Starting Problem

[hunter_he]

Hi everyone,

Recently I found it hard to start my 99 LS400,137k miles.Every time I need to start several times until it cranks. I change the battery but it does not work.I get confused with the problem.

Anyone gets any idea?

Thanks.

[landar]

Welcome Han. By "hard to start", do you mean that when you turn the key, nothing happens? Like no cranking and maybe just a click sound?

[hunter_he]

Just a click. And once every 100 times I gets a crank but did not start at the end.

[landar]

If you are getting just a single 'click' when you turn the key and no cranking, then most likely have a bad starter. Could be the starter relay but probably the starter itself. This is a very typical problem with most any car of this age and mileage. The biggest issue is that the LS400, unlike many other cars, has the starter buried under the intake manifold. Therefore, it is difficult to gain access to it (meaning lots of labor).

So, the big question is this: are you confident enough to change the starter on your own or would you need a mechanic? It can be done but is a job for someone fairly experienced with mechanical work. If you have an independent mechanic, you could ask for a quote. It will probably be more than $500, so be sitting down when you get the price. ;-)

[sha4000]

Yeah this really sounds like the starter going out. The good news is that there are plenty of tutorials to help you change it out if you decide to go that route. If your not mechanically inclined buy the remanufactured Denso starter from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000C5YDC4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

<a data-ipb="nomediaparse" data-cke-saved-href="http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php%20or%C2%A0http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000C5YDC4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1%20check%20a%20couple%20of%20shops%20to%20see%20what" href="http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php%20or%C2%A0http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000C5YDC4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1%20check%20a%20couple%20of%20shops%20to%20see%20what" s%20the%20best%20price%20you%20can%20get.%20try%20to%20find%20and%20indie%20mechanic%20who%20has%20some%20experience%20working%20on%20lexus="" toyotas."="">check a couple of shops to see what's the best price you can get. Try to find and indie mechanic who has some experience working on Lexus/Toyotas.

[hunter_he]

How much about a OEM or genuine Denso starter?

[billydpowell]

simple, just call your dealer....... but you want wont to know... just go with a rebuilt. even the dealers sell them.

[sha4000]

The links are all jacked up in my other post. Drill down to your vehicle year and look in the electrical category. Any starter you get is most likely going to be remanufactured, even the one from the dealer from what I've read when I was looking for mine.

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000C5YDC4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[billydpowell]

you can buy a factory rebuilt from the dealer, but you really dont know WHO rebuilt it.....

[Exhaustgases]

And getting it from the dealer means top $. I did one in a 90 I think about 4 years ago, it was a reasonably priced Oreillys rebuilt, and is still going strong.