Starter Replacement: Toyota / Lexus

DIY Instructional video on how to replace the starter on a Toyota or Lexus vehicle.

Procedure is simple requiring just basic hand tools.

The air filter housing, air inlet tube and battery must be removed to access the starter on the transmission side of the engine.

Starters often fail because of worn contacts or solenoids. They can often be rebuilt for much cheaper than a full replacement.

Inspect the flywheel and starter teeth for damages before reinstalling the starter. Chipped teeth are not a good sign and evidence that an attempt was made to start the car while it was already started.

Make sure you keep the old starter to return to the parts store, as they charge a core fee until you return the old starter.

Using anti-seize on the air box bolts is a good idea as the area around the battery are rust prone.

For this job, tools needed include a flat head screw driver, needle nose pliers, 10mm wrench, a 10mm, 12mm and 14mm socket with 6" extension and a ratchet.

This DIY applies to most Toyota or Lexus FWD vehicles, such as the Lexus RX300, RX330, RX350, ES300, ES330, ES350, Toyota Highlander, Camry, Avalon, Corolla, Sienna, Tercel, Matrix, Yaris, Echo, Solara and Rav4. The only difference might be the access around the air box and battery area.

[Supernaut]

Wow, this video is superior to 99.9% of such videos on YT. I liked the fact that you kept repeating the bolt sizes and quantities. Excellent, 10/10. Clear video and perfect lighting.

[mattshipman]

I wasn't sure if I wanted to tackle this job but after watching this video I decided to go ahead and do it. Thank you so much for the detailed explanation of every step in the process. This saved me $200 to $300 since I was able to do it myself. Thanks!

[naula]

I am a 60 year old woman. My car is a Lexus Rx. Starter replacement complete, two hours, fifteen minutes, start to finish (including testing old and new starter). Thank you so much! This was actually a very fun project, and one of the easiest parts to replace on a Lexus/Toyota, V6!

Couple of recommendations:
1) Before beginning the job, remove the plastic, (silver) engine protector/cover that is sitting on top of the engine. This will give you more room to work with. The cover is secured by three hex bolts, and clips that attach to fuel rail. After you remove bolts, you can pull cover, and clips pop off rail.

2) The air box is a bear to work with. Make sure the air box, all it's components, and filter are completely secured in place, before putting the battery back in the engine bay.

[feakonguevos]

Dear Sir; please allow my family and I to thank you for this absolutely perfect how to video, simply put you're an excellent narrator thus showing the ability to teach, thank you very much

[thespicablethinker]

Excellent! Just what I was looking for.
Step by step, straight to the point, dumb proof.
You should have an online academy!

[ranganathan]

Excellent video. No fluff, no distractions. I will still get the work done by a mechanic but I appreciate the work that needs to go in. Thank you!

[chrissameck]

now that i successfully replaced my starter motor, i want to say...

thank you for this awesome video!

i have a 2006 sienna V6, and everything in the video was spot on

[krc]

Excellent video, especially eliminating 15 minutes of unscrewing and screwing bolts out/in from their locations! You captured the essential steps very effectively. My hats off to you!

[Bosstrout]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS. my starter went out in front of the station where I got my oil change and I was stressing because my job is 30 mins away and I really need my car. You made it so easy to follow instructions for a newbie like me. You really saved me thank you so much for this

[hondaboi]

A big thank you for your video. I was able to replace my starter and battery. There is now no check engine light on and it starts like a Champ!!!🎉

[lsuflmf]

Excellent. Thanks for taking the time to do this. FYI BTW, when I try to start my 1999 RX 300 V6, when I turn the ignition key, nothing happens. If I try again or several more times, the engine starts. I am told that this is a classic case of starter failure. Will be replacing the starter.

UPDATE: Took the leap. Bought a new starter and followed the instructions. My 1999 Rx300 was a little different, and gratefully a little easier. The biggest problem that took almost as much time to figure out as removing the battery and air box was disconnecting the small connector. I could not see the connection because I could not orientate the old starter enough. After a while I finally got a small screw driver inserted into the back of the old starter connection. Then the plug just popped out. Hope that help someone else. Thanks

[MisterDSean]

Thanks for this video!!! It worked great. Took me about 2 hours start to finish including going to get the part and having them test my old one. You are a life and money saver!!!

[davidkilpatrick]

This is the first time I've worked on my 2002 Lexus ES300 which I purchased in May 2016. Your video was very straight forward. Thanks to you, I saved approximately $225.00 and it took me less than one hour from start to finish.

[MrPraveenGeorge]

I liked that you encourage and educate people to rebuild the starter by replacing couple of cheap parts, rather than taking sponsorship from a parts retailer and encourage people to buy a new starter kit instead.

[tyblackford]

Gotter done in 1hr and 56 minutes. And that includes running to the parts store to buy the starter. Thank for the step by step. You're the man.

[tonybmusic]

One of, if not the best, DIY videos on car repair. You took an operation that probably takes several hours and condensed it into 20 plus minutes, one of my pet peeves with these DIY videos is the presenter talking incessantly about stuff that isn’t necessary to the process. I think they’re taking advantage of their 15 minutes of fame.

[seashore]

Just finished changing the starter on a 2005 Lexus ES330 following your video. Very straight forward. Finished it in an hour and a half. Thank you 🙏 for making this video. Much appreciated.

[grahamcrooks]

Excellent straightforward instruction. I noted that you went to the battery Neg [earth] terminal first, a good safety rule. That told me that you know what you are doing.

[EMoive]

Wow man, great video! I NEVER comment on YouTube videos, but you put 99.9% of DIY videos to shame. If only everyone made videos of this quality. Well done!

[atlking]

Thank you for this video, Excellent quality, sound and instructions. Took me 1 1/2 hour to complete installation of my new starter.