Smilie](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
I bought a membership in ALL DATA for my SC400. It has a step by step procedure for replacing the starter. YOU NEED THAT!
The worst part of the entire deal was getting the starter mounting bolts back in from the rear of the engine between the firewal. A total royal nightmare. It take two mechs 4 hours at the dealership and they HATE the job. They put my name up on the wall with a gold star because I did it alone and that isn't supposed to be possible.
My fix was to drill out the threads from the new starter. Then I installed long cap bolts with the allen head. With the starter out I could easily slip the bolts thru the rear plate and into the starter location. Being long I could start the bolts into the starter by hand. I secured it with a flat and lock washer and nut just like millions of starters. Using the high speed butterfly impact air wrench the bolts didn't even need held to tighten.
HTH
John
The worst part of the entire deal was getting the starter mounting bolts back in from the rear of the engine between the firewal. A total royal nightmare. It take two mechs 4 hours at the dealership and they HATE the job. They put my name up on the wall with a gold star because I did it alone and that isn't supposed to be possible.
My fix was to drill out the threads from the new starter. Then I installed long cap bolts with the allen head. With the starter out I could easily slip the bolts thru the rear plate and into the starter location. Being long I could start the bolts into the starter by hand. I secured it with a flat and lock washer and nut just like millions of starters. Using the high speed butterfly impact air wrench the bolts didn't even need held to tighten.
HTH
John
John,
I actually have Alldata so it should help. I also have a badass mechanic (LexusFTW) who I have complete faith in. If anyone can do it, my boy can
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I had never heard of that problem with the mounting bolts.. hmmm
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Thank you for taking the time to respond, I will keep this post handy. Regards,
Jonny
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well i thought the same thing that if it was my alarm it wouldnt click at all. but wen i started on taken my engine apart to get to it i realized how muc of a ***** it was to get around that egr pipe and every thing. but i finally got it out put the new one in got the old one tested nd the mechanic said it was still good so i was pissed but like i said it was goin to go out some day so glad i did change it
#14
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well i thought the same thing that if it was my alarm it wouldnt click at all. but wen i started on taken my engine apart to get to it i realized how muc of a ***** it was to get around that egr pipe and every thing. but i finally got it out put the new one in got the old one tested nd the mechanic said it was still good so i was pissed but like i said it was goin to go out some day so glad i did change it
Jonny
#15
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Sorry guys, trying to figure this out. Apparently the drivers door lock is damaged so I can't use the key in the drivers door...
Does jumping the starter relay not bypass the alarm on the car that would stop the motor from starting?
So basically how can you tell if the factory alarm is stopping a car from starting if you can't put the key in the drivers door to reset alarm?
Thanks,
Jonny
Does jumping the starter relay not bypass the alarm on the car that would stop the motor from starting?
So basically how can you tell if the factory alarm is stopping a car from starting if you can't put the key in the drivers door to reset alarm?
Thanks,
Jonny
Last edited by Dx3; 03-09-10 at 03:03 PM.