Sc430 Starter Motor Remove/refurb & Next Week Refit

[Connoisseur]

My starter motor never stopped the occasional but consistent clicking and no start, Changed the relay, checked the Battery and connections, all to no joy.

So today the manifold came off with the help of two friends/engineers. Lexus hours for the job are somewhere north of 5 but today the mainfold was off in 1.5 hrs and the starter motor soon after.

As you can see from the pics we found meal nuts etc. in the base of the 'V' but no wildlife so assume at some point in its life the car has been stood for a while with 'under the manifold' making a warm home!

First pic is with the starter motor still in place, the second following removal. The manifold comes off whole/in one piece, and we didn't need to unbolt the water pipes so one refitting job saved! Motor refurb is this week so all will be back together and back on the road next Saturday.

Total hours expected to be circa 3.5 for the full job. Refurb will cost a lot lot less than a new motor and be just as good a job, and means I retain the original Denso/Toyota part.

Part of doing jobs like this with help is how much more I learn about the car - as well as how well engineered they were/are.

pic 1

pic 2

[The-Acre]

Good job! When I had the starter on my previous LS400 repaired the price was less than the original quote, the guy doing it said it took less time than he anticipated. Glad to see you've got the holes plugged up, you wouldn't want nuts of any variety going down there! So presumably you're just replacing the contacts and plunger which is what many others have done, including me?

[Connoisseur]

Good job! When I had the starter on my previous LS400 repaired the price was less than the original quote, the guy doing it said it took less time than he anticipated. Glad to see you've got the holes plugged up, you wouldn't want nuts of any variety going down there! So presumably you're just replacing the contacts and plunger which is what many others have done, including me?

Thanks. Yes, contacts and plunger, and as it's off, they offered to strip down for a fuller check. About £50 in total; happy not to have to go for aftermarket replacement, or the brand new Toyota/Denso part!!