Reseal Valley Plate Leak - Alternator Replacement Costs

[WTITW]

I thought I would share what I just paid to have the valley plate on my GX resealed since it's the most common major repair on the 460. This was at a very reputable Land Cruiser specialty mechanic in PHX.

I took it in for an alternator replacement and my mechanic noticed the leak in his inspection. I talked to him about changing the water pump/thermostat at the same time and he said none of that has to come off to reseal the valley plate so we should wait until they show signs of failure. Just mentioning that because I saw another thread here where someone took off their water pump and put it back on, saying that fixed their valley leak. Total cost for valley leak reseal - ~$1400

The alternator replacement was also a bit pricey (~$1K all in). $350 for the part, the rest labor. I know that sounds high for an alternator but it's a real pain on these. You have to change it from under the truck and it requires removing the sway bar (which means all four wheels up and KDSS issues). Toyota calls for removing the radiator to make the repair. I guess that's what you get when you shove a giant V8 into a medium-sized hole.

Very glad the alternator went out in town, not on the 3K mile road trip I'm about to do or out on the trail. It took a couple of days to get the alternator in as they're in short supply lately. Alternator symptoms were: whining noise between 600-1K RPMs for a couple of days, a slight burnt plastic smell, and a dead battery.

I'm at 184K and have done all regular maintenance at sooner-than-recommended intervals. I'm the second owner, and the truck had complete Lexus service records from the first.

While these repairs stung a bit, they were only my 2nd and 3rd repairs in 50K miles of owning it. I bought it with 134K. The only other repair has been a throttle body replacement which Toyota broke while doing a fuel service right after I purchased it (which is why I go to a LC specialty mechanic now). I was happy to pay it and keep wheeling.

 

[Acrad]

IIRC.. the alternator they used in the Sequoias (10-12) that had the 4.6L were 180A - 27060-38050-84

Assume you got the 150A replacement with 3 zone HVAC... the 2 zone models are 130AMP?

PN: 27060-38080 (130A) / '10-'23
PN: 27060-38090 (150A) / '10-'13
PN: 27060-38110 (150A) / '14-'23

Assume the '14+ 150A would go on '10-'13 as well but that's how the parts lookups show it

 

[WTITW]

IIRC.. the alternator they used in the Sequoias (10-12) that had the 4.6L were 180A - 27060-38050-84

Assume you got the 150A replacement with 3 zone HVAC... the 2 zone models are 130AMP?

PN: 27060-38080 (130A) / '10-'23
PN: 27060-38090 (150A) / '10-'13
PN: 27060-38110 (150A) / '14-'23

Assume the '14+ 150A would go on '10-'13 as well but that's how the parts lookups show it

Denso 210-0726 (150amp). I thought about trying to get an HO alternator but just didn't have time to wait.

 

[MotoDave]

Your cost on the valley plate re-seal is almost exactly what I paid a month ago on my 2010 (135k miles) - $1500. Shop I used was RS Automotive Works in Simi Valley, CA - they came highly recommended from a SoCal GX group and I think the recommendation is well deserved.

Local Lexus dealer quoted me $3250 for the same repair.

 

[WTITW]

Local Lexus dealer quoted me $3250 for the same repair.

Glad I just went with my gut. Thx for the second data point.

 

[jeremy j]

After doing the repair myself, that price on the valley plate seems pretty reasonable. Particularly when you have to do it twice like a few of us have when the orings leak after you get it all back together.

I bought a water pump to do at the same time but when I saw how unrelated the work was, it is just sitting on the shelf until I think it’s worth replacing.

 

[swild]

Agreed, that price isn't bad. Had to do the job twice due to those dang o-rings. If you do it yourself, lube them up properly and you'll only do the job once.

 

[r2m]

For $1,400 clams, I agree, for me it is well worth it considering I can't really can't take apart my engine and leave it in my driveway and my rig doesn't fit in the garage.
Too bad you don't have time to order a 240 amp or higher alternator, especially with the fridge, lights and other diddy's you'd like to add.
Albeit, having a bunch of lights with a stock alternator is almost a non-issue considering how little power the new LED off road lights use compared to the power sucking incandescent bulbs we used to use.

And really glad it all happened around town!

 

[WTITW]

Too bad you don't have time to order a 240 amp or higher alternator, especially with the fridge, lights and other diddy's you'd like to add.

I think I'm going to end up adding a 1Kwh lifepo in the drawer system and a DC to DC. That will keep the fridge and camp lighting on the lifepo and only starting and driving lights on the starter battery. That shouldn't negate the need for a HO alternator, although I wish I could have planned it and done the HO anyway. Maybe I can do it if I end up doing something that makes the job easier but I had to go with what was available. When you need the truck back, it's hard to justify waiting for a special order or even finding the time to figure out what to buy It didn't help that my oldest graduated HS this weekend, and we had a million things to do.

 

[re_guderian]

Your price was good on the valley, but.... Did the use the right FIPG? I recall that being over $100 at the Toyota shop. Maybe I'm mis-remembering...

Had mine done at Right Toyota, now go to Desert Toy Shop in Mesa.

 

[xychromosome]

Jake, what year is your GX? Thought I read somewhere that this was happening more on MY2014 and older.

 

[jeremy j]

FIPG is under $20. I paid $14.59 from oemvehicleparts.com.

 

[WTITW]

Jake, what yeay is your GX? Thought I read somewhere that this was happening more on MY2014 and older.

2010. That could just be due to age. I doubt they changed the gasket composition. My mechanic said he sees the same issue a lot on Tundras with the 4.6L

 

[xychromosome]

2010. That could just be due to age. I doubt they changed the gasket composition. My mechanic said he sees the same issue a lot on Tundras with the 4.6L

ok, I've been topping up my 2015 every now and again, refusing to believe that I may have the same issue. Haven't seen any signs of leaks but will check again next time i'm under the truck.

 

[r2m]

I think I'm going to end up adding a 1Kwh lifepo in the drawer system and a DC to DC. That will keep the fridge and camp lighting on the lifepo and only starting and driving lights on the starter battery. That shouldn't negate the need for a HO alternator, although I wish I could have planned it and done the HO anyway. Maybe I can do it if I end up doing something that makes the job easier but I had to go with what was available. When you need the truck back, it's hard to justify waiting for a special order or even finding the time to figure out what to buy It didn't help that my oldest graduated HS this weekend, and we had a million things to do.

This is the alternator I put in:

2013 Lexus GX460 4.6L V8 Alternator | Tucson Alternator

They have locations in Tuscon and Phoenix, so you could probably save on shipping too!

 

[WTITW]

ok, I've been topping up my 2015 every now and again, refusing to believe that I may have the same issue. Haven't seen any signs of leaks but will check again next time i'm under the truck.

So last weekend when I changed my oil I noticed I was like a half pint low of coolant. No other signs. Didn't even mention the top up it to the mechanic when I took it in for the alt. He just noticed it in his inspection. The water cooks out, so the only thing you can see is red residue around wherever it's leaking. I think he saw some red scoping around my intake as part of his normal inspection (Desert Toy Shop in Mesa, AZ - very thorough, highly recommended) because he mentioned that he couldn't get his camera far enough to see where the leak was from.

I don't think it's something that will go catastrophic quickly though, it's not like it's leaking into the oil system. Just leaks out onto the manifold.

 

[re_guderian]

FIPG is under $20. I paid $14.59 from oemvehicleparts.com.

There's different kinds, and different opinions on what's needed for various jobs (water pump, oil pan, valley plate, etc). The 1207B is indeed 20 bucks-ish, the 1282B is ~75 bucks, smart shopper price. Haven't seen any reseal failures with either, according to the google. Big thread on CL that'll put you to sleep...

who has had coolant leak around valley plate? - ClubLexus - Lexus Forum Discussion

IS F (2008-2014) - who has had coolant leak around valley plate? - just curious what people have paid to have this resealed and fixed?

www.clublexus.com

 

[xychromosome]

ok, I've been topping up my 2015 every now and again, refusing to believe that I may have the same issue. Haven't seen any signs of leaks but will check again next time i'm under the truck.

Leak confirmed. I'm currently at 119,000 miles on a 2015. The quote for my repair is $1200, which I think is pretty reasonable. Will get my indy to change the plugs and the PCV valve while they are in there.

Looks like this leak is a matter of time for all GX's. Hope everyone is regularly checking their coolant levels!

 

[scuzza]

I guess I should cross my fingers at 250k and no leak... but should it arise I'll tackle it based on what others here have shared.