2007-2008 Lexus GS 350 Rear Wheel Drive Alternator Replacement

How to replace Alternator on 2007-2008 Lexus GS 350. Other year GS may also apply, this is for 3.5L rear wheel drive. Simple test to verify is to check the battery voltage with car off then check while running, if voltage is the same and below 12-12.8volts then the alternator is not putting out any charge.

[@sirharrison2143]

Once you get that back bracket off, don't put it back, completely unnecessary. The tension is less than 20lbs the bolts are capable for more than 5x that. Plus the it's going to go out again. 2 years later when it went out, took me 20 min total to change. You are welcome.

[@dereksinclair9000]

Thanks for the video. It helped A LOT! Just finished my 2006 gs300 alternator replacement and it runs perfectly. Thanks again. Couldnt have done it without you. Saved $400 on the dealer labor. They say you need to remove AC hoses on the AWD but you dont need to using your method. Send me your paypal address as Id like to buy you a case of beer.

[@ericr2204]

All good Derek, helping someone save a ton and get the job done right is my reward.

[@musicfromthesurfreport1159]

Thanks for posting. I had never attempted an alternator replacement on anything before. This gave me the confidence that I could do it, even though my very trustworthy mechanic said it was pretty involved and didn't recommend I try it. He quoted me more than $600 for the labor and mentioned that it would involve draining the cooling system and a bunch of other stuff. I think he was going by the same standard manual my wife found at the library, and I can only guess they recommend removing all those other parts to make it easier to get to the alternator, but this video is right. All of that is not unnecessary. Now for a few hints that might help others like me with less experience. I struggled like hell to find that nut holding the bracket on the back. I thought I had it at one point, but once I got it partially losened, I heard the sound of compressed air escaping. Apparently, the bolt I had was part of the air conditioning system. I might end up having to recharge the freon later. Glad it's winter. Anyway, Once I did identify the correct nut, it wasn't that hard to get to. I found that a shorter extension with a deep-well socket worked pretty well. If you can get a light in the right orientation, you can actually see the stud and nut while you stick the wrench down in the gap and guide it on. Once you've got that, you can stick your left hand underneath the alternator to help hold the wrench steady. I didn't have a 14mm nut that fit on my breaker bar, so I used a 3/4" pipe over the handle of my regular wrench and was able to break the lower-left nut easily. Also, once I got the alternator off, I realized there was no mounting bracket on the back, so the nut I struggled so hard to find and bought a special extension to get off wasn't actually holding anything in place. Apparently, the guy who put on the last one on was a shade tree mechanic and either couldn't figure out how to get it back on or decided it didn't matter, but at least he replaced the nut. Guess this answers the question as to whether the bracket is really necessary. I bought the car a year prior to this job, and it the alternator looked like it had at least a few years of wear on it. Apparently, everything worked fine without the bracket. Finally, I bought/borrowed a torque wrench to try and get the torque on the bolts right, but it didn't appear to go to the necessary 380 or so inch-pounds of torque, so I ended up tightening all the bolts by feel. Might have my mechanic check them just to ease my mind, but I think they're fine. The total job probably took 5 or 6 hours, but only because I didn't have all the right tools on hand, lost the groundwire nut down in a crevice and a flashlight down another gap and generally didn't know what I was looking for. Also, when I jumped the battery and went to re-start the car, it wouldn't even try at first. I thought maybe a fuse was out or something, so I disconnected the negative side of the battery and went looking for it. I couldn't find the alternator fuse (separate story), but when I hooked the battery back up, I was able to jump the car again, and it started easily. Now that I have all the necessary tools and understand where everything is, I could do it in 1.5 hours easily... maybe less.

[@jorgedasilva107]

Thank you for the video and your effort to make it. I will try it after buying the alternator.

[@anpol170]

Thank you for the video! Great help. I actually had endoscope to see this trouble bolt. As one comment - you can actually put this nut with LEFT hand. Stay in front of the car, lean against the motor and then with the LEFT hand with three fingers including thumb you can take this nut out and then in. It's more secure then fish it with right hand.

[@caydadj492]

Hey Eric I removed all bolts and the alternator is loose but will not come out.. I tried moving it to the right and pulling and wiggling it out but still no luck. What else do you recommend.

[@fredyzzz007ify]

Thanks for the video bro, you save me some money 👍👨‍🔧 god bless you !

[@DallasLive306]

How ironic , I’m getting my alternator replaced on my 2017 GS350 right now as I type . I dropped it off 8am this morning at my local job local Lexus dealership in my hometown and they are still working on it , how wonderful is that , and let’s not leave out I go back to work tonight , so you can best believe I am not ready to see my $1200 bill from Lexus on a 2hr job but hey life is tough and that’s why I wear a helmet 😇

[@01camp]

Thanks for the video,...help a lot of people to change itself,..👍🙂🙏🏻

[@ericr2204]

So sorry not to respond to many of you who I believe had AWD GS’s, the bolts and orientation is quite different than RWD. I know there are videos that address this. Sorry again for no response

[@ooj686]

I have a 2008 Gs350...the alternator is not located in the same place as yours. I literally have no room to remove it...it looks like I'll have to remove from underneath the vehicle... Am I missing something? 🤷🏻‍♂️ I saw a video for the IS250 & man you have to do a lot of work just to remove it...drain a lot of fluids, remove front driver side tire..please tell me I don't have to do all that for my '08 GS 350 😫

[@cedrickfoster4027]

After I took those three bolts out, the alternator still won't move. What's wrong?

[@ericr2204]

If you have a 07-08 rear wheel drive 3.5L those are the only 3 bolts. It's possible the bottom stud is sticking but should break free with a little jolting. I'm not sure what else could be holding it.

[@brianstarkey4931]

Dude good video I just replaced my alternator today on my 08 gs 350 the back bolt was a pain to get out but I got it with a 12mm deep with 3” extension. I used the method of one other viewers comment in this section to lay a outdoor chair pad across the engine and lay on top facing the driver’s side. Left hand holding the ratchet and right hand feeling the nut from below the alternator on the other side. What a pain. I elected to not reinstall the bracket with the new alternator I think it will be fine without it. Cars running great 👍🏼 now. I can’t see why this third bracket is necessary if you tighten down the other 2 bolts maybe some blue lock tight but I didn’t use any. I would bet money it’s good without the third nut and bracket

[@royale9998]

Updates? Did the third nut matter at all?

[@toddkellam2020]

Hey just curious I did my gs350 alternator today and decided to leave the bracket off as well did you ever have any issues

[@istudyyou2130]

Do you have to buy the original one from the dealer or can you get one rebuild from O’Reillys?

[@DELSHOETR]

Thanks for the tutorial! Do you need to drain and refill the A/C to replace the alternator? I got quoted by a mechanic that includes that as part of the task/labor. I read online from some people that you don't have to but wanted to confirm if you had to. Thanks!

[@ericr2204]

No I did not have to do anything to A/C. To replace alternator you shouldn't have to do any changes to A/C system. If the mechanic is including that I would hope it is because your A/C isn't working properly already otherwise it is a wasted procedure. Hope that helps.

[@الملكيالإماراتي]

Hello brother Eric how can I unpack the charging dynamo and in what way can I alone unpack it and what do I need for that

[@kevindeuvall2155]

Thank you for posting this video. It was very helpful and I successfully replaced the alt. on my 07 GS350. The rear bolt was a b@cth. One suggestion: I put foam padding across the top of the engine, laying across the motor with my head at the drivers side of the car. This allowed the correct angle of my left arm & hand down the hole at the correct angle to easily use a deep 12mm socket and 3” extension on the stud to remove / reinstall the nut. Once I figured that part out the rest was pretty straight forward.

[@brianstarkey4931]

Thanks for the advice I used a outdoor chair pad and laying on top of the motor like you suggested gave me the best angle to reach this area with a deep 12mm and 3” extension on a standard 3/8” drive ratchet. Good looking out bro

[@frozenking9394]

Appreciate it!

[@andreaqui1653]

I have to replace the alternator on my 2007 GS 350 AWD. I'm so nervous :(

[@jmochavo324]

Hello sir .. first thank you for this great video i able to change alternator my self... fyi i dropped the nut of the bracket so i drive it like that and buy a nut on autozone.. oh it was 12mm and what i get is 13mm.. it fits though lol... as long as it fit and hold im good with that.. I have question... i buy this buddy club condenser lll, and what of the condenser wire need to connect on alternataor ground wire... do u know where i can find that ground wire? Or can i just put that on the bracket of the alternator.. which is will be hard for me again... that bracket nut is the hardest of all the procedures of changing alternator... Thank you sir...

[@31031ehis]

Thanks for this video, Spent 4hrs trying to figure out what held the alt , not knowing its a last screw . Thanks

[@demetriusholmes6034]

Mine just went up this will help out tremendously. Do have any experience with the fuel pressure sensor my car starts sometime and some time it doesn’t when it does seem like it want to start just the fan runs. But I I unhook the battery for a few hours/ days it will turn over run maybe a day then back to not starting any help would be greatly appreciated thanks Great video

[@kingsoulfire9729]

There’s only two bolt on mine. Even when I went to the dealer and got a replacement it only two bolt. But with the two bolt off the alternator still won’t budge What could be holding it????

[@DSweet101]

Is it really necessary to put the bracket back on? Just so it’s easier if I ever have to replace it again.

[@errolwilsonvillep6774]

U great with one hand other holding camera

[@fidelcontreras8340]

It it different fro a 2014 Gs 350 fsport

[@thomassanders1660]

I need help with my AC compressor

[@mikemai8568]

It's a great video. Thanks

[@istudyyou2130]

You take it to the dealer you look at about 600+

[@ericreid8553]

I purchased replacement alternator at OReilly auto for $200 or so

[@istudyyou2130]

@@ericreid8553 I’m about to get mine put on in about 10 minutes. I got mine also a O’Reilly’s but it’s a rebuilt.

[@istudyyou2130]

I hope I don’t have any issues with the rebuilt one that I got from O’Reillys . I should’ve just got it from Lexus but it was like $488 but it’s also rebuilt. but they’ll give me $70 back when I bring my old one

[@rockethammy3493]

Huge thanks for taking the time to post the video. I've removed the two 10mm bolts from the coolant expansion tank but it's still secured from underneath. Can you advise as to how the reservoir is removed to make way for the alternator. Thanks again

[@gratefulRed69]

it pulls straight up and out, with the two 10mm bolts removed. The bottom of the reservoir has a plastic stub that simply sits in a rubber hole, but no nuts/bolts to remove.

[@Only1Othello]

Good video! Looks like a nightmare though. I have to fix my Lexus in the morning. Many thanks!

[@ericr2204]

It is a little bit of a challenge, that bottom nut is the tough one. And if when wiggling the new alternator back in gets stuck, take a break, walk away for a few minutes and try again. Keep telling yourself how much money you are saving and it goes easier. Good luck

[@costantineyoussif6679]

Great video man, What was the mileage when your alternator went bad ? Mine has failed “Volt regulator” at 123mi, if you don’t mind asking what was the symptoms you got when your alternator went bad ?? Thanks very much

[@ericr2204]

Had about 50k miles when it failed. No warning lights came on, just everything started shutting down as I was driving as everything was just draining battery till it shut down completely. Had to remove battery, charge it then had enough charge to drive back home.

[@costantineyoussif6679]

@@ericr2204 mine has failed volt regulator at 124mi original Denso alternator what made me change it because sometime the car won’t open in the morning and the battery reset itself many time and I had replaced the battery a year ago so I was %100 sure that is not the battery, so l went a head and replaced the alternator yesterday and your video helps a lot , the nut in the back was really nasty to get it out, it took me 12hrs because I accidentally removed the 12mm bolt one on the exhaust manifold instead of the one on the alt. 🤷🏽‍♂️🤦‍♂️, since they share the same 12mm nut I realized this after taking video 🙄, I also didn’t put back the nut that hold the alternator from the back I don’t see any need for it, and I still didn’t put back the bolt on the exhaust manifold but I will do very soon to avoid any problem down the road, I test drive the car afterward everything seems working great no check engine light whatsoever 🍻

[@davidspringer8691]

My gs won’t start now it has a new battery and I just changed the alternator but it won’t even try to crank ??

[@ericr2204]

It has to be electrical connection because if the battery has good charge it will start and run for a little even if alternator is bad. Start by checking connections on alternator (plug in) then check battery terminals and if possible check voltage of battery. If your alternator was bad and you were driving it for awhile it could have drained it. That's how I knew immediately my alternator was my problem because my battery was only 3 months old. But running it drained it and I had to put it on a charger. If you don't have a voltmeter see if you can get a jump and if it starts then you'll just need to let it charge up.

[@cedrickfoster4027]

Yes I have a 2007. I mean, it's not budging at ALL.

[@ericr2204]

Sorry I haven't replied sooner. I am at a loss on why its not coming out.

[@gratefulRed69]

I had same problem. I had to pry it loose with a heavy duty screw driver, sliding it in at the lower left side ( by the hole of the 14mm shorter bolt). Once I got it loose, just more prying and tugging to FINALLY get it loose and out. Real pain in the ass...this entire job.

[@eddym1162]

Is it the same for a is 350 2007

[@ericr2204]

Yes the 2007 is the first year they went to this installation. Its tricky but acheivable.

[@ttt8878]

Nice video , maybe I will get to do it one day . Apparently the prices have went up on parts and labor since then , I was quoted around $1100 to have this job done at a shop .

[@xxxblanco]

what a joke, shop told me $1800 for water pump, $300 for thermostat, i did it with youtube...mine is a 2014 IS350 so this should help when I need to do the alternator

[@ttt8878]

@@xxxblanco KZbin is very valuable , I have figured out a lot from here