Quote:
Originally posted by rgerdes
First check all the electrical connections at the battery and on the starter. Second the reason the starter was located under the intake is that the starter stays much cooler and lasts longer. Under the hot exhaust manifolds shorten the life of the starters. On previous Lexus models this starter lived for well over 100-125,000 miles. Third the problem your describing may be the stud contact that your battery cable attachs to on the starter. Previous years starters on certain Toyota models had this wear problem. These contacts were available for these starters and that was all that needed to be replaced. You would have to check with a dealer to see if these contacts are available. If they stock them then they are replacing them. Also check to see if the dealership stocks the starter as that would be another indication that the starter maybe experiencing failure. Most dealers don't stock any parts that don't sell a least 3 times in twelve months.
|
You know, I'd rather have a starter that I knew was going to have to be replaced at 100k miles rather than where they put it.
Even if was at 80k miles I'd still swap locations. Too, if they had to be rebuilt a lot, the rebuilt starters actually get a lot cheaper. The labor on a starter change for that engine bay *should* be 15 minutes, maybe a half hour instead of a 4 hour job.
If I did it myself I could replace 4 starters in a "standard" location for one done by the dealer in it's current location. Unless those starters last 300,000-400,000 miles it doesn't make sense. You *know* it's going to go out and is a "wear" item.
You *know* that the starter is going to go out even if it's only brushes that need to be replaced and I do think they could have done a better job of locating that starter (unless they designed it so it's a lifetime part which is very unlikely).
Alan