Definitive list of starter removal methods

[gasman4u]

Fear of trail failures caused me to pay to have it done preemptively along with water pump, thermostat, alternator, idler pulley, tensioner and belt at 128k or so… and it was expensive… but the 1000 yard stare from the seasoned tech when I picked it up told me it was well worth it and probably less than the years of therapy he would need to work through the trauma from doing both the alternator and starter at the same time.

Or your heat exchanger at the same time….

 

[08URJ200]

Good luck

Appreciate it but going to hand this job off to Toyota. Also appreciate the write up, read through several times since you posted but not willing to deal with a broken manifold stud if I were to be unlucky. Hats off to you

The job I’m looking least forward to. Trying to decide if I want to preemptively do it…..

Put about 800 miles over the last two weeks up and down Asheville and Boone. Had no issues or indication. Went to the lake Saturday, came home and parked. Sunday no start. That was that. I drug my feet and got super lucky it left me in my driveway.

 

[sleepycruiser]

Appreciate it but going to hand this job off to Toyota. Also appreciate the write up, read through several times since you posted but not willing to deal with a broken manifold stud if I were to be unlucky. Hats off to you


Put about 800 miles over the last two weeks up and down Asheville and Boone. Had no issues or indication. Went to the lake Saturday, came home and parked. Sunday no start. That was that. I drug my feet and got super lucky it left me in my driveway.

I’m in the Asheville area….starter replacement party??

 

[jimoldguy]

My 2011 LC decided not to start at 207,000 miles. I was all packed heading back from hunting in Devils Lake ND. I had zero warnings that the starter was going to fail. I was at the mercy of Lake Toyota in Devils Lake ND. They got me on the road in under 24 hours. They had to use a rebuilt starter in order to get me going, but they restored faith to Toyota service. They did what they had to inorder to get parts. They went through wheel well, dropped exhaust manifold. Put in new gaskets, and studs. The one video at the start of this thread that shows how Toyota does it seems right on.

 

[AZLX570]

Just got mine done at 199K on my 2013 LX - no signs of issues just wanted to get it done. At Lexus dealer paid $1200 out-the-door which I thought was pretty fair from the research I've done. This included taking off my Bud Built Cat guards + giving me the old starter to look at (they said they were going to keep for a core).

I could tell in the pics/video they sent that they removed the entire exhaust manifold to get to it. Did it all in one day and no issues.

WOW there is a big difference upon startup in the sound the starter makes. Not sure if that meant mine was on its way out but it's quite noticeable. Much more high pitched. So makes it sting a little less I guess.

I have the old starter in case anyone is interested in it/wants to look at it. The teeth were good so like others have said assuming it's all in the solenoid.