Just an FYI on the repair kit mentioned in this topic, according to the "check fit" on Amazon this part/repair kit is for the V8 starter and it says does not fit the V6 starter...but as the OP shows it will work for the V6 starter, I do see a small difference in the old parts/contacts and the contacts in the kit but apparently no enough of a difference that it won't work in the V6 starter.

I did a little searching and the correct kit for the V6 is the Victory Lap ND-36SOL Solenoid Repair Kit, the difference in the part number for the V8 is 34 instead of 36 for the V6 in the part number, this is the part number for the V8 Victory Lap ND-34SOL Solenoid Repair Kit, both kits are the same price.

Here's a link to the kit for the V6 repair kit.

https://www.amazon.com/Victory-Lap-N...16430482&psc=1

Here's a link to the kit for the V8 repair kit.

https://www.amazon.com/Victory-Lap-N...ype=automotive

Thanks for this and the OP. I ordered both the 36 and the 34 and they arrive today. Will report back on which looks like the best fit for my 4th gen V6 sport.

Side note, the brake line bolt in my wheel well was rusted solid so I could not pull the starter out the side. So I had to push it up and fish the starter out from the top. Lets hope I can get it back in there after the contacts are repaired!

The 36 worked fine for the job. I’ll return the 34. I Swapped out the contacts and plunger in about 20 mins. — Definitely glad I took pics during the breakdown — I was able to get the starter back down through the top, in place and tight in another 30 mins. Started right up. Success!

I had starter issue exactly like poster above. Turn the key and nothing .. no sound no start.

I had the dealer rebuild the starter, but that lasted one year. The lemon rebuilt starter fixed by dealer failed at 4 years from new.

They offered to rebuild again at no cost, but I bought them a new AM starter for $126 and they installed it.

That AM starter lasted 4 years then quit exactly like the OEM.

I replaced that starter with new remanufactured starter. It lasted 4 years and quit.

I replaced that starter with another AM from Amazon, and it lasted4 years then failed.

I then purchased another starter from Amazon that wasguaranteed for life. I kept the receipt and box and called them and was told if it ever fails they will replace it for free.

That starter is three years old and I know it will fail at about 4 years, but my mechanic will replace it in my driveway for $60 , and it takes him 20 minutes.

Starters on the 4 runners always fail, so find an aftermarket one for $120 with lifetime warrantee.

Nothing else on my 2005 4Runner has ever failed including WP AND ALTERNATOR. But I’m ready for the starter to fail, and I keep a new backup starter in the garage for when it does,

4Runner runs and starts like the day I drove it off the dealers lot. Now 150,000 miles.

Dealers want $900 for replacing a starter with Toyota OEM (including labor). They fail same as AM starter bought for $120. Actually, I found an AM starter for backup for $79 at Amazon and bought it.

I have the 2005, V6 4 runner. Starter is relatively easy for my mechanic to get out.

I don't believe that a new OEM starter will only last 4 years, after market maybe and sure there will be the rare case where an OEM starter only lasts 4 years such as your's did but I believe that to be very rare, if they only last 4 years there would be 100s if not 1000s of posts on here saying so.

My 2004 is 16 years old, close to 200,000 miles and it has the original OEM starter, and most here will probably have a similar story.

Thanks to @DisguisedRope and all who contributed to this thread. Just did a preventative rebuild of my starter at 240K. My contacts were in the same condition as the OP's. I wasn't having any issues but wanted to take care of this before the one-click monster got me out somewhere far from home.

Which kit did you use?

The one you linked to for the V6.