Starting Problems

sepoy · May 4, 2004

Hi,

Model: 1999 RX300

Mileage: 95000

My car won't start. Took it to a mechanic, he says battery and alternator is bad and would cost me about $650.

Any thoughts on this? Is this price reasonable or shall I go to a Lexus authorized service center.

Thanks

tds · May 4, 2004

A battery is good for approx 5 years, so I am not surprised yours is dead....you need to install a new one.

For the alternator, check the yellow pages and remove / take your alternator to an auto electric specialist...let them rebuild it...you should be able to get all this done for around $200 - $250.

sepoy · May 4, 2004

A battery is good for approx 5 years, so I am not surprised yours is dead....you need to install a new one.
For the alternator, check the yellow pages and remove / take your alternator to an auto electric specialist...let them rebuild it...you should be able to get all this done for around $200 - $250.

Hi Thanks for the message.

Never done auto work.

So not sure if I want to try this out by myself??

SKperformance · May 4, 2004

more details for no start

tds · May 5, 2004

If you don't want to do the work yourself, ask your friends to recommend a good (i.e. capable and honest) mechanic who has worked on Japanese cars before. Then have your RX towed there (make sure they use a dolly so all wheels are off the ground). Explain to the mechanic that you want a new battery and that you want him to remove the alternator and have an auto electric shop check it out / rebuild it. It will cost you a bit more but still a lot less than Lexus would charge.