Starter For 2000 Lx-470

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I've got a 2000 LX-470. Great vehicle and never had any problems with it except at about 52k to 54K I began to have very intermittant starter problems. I'm now at about 75k and I must replace. I always though the starter was covered under the 60K warranty. Tell me if I'm right or wrong. Next, why did the engineering experts at Toyota/Lexus place the starter at the almost impossible to get at position on the engine. Was their a reason they did not hang it off the bottom of the engine as on most cars?

Don't have the dealer replace it.....they will charge you double. Here is what I do, I have a wonderful mechanic from Hong Kong. He has been working on Lexus/Toyotas for years. Any good mechanic can put this starter in. I wouldn't do it because of a significant back problem. I buy my parts from Patterson Toyota/Lexus out of Pennsylvania. Their email is irontoad.com. and their prices reflect somewhere between a +30 to +40% discount. YOU MUST SAY THAT YOU SAW THEIR AD IN MOTOR TREND OR CAR AND DRIVER. They offer wonderful prices and service. There are no taxes, I'm in Texas and freight is very reasonable. These are honest people. I became disabled about 7 years ago and I have to shop for the best prices.

Since my gas millege is so poor, I planning to keep the Lexus and buy a new something (?) that gets great milleage. I am not interested in the current selection of Hybrids. For your information, their are Lithium Ion batteries that are close to production for the 2010 model year (Toyota/Lexus and and all other hybrid manufacturers) which will last for the life of the car. It is so hot in Houston, the heat kills our batteries in the summer. Winters are not a problem here. I can not remember when we had the last real winter. The current batteries are only good for eight years or so and then need to changed out at your expense. Don't quote me on expected battery time frame. Wait to 2010.

I've driven the little IS model. Rear drive, great milleage and a good possibility. In Houston, Lexus appear to be a dime a dozen. My strategy is to buy out of state where Lexus is not so popular. The Texas economy is going great guns because of oil and natural gas prices and there is plenty of money to buy cars. Housing market is quite strong here also. I've also been through the oil price down turns and those were terrible times here. Look at the housing markets on the east and west coasts. It is totally impossible to have a housing inflation rate of, in some instances 20/25% a yr. That is just a huge correction waiting to take place. It is happening now. In Texas our home values have been increasing at about 4/5%. Inline with inflation.

[Jim_Chow]

I've got a 2000 LX-470. Great vehicle and never had any problems with it except at about 52k to 54K I began to have very intermittant starter problems. I'm now at about 75k and I must replace. I always though the starter was covered under the 60K warranty. Tell me if I'm right or wrong. Next, why did the engineering experts at Toyota/Lexus place the starter at the almost impossible to get at position on the engine. Was their a reason they did not hang it off the bottom of the engine as on most cars?

That's because of space issues. Keep in mind the 4.7L V8 (2UZ-FE) is basically a bored-out 4L V8 (1UZ-FE) originally used on the Lexus LS400. The starter was incorporated into the block and the water pump is BEHIND the timing belt, which is why one should change out the water pump when the t-belt service is done around 90-100K eventhough water pumps tend to last about 120K. It's only like 0.5 hrs extra labor plus the price of the pump vs. paying hundreds in labor to replace a leaking pump. FWIW, the water pump on my '86 4Runner was changed at 125K mi and 18 yrs since the timing chain was being done. It didn't leak (yet), but the bearings were a little rough. Anyways, I'm guessing the starter and water pump design were taken from the 1UZ. By using the same design, Toyota could use the same machinery w/ larger bore & stroke to create the 4.7L instead of a 4L. Also, the starter contacts on my 864Runner are still the original at 204K mi and 21 yrs. I just replaced the alternator a few months ago (brushes were going bad, but replaced the entire unit to be sure since it's my 24mpg DD).