303K miles

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So starter contacts or key contacts bad or both. My key contacts went bad at 240k.


Ah. You had a click. Solenoid contacts. Roger..


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That's the kit I used. Autozone didn't sell just the contacts, and Amazon shipped to my door in about a day.

2822672010 Toyota STARTER KIT, BATTERY TERMINAL, Price: 6.95$, Weight: 0.028kg - PartSouq Auto Parts Around the World
2822654340 Toyota STARTER KIT, BATTERY TERMINAL, Price: 3.78$, Weight: 0.044kg - PartSouq Auto Parts Around the World
2823554380 Toyota PLUNGER, MAGNET SWITCH, Price: 14.01$, Weight: 0.12kg - PartSouq Auto Parts Around the World

Items total: 24.74$
Shipping total: 13.21$
Price total: 37.95$

and be done with it

My 2000 was doing this last fall before I put her down for a long winters nap. replaced starter this spring... badabing no more click click nothing... other times roooom roooom rooom no trouble.

Thanks @sleepydad I got the PNs from Tim's video, just haven't gotten around to pulling the starter, yet.

I found another video of a guy who was able to unbolt the starter "easily" with a ratchet (no extensions) after removing the exhaust hangar bracket right behind it:
Starter Replacement- 3rd Gen 4Runner - YouTube

How did you manage the unbolting/rebooting?

That's pretty much how I did it. Except for the top starter bolt. I used flex extensions and got the bolt out from below.

I may not took those brake line bolts but I honestly cant recall it was 2 years ago.

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The starter than came with my 2005 4runner failed at 4 years (almost to the day). I had the dealer's shop rebuild it and it failed a year later.

The dealer here in the Bahamas offered to order one from Japan for $900.

Next ... I purchased a new one from Amazon for $100 and it lasted 4 years. I replaced that with another new starter and it lasted 4 years.

My advice is don't bother rebuilding them - just get one off Amazon for $100. Two bolts and it can be installed.

The starter is the only part that fails on my 5runner (150,000 miles). The current starter is getting close to 4 years old and I have a backup from Amazon ready ($100).

Mine always seem to fail in the driveway and I don't recall ever being towed.

Knocking one with a hammer will work once. Since they are only $100 new I'm not irked that they fail. I live in the Bahamas and have many more "starts" than a 4runner in Miami or Georgia. My average trip is 2 miles.

The 4runner starter is at the lowest part of the engine, so try to stay away from "water" and floods. All that water hitting it when it rains and you are driving can't help.

Amazon.com: DB Electrical SND0491 New Starter For Toyota Tacoma & Tundra 4.0L 4.0 05 06 07 08 09 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 & 4Runner 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 FJ Cruiser 07 08 09: Automotive

I'm actually in the middle of the same issues. I've determined with help from others that my starter is indeed toast. Going to pick up a used Denso tomorrow.

Pulling the starter is pretty easy. I'm guessing it's different for me since mine is a 97 and Timmy and rest have newer vehicles. No need for extensions for me. Just unscrew the top and bottom bolts surrounding the exhaust. I've removed it twice this week during testing. Also make sure to remove the two brake lines and tranny dip stick reservoir.

Starter contacts, plunger and a new relay didn't fix my problem. I performed a bench test and my starter wouldn't turn over. I just got sparks. Once I decided to replace it, I ended up cracking my starter open and it's filled with oil / gunk from what I imagine is leaking previously from the valve cover gasket. Picking up a used unit I found locally on Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market

Well my contacts were worn but weren't that bad, the plunger was worse, but even worse was the failed gasket on the port door.


I ended up replacing the entire starter with the correct DB Electrical 1.8kw starter off Amazon

Removal was easier than I thought. No exhaust bracket to remove, it just wasn't there. Here were the steps I performed:

1. Jacked up car, removed pass tire.
2. Loosened the brake line and held it back with a bungee.
   - 2 bolts and clip up top
3. Removed the upper trans dipstick tube.
   -capped lower tube to keep dirt out
4. Disconnect battery Neg cable.
5. Removed cables from starter.
6. Unbolted starter bolts with a 14mm long socket on a standard 3/8 ratchet.
7. -tedious at first, but then removed bolts by hand
8. Removed starter per Tim's video (orientation)
9. Inserted new starter.
10. Held starter in place with crowbar while threading bolts by hand.
11. Torqued down with 10" extension, swivel and short 14mm socket.
12. Put other stuff back.
    -I was careful to clean the dipstick tube and o-ring and oil before reinstalling.

Took me 90 mins with cleanup, not including trans skid remove and clean.

Because the battery was disco for over an hour I decided to clean the MAF sensor since I had to rebuild fuel tables.

Starts like a new car now, or at least an old car with a new starter (and battery)

Thanks for all your help, guys!

The exhaust brackets ended in late models.. if not there in the early models someone left it off..

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Also, with 2WD, the starter drops right out the bottom (where the axle would be).

-Charlie

Not without removing my RCI skid plate and I'm too lazy for that