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Starter Motor Replacement And Lpg


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Hi everyone - advice needed. I had my Mk4 converted to LPG in January at Leeds - really happy with it. However it has just started to show the signs of the dreaded starter motor worn bushes problem - - occasional click and no turning,

Phoned Chester Lexus who quoted a 'reasonable' price for a renovated starter, but when I mentioned the LPG they said they wouldn't touch it. My local garage said the same. Obviously the need to take the inlet manifold and related gubbins off means the LPG injectors need to be part of this removal.

Does anyone know of a place in the North West (or further!) who might be reasonable re this and actually quote? And has anyone experience of doing the job with LPG?

Just a little warning of the hidden costs and hassle of LPG I guess.

Cheers

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Hi everyone - advice needed. I had my Mk4 converted to LPG in January at Leeds - really happy with it. However it has just started to show the signs of the dreaded starter motor worn bushes problem - - occasional click and no turning,

Phoned Chester Lexus who quoted a 'reasonable' price for a renovated starter, but when I mentioned the LPG they said they wouldn't touch it. My local garage said the same. Obviously the need to take the inlet manifold and related gubbins off means the LPG injectors need to be part of this removal.

Does anyone know of a place in the North West (or further!) who might be reasonable re this and actually quote? And has anyone experience of doing the job with LPG?

Just a little warning of the hidden costs and hassle of LPG I guess.

Cheers

Sorry to hear you're facing this problem, I've been there (although not with LPG) I can't offer any help with this but it will be interesting to know what those with more experience have to say re having the work done with the LPG system. I'll watch this with great interest. As far as the starter goes it's certainly worth just replacing the worn parts as some of us have done, they cost about £13.

Hope you get sorted .

Phil

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I know that my mechanic here in Sandbach would be able to sort this out for you. He has quite a bit of experience with these cars and also with LPG systems. Let me know if this is something you'd like to follow up and I'll post his name/number etc. I know that Angel123 has also used him and can vouch for his service.

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Hi everyone - advice needed. I had my Mk4 converted to LPG in January at Leeds - really happy with it. However it has just started to show the signs of the dreaded starter motor worn bushes problem - - occasional click and no turning,

Phoned Chester Lexus who quoted a 'reasonable' price for a renovated starter, but when I mentioned the LPG they said they wouldn't touch it. My local garage said the same. Obviously the need to take the inlet manifold and related gubbins off means the LPG injectors need to be part of this removal.

Does anyone know of a place in the North West (or further!) who might be reasonable re this and actually quote? And has anyone experience of doing the job with LPG?

Just a little warning of the hidden costs and hassle of LPG I guess.

Cheers

I know an LPG installer in Peterborough who will more than likely do the work for you, he is very trustworthy. Let me know and I will post details.

I have never been refused repairs on any of my cars from the garage I and my family have used for years. Mike

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Why don't you just have an LPG installer replace the starter?

Mike I don't think he will do a 350 mile round trip to have a starter replaced :D

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Why don't you just have an LPG installer replace the starter?

Mike I don't think he will do a 350 mile round trip to have a starter replaced :D

Any excuse to give her a good run. Mike

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Hi everyone - advice needed. I had my Mk4 converted to LPG in January at Leeds - really happy with it. However it has just started to show the signs of the dreaded starter motor worn bushes problem - - occasional click and no turning,

Phoned Chester Lexus who quoted a 'reasonable' price for a renovated starter, but when I mentioned the LPG they said they wouldn't touch it. My local garage said the same. Obviously the need to take the inlet manifold and related gubbins off means the LPG injectors need to be part of this removal.

Does anyone know of a place in the North West (or further!) who might be reasonable re this and actually quote? And has anyone experience of doing the job with LPG?

Just a little warning of the hidden costs and hassle of LPG I guess.

Cheers

Hi Having had the very same problem a couple of months ago its VERY important that you get a garage who know what they are doing. I thought I had & it was a disaster. They let air into the coolant system which Lexus Poole found needed to be bled & second my engine whilst fine on petrol won't idle on LPG

There are number of reasons why this might happen so I'm taking my LS to Gas&Go Swindon where their engineer knows all about Lexus's having worked for them for 13 years prior to joining Gas&Go AND he has fitted many Lexus starter motors

I realize it may be quite a distance for you but a strongly advise using them as it will save you a lot of grief in the long run.

Do you know you can purchase a repair kit for your starter motor as its usually just the connectors that corrode ALSO I have a refurb LS400 starter motor for sale which I'm about to put on eBay If you interested make me an offer

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Hi everyone - advice needed. I had my Mk4 converted to LPG in January at Leeds - really happy with it. However it has just started to show the signs of the dreaded starter motor worn bushes problem - - occasional click and no turning,

Phoned Chester Lexus who quoted a 'reasonable' price for a renovated starter, but when I mentioned the LPG they said they wouldn't touch it. My local garage said the same. Obviously the need to take the inlet manifold and related gubbins off means the LPG injectors need to be part of this removal.

Does anyone know of a place in the North West (or further!) who might be reasonable re this and actually quote? And has anyone experience of doing the job with LPG?

Just a little warning of the hidden costs and hassle of LPG I guess.

Cheers

Hi Having had the very same problem a couple of months ago its VERY important that you get a garage who know what they are doing. I thought I had & it was a disaster. They let air into the coolant system which Lexus Poole found needed to be bled & second my engine whilst fine on petrol won't idle on LPG

There are number of reasons why this might happen so I'm taking my LS to Gas&Go Swindon where their engineer knows all about Lexus's having worked for them for 13 years prior to joining Gas&Go AND he has fitted many Lexus starter motors

I realize it may be quite a distance for you but a strongly advise using them as it will save you a lot of grief in the long run.

Do you know you can purchase a repair kit for your starter motor as its usually just the connectors that corrode ALSO I have a refurb LS400 starter motor for sale which I'm about to put on eBay If you interested make me an offer

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Hi everyone - advice needed. I had my Mk4 converted to LPG in January at Leeds - really happy with it. However it has just started to show the signs of the dreaded starter motor worn bushes problem - - occasional click and no turning,

Phoned Chester Lexus who quoted a 'reasonable' price for a renovated starter, but when I mentioned the LPG they said they wouldn't touch it. My local garage said the same. Obviously the need to take the inlet manifold and related gubbins off means the LPG injectors need to be part of this removal.

Does anyone know of a place in the North West (or further!) who might be reasonable re this and actually quote? And has anyone experience of doing the job with LPG?

Just a little warning of the hidden costs and hassle of LPG I guess.

Cheers

The Lexus dealer local to me (Milton Keynes) is part of the Sytner Group and will not work on any LPG cars - they had a leak and blew up a garage apparantly - a bit of a shame because they are good. Coventry Lexus who are part of a different group will work on LPG cars. I use a local indi these days - they will work on the car provided they don't have to touch the pressurised part of the system.

I have not found the LPG conversion has increased my servicing costs - looks like you've had a bit of bad luck with your garages Gorodish.

Good luck in the future

Bren

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Thanks to all for the suggestions - I'm following up with Jonathan and Tom's Sandbach garage. Will be sure to post back here how I get on. Its a great car and having invested in LPG I'd be losing a huge amount to bail out of it - and what compares?!

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Hi, I'm new to this forum so forgive me if I make some mistakes. I live on The Wirral and had my 98 MK4 converted by Andy Evans in Wallasey (0151 639 1555) using a very neat Italian Matrix system. All was well until the starter started to play up, sometimes starting and sometimes just clicking. One time it even jammed on and would not release until I revved the engine and broke it free.

The problem is generally the contact plunger and the contacts wearing and either not making a good enough contact to carry the starting current or in my case of jamming, welding themselves together and thus continually running the started.

I tried Lexus (Chester) but like you, they say that they are not insured for work outside the Lexus specification. I also tried a very good local mechanic who had trained and worked at Lexus (Chester) but on finding out it was on LPG refused to do the work.

I was left with no option but to do the work myself; what a pain in the backside. The LPG is simple to take apart, it's just rubber pipes and clips, plus a few electrical connections. The LPG tank has a thumb valve on it to shut it down and by pulling the additional in line fuse that has been installed in the LPG power line, the solonoid valve on the LPG also remains closed, plus there is no power to the LPG control unit nor the injector packs.

Getting to the starter is a pain and just bloody hard work, but it can be done. A few new gaskets are required at about £40. The real rub is that you can buy the replacement plunger and contacts from RepairkitsUK (www.repairkitsuk.com - 07500 197742) for about £13. I managed to replace the contacts and plunger with the starter still bolted to the bell housing as I could not figure out how to unbolt one of the starter bolts without taking the nearside cat off. I hope that this helps, get in touch if you need more help. Do I need to write an article on this for the club to help others? Dave

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On my GS300 I had the starter rebuilt and a few years later the starter replaced when the original would not take a further refurb.

When I had the new starter fitted my mechanic did the job from under the car raised on just a high lift trolley jack and axle stands.

Is the LS starter position so very different then or is it just that the LPG equipment obscure access.

I'd be interested to know for future ref as I am close to getting my LS converted and this sort of thing is useful to know.

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Hi everyone - advice needed. I had my Mk4 converted to LPG in January at Leeds - really happy with it. However it has just started to show the signs of the dreaded starter motor worn bushes problem - - occasional click and no turning,

Phoned Chester Lexus who quoted a 'reasonable' price for a renovated starter, but when I mentioned the LPG they said they wouldn't touch it. My local garage said the same. Obviously the need to take the inlet manifold and related gubbins off means the LPG injectors need to be part of this removal.

Does anyone know of a place in the North West (or further!) who might be reasonable re this and actually quote? And has anyone experience of doing the job with LPG?

Just a little warning of the hidden costs and hassle of LPG I guess.

Cheers

The Lexus dealer local to me (Milton Keynes) is part of the Sytner Group and will not work on any LPG cars - they had a leak and blew up a garage apparantly - a bit of a shame because they are good. Coventry Lexus who are part of a different group will work on LPG cars. I use a local indi these days - they will work on the car provided they don't have to touch the pressurised part of the system.

I have not found the LPG conversion has increased my servicing costs - looks like you've had a bit of bad luck with your garages Gorodish.

Good luck in the future

Bren

I think that's a bit of an urban myth cos if the LPG leaks it stinks & can be detected immediately. The only case I know of was a motor home which caught fire whilst filling up because the owner hadn't screwed on the adapter properly.

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Hi Keith, the problem with the V8 is that the starter is in the 'V' of the engine - allegedly to increase refinement! So the LPG just complicates what David has described above - a pig of a job as there is so much to remove to access the blinking thing!

Tom

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Indeed a pig of a job. Slap bang in that V.

This gives a decent insight into taking apart a Toyota V8 manifold off.

http://www.someguyinnevada.com/toyota-tundra-starter-repair-a-journey-of-discovery

I'll be taking mine off some point in the next couple of weeks. I may film the job on a HD camera if you guys are interested. I am on an LS430 but it's going to be a very similar process to the LS400.

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Hi everyone - advice needed. I had my Mk4 converted to LPG in January at Leeds - really happy with it. However it has just started to show the signs of the dreaded starter motor worn bushes problem - - occasional click and no turning,

Phoned Chester Lexus who quoted a 'reasonable' price for a renovated starter, but when I mentioned the LPG they said they wouldn't touch it. My local garage said the same. Obviously the need to take the inlet manifold and related gubbins off means the LPG injectors need to be part of this removal.

Does anyone know of a place in the North West (or further!) who might be reasonable re this and actually quote? And has anyone experience of doing the job with LPG?

Just a little warning of the hidden costs and hassle of LPG I guess.

Cheers

The Lexus dealer local to me (Milton Keynes) is part of the Sytner Group and will not work on any LPG cars - they had a leak and blew up a garage apparantly - a bit of a shame because they are good. Coventry Lexus who are part of a different group will work on LPG cars. I use a local indi these days - they will work on the car provided they don't have to touch the pressurised part of the system.

I have not found the LPG conversion has increased my servicing costs - looks like you've had a bit of bad luck with your garages Gorodish.

Good luck in the future

Bren

I think that's a bit of an urban myth cos if the LPG leaks it stinks & can be detected immediately. The only case I know of was a motor home which caught fire whilst filling up because the owner hadn't screwed on the adapter properly.

Urban myth or not old lad - Synter Group will not work on LPG cars.

Bren

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Hi everyone - advice needed. I had my Mk4 converted to LPG in January at Leeds - really happy with it. However it has just started to show the signs of the dreaded starter motor worn bushes problem - - occasional click and no turning,

Phoned Chester Lexus who quoted a 'reasonable' price for a renovated starter, but when I mentioned the LPG they said they wouldn't touch it. My local garage said the same. Obviously the need to take the inlet manifold and related gubbins off means the LPG injectors need to be part of this removal.

Does anyone know of a place in the North West (or further!) who might be reasonable re this and actually quote? And has anyone experience of doing the job with LPG?

Just a little warning of the hidden costs and hassle of LPG I guess.

Cheers

The Lexus dealer local to me (Milton Keynes) is part of the Sytner Group and will not work on any LPG cars - they had a leak and blew up a garage apparantly - a bit of a shame because they are good. Coventry Lexus who are part of a different group will work on LPG cars. I use a local indi these days - they will work on the car provided they don't have to touch the pressurised part of the system.

I have not found the LPG conversion has increased my servicing costs - looks like you've had a bit of bad luck with your garages Gorodish.

Good luck in the future

Bren

I think that's a bit of an urban myth cos if the LPG leaks it stinks & can be detected immediately. The only case I know of was a motor home which caught fire whilst filling up because the owner hadn't screwed on the adapter properly.

Urban myth or not old lad - Synter Group will not work on LPG cars.

Bren

I know neither will our local Land Rover Dealership

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On my GS300 I had the starter rebuilt and a few years later the starter replaced when the original would not take a further refurb.

When I had the new starter fitted my mechanic did the job from under the car raised on just a high lift trolley jack and axle stands.

Is the LS starter position so very different then or is it just that the LPG equipment obscure access.

I'd be interested to know for future ref as I am close to getting my LS converted and this sort of thing is useful to know.

It's in a totally different position. I asked one mechanic while he was working on my previous LS to see if he could find the starter, he never did until I told him, even then he couldn't see it! It almost seems that a starter rebuild is the way to go before an LPG conversion?

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On my GS300 I had the starter rebuilt and a few years later the starter replaced when the original would not take a further refurb.

When I had the new starter fitted my mechanic did the job from under the car raised on just a high lift trolley jack and axle stands.

Is the LS starter position so very different then or is it just that the LPG equipment obscure access.

I'd be interested to know for future ref as I am close to getting my LS converted and this sort of thing is useful to know.

It's in a totally different position. I asked one mechanic while he was working on my previous LS to see if he could find the starter, he never did until I told him, even then he couldn't see it! It almost seems that a starter rebuild is the way to go before an LPG conversion?

No need to replace the whole starter as they seldom fail its usually the contacts/plunger that need replacement & they can be bought on eBay for about £13

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  • 1 month later...

Thread resurrection - thanks to Mr Savage who recommended his garage in Sandbach, I had the job done for £250. Really pleased with the price, quality and relief at finding a garage who were happy to do the job with LPG fitted. It was a lot of unbolting and bolting together but I now have confidence again when turning the key!

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