Lexus Died While Driving! Towed In! No crank no start. 2011 Lexus RX 350

[@donlemme898]

This job would have taken me 3 days and a trip to the Crisis Center after I pushed this Lexus out of my garage and set it on fire. You’re a patient man Ray, and a pretty good editor. I enjoy your channel, it’s part of my daily routine.

[@cturner7050]

Lol

[@anthonyslazas2898]

The right tools make a big difference, most of us don't have any where close to the amount of tools they have!

[@cigarsgunsanddiesel8032]

literally me anytime I have to deal with a shitty FWD oriented setup. Worst design for working on EVER. OK, maybe a RR Porsche is worse...

[@bktodc]

🤣 You're not lying. Ray is an excellent mechanic. His recall is astounding. The amount of components he had to remove to do a 5 minute alt replacement. That's why he's the professional. I know I would have forgotten a step or two on the reassemble. He's very entertaining and a great, through mechanic.

[@patricktrepp7031]

You are so correct. 👍🏾

[@INSNationband]

Ray , I’m a professional mechanic been at it for over 30 years. And I love your videos and such a breath of fresh air to see that there are good mechanics still such as yourself. Brother keep it up

[@randybeard6040]

Amen !!!

[@rjm7168]

I can't believe how much I enjoy watching your videos. I'm now watching them instead of watching TV because they're just more interesting than most of the stuff on tv. Keep it coming.

[@geraldbreetzke8800]

In case there’s anyone out there wondering why some auto repairs cost so much here you go. GREAT job Ray.

[@CrazyCat229]

And they always get pissed if you take less time than they pay for the repair. It's like well I've done this repair at least 5 times this month soooo, of course, I can do it under book.

[@michaelpressman7203]

There are a lot of things out there that are easier said than done automotive being one of them have a great day

[@ricktimmons458]

somewhere out there is a viewer that will change the way engines are laid out, making repair so much easier. I suspect NASCAR has already figured it out.

[@richerrick45]

Being an engineer in my former life, I always astounded at the total lack of design towards maintenance. They should force designers to live with these cars after the warrantee runs out so they are forced to learn the error of their ways. Cheers. Good video Ray.

[@randomschmo5778]

What possible reason would new car designers have to care about ease of maintenance? They are concerned with maximizing profit on new cars.

[@richerrick45]

@@randomschmo5778 Yeah, you're correct. The problem really starts at the top.

[@frandanco6289]

Warranty...

[@spangy8405]

@@randomschmo5778 absolute BS ... this moronic car had more unnecessary parts under the hood than can be found in your wife's bathroom . 😂

[@aitorbleda8267]

@@frandanco6289 Reduce warranty issues and you are gold

[@ztl0927]

"I don't know if this is a repair video or an unboxing video" That had my sides hurting.

[@willferguson9784]

hey ray, toyota lexus tech here, on all 2gr alternators ive done, the tentioner has a locking hole in it, get a long m8 bolt, lock the tensioner and the bottom bolt for the alternator is right there, ratchet and a shallow socket no funny tricks, ive never had to remove that coolant tube or the motor mount for one of these! with that being said atleast book time is over 4 hours lmao

[@minhdo9597]

Thanks for the tip. I've not worked on any yet, but never know in the future.

[@fowvee]

PRO TIP: place a piece of carboard directly in front of the radiator fins to prevent accidental damage. It takes up no room, stays in place and won't obstruct your actions while protecting the radiator.

[@poseidon9948]

Ray - I'm a toyota tech, I've replaced those alternators with way too many different methods/techniques, here's just my 2¢ to make this job easier for the next time - I would of done 3 things differently in the passenger front wheel well, there's a plastic access panel you can remove to gain access to the idler pulley, that way you don't need to remove the coolant bypass/tstat or upper engine mount. also, on some models you can remove the upper radiator support and move the rad a little more to make it much easier to remove/reinstall the alternator. lastly, there is a specific procedure to bleed the coolant on those 2GR engines, using the high-point bleed nipple that lives on the coolant bypass next to the intake manifold. there's youtube videos showing this procedure, if you don't follow, you'll leave an air pocket in the system that will eventually make its way to the heater core.

[@michaelpressman7203]

Man I read it wrong I thought you were going to say number one cry about it number two kick the car number three pay somebody else to do the job hey have a great day

[@cavtd]

Alternator replacement procedure for a 2011 Lexus RX 350 is as follows: Open hood Gaze inside for a few moments Close hood Take vehicle to Ray 👍

[@joemalikowski8961]

When you're gazing at it you should have a wobble pop in your hand 🍻

[@thepewplace1370]

You forgot the step where you toss a frag grenade inside and then get a vehicle not designed by impractical idiots.

[@Matty7272]

"I don't know if this is a repair video or an unboxing video." One of your best Ray. Maybe needs it's own sticker.

[@Torsee]

I immediately hate that car because of all those covers.

[@daledickey8400]

@@Torsee All that plastic looked worse, then the dust and looked like fur on the coil packs at 5:00. Ray never said anything about that, maybe it was his hair, he did mention he was grumpy. That would be enough to make anyone pull their hair out.

[@Torsee]

@@daledickey8400 Very true!

[@fredk.2001]

Both. It's definately both.

[@deltasixgaming]

@@Torsee that's literally 98% of Newer Cars I prefer to see my Engine but the Majority do not and just want it to look good under the hood

[@philjungels7617]

I remember when generators, and alternators were right on top, and easy to change!

[@ryans413]

My car has it on top it’s the highest pulley on the system. The ac pump though is way down by the crank but it’s still up front so not too bad

[@michaelpressman7203]

And you had to put in an external regulator for your generator anybody remember that have a great day

[@philjungels7617]

@@michaelpressman7203 Like a bad dream! lol, seemed like you got a good regulator or bad one, even new! I also remember changing a 6V regulator out in favor of an 8V...... helped, especially in winter with or without an 8V battery!

[@augustusshook2881]

I worked in a shop for 8 years back in the 70s. If I had to work on these cars of today I would need mental health, You do a expert job. Thank You for the great videos...

[@ena6631]

Absolutely atrocious that you had to go through that process for an alternator change. Great job as always.

[@SevenSixTwo2012]

It's a Toyota thing. Their Highlanders are equally as atrocious to work on, being engineered to force you to service at the dealer only.

[@herewegoagain7403]

he was doing the thermostat, that was the hard part. Alternator is just two pins

[@tbradley2317]

Based on your comment I suspect that you have never worked on a German vehicle. This process, as assembly line friendly or mechanic un-friendly as it might seem, was truly a straight forward and logical step by step cake walk (as shown by Ray) compared to my numerous "german engineering superiority" wrenching experiences and german car craziness I've seen on youtube thus far. Try removing the alternator from a Mk4 TDI VW Jetta. It's a fairly empty looking engine bay once the big plastic engine cover's retainer nuts are removed. (No, it doesn't have the ball mounts and grommets of the newer generations.) It then has tons of space to reach in and start the process. It's fairly quick and easy to disconnect and un-mount the alternator itself from the ALH engine's big 1-piece main accessories bracket without removing anything else. Then the insanely complex adventure of removing said alternator from its home within the engine bay begins. Yes, I know the regulator is the usual fault and is a simple 5-10 minute job to replace... unless your somehow vehicle ended up with the optional Valeo alternator instead of the Bosch. :-( Although it does seem that since their meticulous incarnation of the original first generation wannabe Benz flagship model Lexus LS400 a little over 3 decades ago Toyota has slowly but happily migrated to and openly embraced the german automotive assembly line "jigsaw puzzle" concept, especially in the Lexus line-up, except that at least Toyota takes the extra steps to make all their puzzle pieces unique enough that tab A only fits in slot B with fastener C and fastener D might look very similar to and get mistaken for fastener C and sort of fit on slot B but at some point during the reassembly process it will become obvious that the place it was used in is not correct. Toyota goes out of their way in their design process to make it nearly impossible to "do it wrong" (other than over/under-tightening hardware, omitting washers, and other such basic human errors), unlike the german assumption that parts identification and exact assembly steps and fastening instructions are always followed to perfection with utmost precision to avoid total catastrophic failure as even minor mistakes which can be done without any obvious indication both can and often do turn into major problems if not caught before attempted final usage. I do agree that a significant number of steps in that process seemed excessive but welcome to a crossover SUV with a 3.5L V6 engine and 6-speed automatic transmission (likely with AWD included just to bulk things up even more) all turned sideways in the compact engine bay as a transaxle setup and be glad it wasn't German. Modern German vehicles are rolling technological masterpieces that are so much fun to drive... for a short while at least until something breaks.

[@spankbuda5760]

Actually, he was suppose to take off the front passenger side wheel, remove the inside plastic covers, and remove the front plastic splash guard to gain access to the pulley. And for the alternator all that he needed to do was to remove the front Lexus grill and the top metal radiator support and move the entire section off to the side while using a bungee cord to have full access to the alternator. He wasn't working smarter but harder with this repair. But, it happens to the best of us. The only thing is that he's a YT'er and not using YT to research.

[@zoltanliszkai2162]

had to do an alternator on a 12 captiva with a 3.0 V-6 it was worse than what ray is doing

[@johnwiley8417]

Around 25:00 I can't believe how tightly packed engine compartments have become. As a teen, I was able to stand in the engine compartment of my 1962 Chevy Bel Air, one foot on the ground, the other on the front suspension. Hey you kids! Get off my lawn!

[@James-dt7ky]

[@Zeus-wl2pl]

‘61 BelAir ex-owner. The 283 engine space was massive. You are correct, sir. Hope I’m not misgendering you, as the morons insist these days.

[@williamwhite9767]

I could pull the engine out of my 65 Chevelle in one hour!

[@REDBIRD-95]

I had a 3rd gen Firebird and the engine bay was massive. With my 4th gen Firebird, the engine bay is SUPER cramped😲

[@Rekuzan]

I had a '76 C-10 long bed that you could climb into the engine bay, sit DOWN, and practically close the hood!

[@hfarley2]

Sometimes being the most competent mechanic in the shop means you get the jobs that others cant be trusted with. This is a nightmare job. Hopefully you beat the clock.

[@CareyHolzman]

Well done! Thank you for going through the extra effort of filming this diag and repair! Amazing you can do such a great job with no camera operator.

[@itech301]

Didn't think I'd see you here!

[@ACOnetwork]

@@itech301 me eather 😁👍. Yep Ray knows his stuff 😁. Some viewers say, that he is not doing good job, that his channell is for entertainment purposes and nothing else. I am not a car mechanic at alll, but I would say, that Ray is great mechanic 😁. Carey is great computer tech. Everyone, have amazing rest of your day 🙂😁👍

[@frimatt5355]

Well how else but video documentation are you going to convince the customer that it actually really took 80 labor hours to change a fuckin alternator.😜

[@petenielsen6683]

Thanks to you, Ray, I say "gravity" every time I drop something - usually it is my computer mouse, but I do it in the kitchen when I drop something on the floor there too. I used so say "it's the brain damage" since I had a stroke. One of my nurse friends never did understand I was kidding about being damaged. Blaming gravity does sound better.

[@kathrynjensen8768]

I’m obsessed with watching you fix stuff. I hope my Mechanic takes as much care as you do. Great work.

[@kcoutdooractivities1338]

I remember hearing this quote when I was In automotive repair work “it is knowledge to know how to do a job, it is wisdom to know when not to do a job”. Glad you had patience for this repair.

[@stoopingfalcon891]

Yeah that is backed up by how many times he has declined to work on a car.

[@JustAnotherDronePilot]

Ray, I'm by no means a car guy, but your videos time and time again have taught me the basics of troubleshooting so I know what to look out for when I go to the shop. Thanks for the great content every morning!!

[@callenilsson8846]

Same here.

[@baazooka86]

All THAT for an alternator! Wow! I remember when we used to pull those out and replace them in about 15 minutes.....tops!!! 2 bolts and a tire iron to tension the fan belt was all it took. lol From a guy whose father owned a 2 bay gas station back in the mid-60's where I learned about cars, I just want to say, love watching your channel. Really opens my eyes to how it's really done these days. You almost need a degree in Electical Engineering. Keep up the good work and thanks for the information and entertainment.

[@777walt3rd]

That’s how long it would take me to replace it on my 2002 ford ranger and a 2003 mustang. I used to think Toyotas/Lexus would be easier to work on until I got one and had to replace e something on it, I regret buying it lol

[@markhorton4990]

THoes days are so over , my friend

[@michaelpressman7203]

I did an alternate about 3 weeks ago on my car and less than an hour in front of the auto parts store and the only reason it took me that long is because I dropped the 12 mm socket and I spent I don't know how much time would a flashlight and magnet trying to hunt it down finally two days later I opened I say I want to go find my socket look down they were sitting right there on that little plastic protective cover at the bottom of the motor I must live right have a great day

[@andrewcaple2557]

Fyi lower bolt can be reached through the wheel well, take the 2 10mm bolts out and peel back or take the panel off, shallow 14 mm and a flex head ratchet. Will avoid taking the motor mount off. Warranty labor time on the job was 2.6 lol.

[@terrysteel6706]

Amazed at the patience and dexterity to be able to work in such confined space .

[@CXensation]

You know its gonna be a bad day, when the service manual description for replacing the alternator starts: "Remove the cylinder head ..."

[@Vaticider69]

Remember the days when 1 socket and a pry-bar was able to replace an alternator.... nostalgia ahhhh...

[@trevorparks7666]

I still have three of those vehicles

[@leadman4273]

@@trevorparks7666 I also have 3 of that kind.

[@curtisj2165]

I remember that as well

[@kicknsystm]

A big part of my decision making when looking for a vehicle is the difficulty of maintenance & repairs since I do most all my own. That car may look great & drive fantastic but after seeing this, I'll view the car in traffic differently. Great job showing how to keep your cool.

[@stevensonger3706]

I follow a couple of other mechanics on KZbin. They are going by the wayside now. You are so personable and you don't edit out your accidents or slip ups. You show us your human side! You're great! I can't wait for the phone to ring or when gravit overcomes what you're holding! Thanks again!

[@sd906238]

I miss the days when if you wanted to remove the alternator you just removed alternator. Now you have to remove the fans and fan shroud, disconnect radiator hoses, upper motor mounts, a/c compressor and jack the engine up to get to the alternator.

[@Libertylute]

Well, I guess this is why I quit doing my own maintenance once sound used cars from the 1970s and 1980s became unavailable. for those changing the alternator was a matter of three bolts and a prybar to retension the belt.

[@db8823]

Or a broom stick.

[@muppetgump8522]

I honestly think the engineers that build these, have a drinking game during design planning.

[@MazichMusic]

You mean the "engineers". No apostrophe.

[@theyweredeadwhenigotthere1391]

If the software tells them it fits then it "technically" fits. Incompetent pricks lol

[@justinsmet]

Thats why I like older cars and trucks you had room to work on things

[@paulheitkemper1559]

Cars are engineered for assembly at the plant, not for maintenance, unfortunately.

[@paulheitkemper1559]

@@theyweredeadwhenigotthere1391 not incompetent. They're doing what they're told to save cost.

[@twistedwrench490]

Sad to see that heavy original Toyota thermostat being removed only to be replaced with a cheap auto store replacement!!!!! Always original Toyota parts when possible is the lesson I’ve learned the hard way. As always great work man

[@mph5896]

Yup. I would have just replaced the seal if could not or would not paid up for a quality part.

[@billclinton6040]

I also questioned the wisdom of replacing the tstat. I got a Camry with over 200k and have yet to replace it.

[@robertthomas5906]

@@billclinton6040 They don't last forever. I wouldn't replace it with a Toyota part. Over the decades I've replace them and I've never had the corner store's part go bad. If they're good they seem to last for a long time.

[@antilogism]

On my personal/family/friend stuff I usually just do the string-test to confirm the opening point & full open rather that risking a new-part.

[@alansmart3808]

As I peruse the used car market I always try to learn about as much as I can about cars that I am interested in. This channel allows me the opportunity to see how well or how badly cars are designed. I know now I will not be buying a Lexus RX350. This car was designed to keep DIYers from working on their car. Or at least make them suffer for trying. Thank you Ray for you patient and willingness to share your craft with others. I salute you sir.

[@keeperofthegood]

Once upon a time, an alternator R&R was 1 through bolt, 1 adjuster bolt, and 1 wire clip, 15 minutes side of the road in a driving wind and rain storm. Now it is Coolant System Flush and Fill, Thermostat R&R, Fan assembly R&R just to get to the Alternator R&R ... Good on the makers to find a way to inflate repair pricing!

[@scottlamberson1046]

Ray.. you have a remarkable gift.. amazing skill and patience. I sold parts for years but that was 30 years ago.. cars are much more complicated and yet you do it all with ease. My hat's off to you.. God bless you for many years to come.

[@892guns]

The struggle is real with this modern cars. Theres no room. Some you even have to jack up the engine just to get to certain parts. Its friggen nuts.

[@LessThanHandy]

I'm one to venture with a wrench every now-and-then but, after watching what you went through, HELL NO I wouldn't do this!

[@tonyjordan1320]

I could probably get it taken apart but put back together correctly? Not a chance....

[@MonkeyJedi99]

This is an easy fix. You carefully chisel the rivets from the VIN plate, and find another car of the same model that works better, glue your VIN in.

[@captinbeyond]

@@tonyjordan1320 my thoughts exactly, taking it apart yeah, I got it. but remembering what when where and matching the right bolts----I suppose that comes over time being a mechanic, but mind blowing to me on top of being frustrated

[@billjamison2877]

For 17 years I repaired radiators and at times had some difficult remove and installs. I never left one defeat me because I'm a rather patient guy. There are times however, that I would need to walk away for a few minutes so my head wouldn't explode! Great Job Ray!!!

[@michaelpressman7203]

There were days when I went on break I'd go out the back door and sit on the railroad tracks and just stare at the woods for a few minutes and kind of funny then I would come back and finish the job how I figured it out I have a clue but it all works there are things out there to just happen have a great day

[@anthonyraines7867]

Just wanna say that I've been watching your videos for a couple of weeks now! Now I watch every day. Thanks for your time and I'll continue to watch. Have a good day Sir.

[@renaldonormani6646]

How can you remain so cheery while taking 53 items out, to access the actual part required to be serviced? Well Done Ray!!! Cant stop watching…

[@squirrelcovers6340]

Because he's paid by the hour😂😂😂

[@carlosarias7412]

Ray, I'm a new viewer to your channel, you make things look so easy. I like the patience you have with stubborn parts and your great sense of humor. Looking forward to seeing more of your videos.

[@BeardDaddyGrimm]

its both, a repair video and an unboxing n.n mad respect from the land down under

[@onekoolfella]

This was definitely an unboxing video on so many levels. Dang Lexus is making it hard for repairs. The previous generation of the Rx350 wasn't that difficult.

[@bobmartin4942]

Here, I thought it was a pain to change the alternator on the MR2 i had. Nope this was way more of a booger. I enjoy watching you work Ray.

[@WyGuyyy]

Just in case you ever have to do another one of these, if you start by taking the belt off from the wheel well area, you can slide a 5mm alan into a hole in the front of the tensioner to keep it in its belt removal/installation position, and that also keeps the tensioner pulley out of the way of the bottom 14mm for the alternator. Also I don't think you need to remove the raditor hose either, but that may have been a thing on the previous gen. And you can take like 4 bolts off the core support and flop it over with the hood release cable still on for more wiggle room. These usally only take me like 1.5 hours or less when I do em at work.

[@lorenzoaboytes614]

And loosen the right lower motor mount and the front trans mount then raise the engine 2 hours at most

[@michaelscalzitti4473]

nooo dont be giving the secrets away 🤫🤫

[@Amen.22]

After replacing the alternator make sure that the radiator cap is installed. The alternator will not charge if the radiator cap is off.

[@litehaus5]

May be a dumb question, but why is that? What does the radiator cap have to do with the alternator charging the battery? I learn so much by watching these videos. I've even been telling my hubby little tidbits I've been picking up. I just wish I was taller than 5', had longer arms, and more arm strength! Lol. I drive an '01 Chevy Suburban and I have to use a step stool to check my fluids! I get laughed at a lot, but at least I'm aware of how to do those.

[@Amen.22]

I said that because when he was testing the battery to see if the alternator was charging, it was showing less than 12 volts. When he put the radiator cap on, he tested it again and it was charging. The radiator cap has nothing to do with the alternator. It was just a coincidence. I was just attempting to make fun of the situation because it looked like the radiator cap needed to be on for the alternator to function properly.

[@litehaus5]

@@Amen.22 Gotcha! I was so confused! Thanks for answering!!!

[@mvazquez4588]

Soooo frustrating!! yet so enjoyable. Really appreciating not editing out the struggles.. Thank you for all your Vids Ray!!! Keep up the great work!!!

[@rwamchubb7977]

The last time I worked on a car was my 2005 Dodge Neon. Cars of today are so complex I'm so thankful for mechanics like you. THANK YOU.

[@jamesatkinson6480]

You have the patience of a saint. I have a (also a Toyota) 2001 Camry 4 cylinder which took me less than 5 minutes to remove its alternator, at about the 230,000km (145,000 miles) mark. From that point, I disassembled the brushes/regulator assembly (on the alternator), and replaced the brushes. Further, when the engine compartment heated up, the alternator stopped charging, so from a 'cold' measurement of 14 Volts, thinking 'fixed', the battery ended up needing a charge after a trip! I then replaced the regulator/brushes assembly with a new one, and still functioning OK at the 290,000km (180,000 miles) mark....

[@garetheaton8195]

You're a total hero just watching made me mad with the engineers that design that with no thought at all for the guys that have fix these cars

[@Leonarco333]

To be frank it doesn’t matter if they think about the mechanics or not. Their decisions are often overruled by the bean counters with executive privilege. The job of the engineers is to make it easier and cheaper to produce in the factory. They have to put 50 pounds of shit in a 20 pound engine bay and make it easy and cheap to assemble by robots.

[@jimsalina9290]

This is why we bring repairs like this to people like you. I would have been lost after removing the breather.

[@lactusgalacto1174]

You are right the average wanna be mechanic will be using a soft mallet on his head after removing so many parts this is what you call, heart attack surgery. 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

[@bktodc]

I wish I can find a Ray that I can take my vehicle to. Some shops will forget to reconnect things and lose your hardware and don't even replace it.

[@ethanmurray6658]

Ray next time you have to do an alternator on a Toyota 3.5. Go through the wheel well. Take the tensioner pulley off and you can access the bottom alternator bolt. Also removing the upper radiator support gives you a lot more room to sneak it out.

[@DIYDaveOK]

Great tip. I've owned two Toyota V6's that we're/are essentially trouble-free, but man I always dreaded the notion of ever having to pull an alternator....

[@JAMESWUERTELE]

Lol I have 2 1GR-FE 4.0’s. I can’t even see the starter. Here’s to hoping it lasts a really long time.

[@jamram9924]

And do not get your alternators at AutoZone or Oriellys. I get my starters and alternators rebuilt through a local rebuilder. Remanufactured Denso is a great alternative since they’re an OE manufacturer/provider.

[@tx4runner459]

Exactly right. Did this two weeks ago on a 3.5 Avalon and didn’t pull the wheel off but did pull the core support off and out of the way for easy removal. Made the job an in and out.

[@Rekuzan]

That was actually my second thought because I was wondering if underside access would be easier; if not, probably the wheel well. Yota's do tend to be a little bit more service friendly and quite often provide alternate routes, so to speak. tl;dr = Even guys w/ decades of experience should still RTM once in a while.

[@uncontrolled8775]

Just did a “NATER” on this engine in a highlander, this video demonstrated the frustration. Appreciate the amazing content much love from the west coast!

[@onewire59]

I admire your dedication. I have worked on just about everything from lawnmowers to Trident missiles. I love working on cars, just not for others anymore.

[@michaelpressman7203]

I worked on sorted gas powered lawn equipment also I made parts for the minute man missile sometimes I wonder which was easier but I like playing with cars have a great day

[@litehaus5]

I love waking up and watching these videos! I learn so much! Sometimes I have to get my kids to school first so I can really watch and concentrate, but I'm learning something new every day. I've even been telling my hubby little tidbits that I think are interesting. He asks me why I'm telling him, and I tell him it's so we can both learn. He does most of the work on our vehicles, but sometimes I'm right about something instead of him. Ha! I just wish I had the arm length and strength to do some of it myself. My 5' tall self needs a step stool to check the fluids in my '01 Chevy Suburban. But I love my car and I take pride in the fact that I know how to check that kind of stuff. So anyway, thanks for the videos Ray! Ever since I found your channel months ago, I've been going back and binge watching your older videos.

[@MarkSmith-js2pu]

You sound fun!,

[@litehaus5]

@@MarkSmith-js2pu Thank you! I hope I'm fun! Lol 😆 I love mechanical stuff. I just wish I knew everything. Lol. My dad is a diesel mechanic, so I guess I come by it honest. 😆

[@spacedinvader]

I know right? I can talk with my son about more things now, and I not only have gotten him hooked on Rays videos, but I sometimes know things he doesn't! (My son, not Ray LOL) Yay me 😊👍 (53 yr old mom)

[@Kersean]

Even though I haven't a clue about car engines I love watching this channel. Thanks for keeping me entertained Ray.. Big fan from Ireland 🇮🇪

[@curtisj2165]

I am a big fan from England 🇬🇧

[@dainsmart6237]

@@curtisj2165; m from a small place called England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@wsatre5692]

Accessing the alternator is a combo of above and below the car. Access to tensioner and lower bolts are mush less aggrivating from below thru the right front wheelwell after couple plastic sheilds are removed.The tensioner has a tab on it that you can insert a bolt into it and into the block to hold it in the open position. Unbolting the top of the rad anchor will give you much more access. Great vids Ray

[@bubbamcgullicutty8966]

Well, when watching Rays videos I sometimes wonder whether it would'nt be better he read the repair shop manuals of the car makers before starting his repairs. For me a lot of his repairs are trial and error. Even if, in the end, he is successfull, it may save a lot of time and effort.

[@charlies418]

As you can see it can sometimes take a few minutes of running for the brushes to bed in on an alternator. I found that mine still wasn't charging as expected with all the ancillaries switched on. I ended up running a separate earth wire from one of the mounting bolts to the chassis.

[@ccloutiutube]

On my Honda the only part I had to remove to swap the alternator was the tensioner. Kudos on your patience.

[@kevindavis6042]

I trust the alternator was bad Some friendly advice about the cooling system on these There is a bleed fitting located around the torque mount that really makes filling these easier

[@dansevern3291]

Wow, makes me miss the early 1970s, took two bolts and a couple of wires to remove an alternator, put in rebuilt two bolts, put wires back, plus tension with a pry bar to put it back on. (pre-belt tensioner days, too.) 10 minute job, not including interruptions to pump gas and wash windshields. Yep, I'm old.

[@randybeard6040]

I hear you-almost 75, worked on all my cars-60's-90's--not anymore, much to complicated now for this old man-wish Ray was in my neck of the woods....

[@johnmehaffey9953]

I remember a mate’s Renault and you had to take the wheel off , the liner, plus you had to take the headlight out to get the alternator out, I said to him take it to the guys who restore alternators and let them do it, so for the price of a regenerated alternator they did all the work as well,when you were putting the housing and the pulley back on I was really rooting for you ray, well done

[@johndickerson9328]

For all of those people who ask, "Why Is It So Expensive To My Car Repaired"? Look at all of the work that it takes just to get to a simple alternator. Thank you for showing us the answer to that "age old question".

[@pete7724]

Gawd only knows how you manage to remember how to put it all back together. If only I knew a mechanic like your good self!!

[@billdunlop8683]

I remember my Dad putting in a thermostat in his 1966 Pontiac Parisienne. There was so much room between the engine and the rad, Plus area to work around the parts you could actually see the driveway when the hood was up . If I remember correctly it took him 20 minutes to change the part and an additional 30 minutes for 3 beers.

[@markdoldon8852]

My mid 70s Mercury Comet back in the day when the mechanical thermostat was located between the rad and the top rad hose, took all of 10 minutes for a kid with almost zero mechanical skill. Dad pointed at it, said "it goes right there"

[@gwarlow]

My Dad gave me his 1968 Chrysler Newport Custom back in the 1970s shortly after I got my license. That car had a 383 cubic inch motor and there was still plenty of room to work on most parts much easier than this Lexus. Nice work Ray!

[@ryans413]

Well people want power steering they want powered brakes they want ac they want turbos they want air pumps they want all this extra crap that all gets stuffed in the engine bays making everything so tight now

[@fordssuck]

Joe Biden supporters should not be allowed to build cars

[@callenilsson8846]

And here i thought your dad would be faster with 3 beers. XD

[@cnicfam5vids608]

This video screams "Can a mechanic please be put on engineering teams?" This is insane the amount of dismantling that needs to be done just to change a nator.

[@ccaamm1]

I thought he was gonna have to take out the seats next just to get at the alternator.

[@AxionSmurf]

@@ccaamm1 lol

[@blackterminal]

@@ccaamm1 lol

[@michaelpressman7203]

No common sense no logic no consideration for the aftermath hey you've got your have engineering degree bye

[@deliawood1]

Watching you work makes me really feel my age. I remember when you could remove any of the ancillary items from the engine by only undoing the nuts or studs for that item and not touching anything else. It sure was a simpler world then. Respect to you for having the skill and patience to dismantle the engine just to change the alternator.

[@59kimnie]

I watch all of your videos on KZbin, and learn a lot just by that. You are amazing at your work.

[@rlundskow377]

Thank you for the videos. People can see why it cost so much for repairs due the the time involved. Appreciate you humor. You have a great attitude.

[@PurityVendetta]

Never seems to stop them moaning about the bill though. I operate a rule of thumb that old folks who clearly have a comfortable life and bring their classic vehicles to me, if they open with 'I don't have much money.' I counter with I'm really busy at the moment. Best to avoid them like the plague.

[@HerpMcDerp89]

The next time one of my engineer friends says they don't understand why mechanics always have a bad attitude with them, I'm just going to show them this video...

[@markdoldon8852]

So, looking at that engine bay, what would you hide away down at the bottom so the nator could be more easily reached? There was literally NO excess space so something else will have to go down where the nator goes. Or they build a bigger car? I think it's more about alternators getting more reliable over the years, along with dozens of additional sensors, control units and accessories compared to yesterday.

[@ausmartin1]

Never understood people who own cars and won't fix the struts. Speaks volumes about the owners sadly.

[@Toronoc]

The amount of working by feel you have to do always amazes me. Working by feel on something you know is one thing, but you get new challenges daily. Makes for great vids at least. =D

[@Onewheelordeal]

Best part of working at an independent shop like this is not having to do the same 5 jobs on the same 2 motors over and over. Especially for someone like Ray that enjoys a challenge, prob why he left GM dealerships

[@juggalodx4life]

23:17 had me losing my mind laughing. The entirely taken aback and utter shock of the “WOAH!” while being hit in the face and the camera glitching was like being in a comedy sketch.

[@garythompson1391]

Your patience is commendable, I had to have a drink just watching you do battle with it.🍻

[@simonilett998]

Alternator replacements on 2GR-FE's in a Lexus, Camry, or Aurion look easy at first glance, but they really are a bit of a doozie of a job once you get into them🤣👍

[@davidperry4013]

If you do enough of them, you can get it done an hour or less.

[@brianporter4352]

I've watched a lot of your videos, and i must say that I'm impressed. You have to have knowledge on just about every make and most models out there. Plus you work in very tight spaces. This one probably would've been easier to remove the entire engine LOL, because that is about what you had to do just to change the alternator. I work in residential HVAC and we as service techs have to have similar knowledge like you have, because we work on all brands of units. Love the vids, keep them coming.

[@oobaka1967]

I'm surprised you didn't have to remove the gas cap in order to remove something else in order to remove something else in order to remove something else in order to remove the alternator.

[@travismiller5548]

gotta go in thru the driver rear tail light 😂

[@jdsmort]

I smiled when I saw you attach the idler wheel ... I thought... he has to put the manifold on first!!... you are a patient man,

[@dustindavid1580]

My wife's Camry/ less expensive Lexus just had this problem,great timing and thank you for the lessons.

[@tda2806]

I know the reason for your anger, your subconscious mind was distracted by the upside down oil cap, if only you had fixed that first!

[@4TwentyFour20]

toyotas run forever but when parts go bad they sure are a pain in the ass to work on

[@jannemyllyla1223]

not really, especially 4 cyl engines are pretty simple.

[@JAMESWUERTELE]

Keep a fresh battery in these. It makes the alternator live longer.

[@404notfound.....]

This is entertainingly funny how much plastic has to be removed just to access the engine lol. I think watching this ray I would have gone in on the right side, pull the inner splash panel and got the alternator that way, either way great video sir. 👍

[@thewausaudude]

I see all that plastic covering up the engine bay as a waste. My newest car had a plastic cover on top of the engine that was removed and tossed up on a garage shelf years ago. Tempted to throw it away but now with that car coming up on 20 years of age I might be able to eBay that cover down the road to a collector (haha).

[@keithrad1]

All that for an alternator!! Amazing. I reflect back on the old days when it was up front, easy to get to and about a 30-minute job. This is crazy!

[@stoopingfalcon891]

One of your most underestimated comments, that I doubt you even notice..... 'Got it' (Ghat it?), with that satisfied tone in your voice.

[@kenc2257]

Jeez. That is a LOT of work just to get to the alternator. Thank goodness the alternator has a lifespan of at least (or about) 10 years. [When you opened the hood, and all I saw were black plastic panels, I thought--'who thought that was a good idea?!']

[@Leonarco333]

The marketing team.

[@joecostantino3684]

To have to go through all that and basically remove half the engine bay just to change out an Alternator is just crazy. Something very wrong with this design.

[@BrockTemple87]

Ray please tell me you gave that nasty engine bay a good cleaning?? Omg my cars will never be that funky.

[@JimmyMakingitwork]

Congratulations on the channel growth Ray! Every time I gain 100 subs in a week I'm like , YEAH! then I see you gained 4,000....That is freakin awesome man!

[@JohnDoe-mn2hy]

Absolutely hilarious what is needed get that done! You get my deepest respect for the patients! Back in time when somebody actually thought about repairing the stuff they built is loooooooooonnnnnng gone!

[@scottwilcoxson2439]

They went bonkers with the engine covers. When you opened the hood, I thought maybe the engine was under the passenger seat or somewhere. The rest of the job would just have been a lot of cussing. If that's you in a bad mood, you are a better man than I am.

[@teknikkim]

Out of pure curiosity: Ray, have you got some kind of special agreement with the shop? I mean, since you can work and film at the same time... It would seem that it does not slow you down much (or at all) - which is impressive - but my boss would probably get mad if I started documenting my own work on YT on a daily basis, lol :) And keep up the good work - I enjoy your videos :)

[@LBoss222]

Now I know why they used so many plastic covers on that engine, trying to cover up that mess they had built.

[@arthurrodesiler3109]

Cardboard from a old box is your friend working around a radiator.

[@stephen39a]

As a professional engineer this ridiculous design by Lexus offends me. All that work just to replace a 'maintenance' item! Do they think they won't ever break down!? You are very patient! Thanks for another great watch.

[@williambrownjr2346]

How insanely difficult to replace an alternator!!!

[@ryans413]

I can replace my alternator in 10 minutes it’s right on top on the passenger side all I gotta do is loosen the belt tension which I can do from the top of the engine bay slip belt off unplug two cables really easy unbolt three bolts all easy to get too then install new alternator. Don’t have to drain coolant I do not have to remove any extra parts don’t gotta jack the car up or go in through the wheel well it’s extremely simple

[@nissan300ztt]

And this is the perfect example of why mechanics and technicians HATE engineers.

[@Leonarco333]

Why? It’s not their fault. It’s the executives who sign their paychecks that make the decisions. An engineer is handed 50 pounds of shit and told to make it fit in a 20 pound engine bay in a way that the assemblers can do it in 20 minutes or they are useless and won’t be employed anymore. They know how much of a pain in the ass it will be to fix later but they aren’t really given much of a choice in the matter most of the time.

[@nissan300ztt]

@@Leonarco333 but engineers need to be smarter. I am an engineer and most engineers I work with are so smart they are dumb. But I started working in a machine shop first

[@Leonarco333]

@@nissan300ztt that I would agree on 100%. There are definite exceptions but most of the things here blamed on engineers are almost certainly the cheapest of several bad options so that’s what the company decided on.

[@roaddog7542]

I popenz the hood on vehicles to see how easy (or uneasy ) it is to replace alternators, power steering pumps, radiator, plugs, etc. before purchasing. Avoiding labor hours due to crap designs is my mission. 🔧

[@m4gician]

Finally a video that shows the close up pains of working win super tight spaces removing and re installing bolts and nuts you can't see.

[@kevinwhaley8217]

I literally just did this job like 2 weeks ago on my personal rx350. Best to replace hoses and pullys wile you have it tore down. All my pullys had bearing play. I removed the radiator as well to make sure it was safe. You can access the bottom alternator bolt and pully through the wheel well easier.