99 4x4 cold weather hard start

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runnergranny

New member
just started acting up. The first turn it does one quick 'rrr'....next turn it starts up. Just started doing this when it started getting down in the 40's.

Starter? Seems to run fine otherwise, but I'll ask my husband if there are any other symptoms.

thanks!
 
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My husband said he thinks it is the starter. He said he heard a scraping noise after starting it at a store like the starter was staying engaged.

My next question is, how hard is it to get the starter on a 99 4x V6 auto? Any special tools required to get the bolts off? Any tutorials online?

thanks!
 
im having this same issue and i think it is the starter.

i believe theyre around $200 from toyota, so im gonna look into aftermarket.
 
yeah I called a toyota dealer - it was around $250. for the starter and $200 installation. O'Reillys Auto Parts (like autozone) has it for $109. - lifetime warranty. We'll go with that.

Anyone know how hard it is to get it off? Any special tools required?
 
no special tools.....just really small hands. although it does help to have a u-joint attachment to get to those hard to reach bolts.
 
thx Lexusbstrdchild. That's what he was afraid of tight spaces. He may have that tool. We just bought the runner last year and need to pick up a chilton's for it. I'm not even sure where the starter is on the car, but my husband knows.
 
I just found this info on replacing the starter. It sounds like it's really hard to get to. I think we may have to pay the $500 to toyota. crap.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=4182804&postcount=12

Re: 4Runner FAQs

Re: 4Runner FAQs

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

REMOVING STARTER FROM '96 - '02 4RUNNER
Thanks to Maxman1, leenmachine, and robby1320

Q: After removing all the hardware and connector, I found there was no room anywhere to remove the starter from the vehicle. I removed the front tire, dip stick, exhaust manifold heat shield, but all the openings are too small to allow the starter to be removed. V-6, AT, 4WD. Anyone know how to get the darn thing out?

A:
Method 1 - Remove the trans tube, lift the truck, remove the right front wheel, remove the rear splash pan, remove the power cable and plug from the starter, remove the two bolts holding the starter in. Then remove the 4 bolts holding the steering rack in, disconnect the right front ball joint, slide the rack out, and bring the starter out from the bottom. I know it sounds like alot of work, but it shouldn't take more than 2 hours if you have the right tools.

Method 2 - Gently push the brake line out of the way. Remove the bolt on the inside of the frame that holds brake line in place. The exhaust manifold heat shield and the upper half of the tranny dipstick also must be pulled. Once all this is done the starter goes right in.

Method 3 - Disconnect the battery. Remove the dipstick and upper half of the dipstick tube. The tube wiggles right off after unbolting it. Don't forget to plug the hole with a clean rag or something to keep debris out. Get in under the vehicle with extensions and a knuckle to remove the starter mounting bolts. Remove the front tire and the protective rubber sheet inside the fender. Look at the brake line. There is a removeable segment that, one removed, will give you great access to the starter. I would be hesitant to just bend it out of the way, since a kink will ruin the brake line. Let the brake fluid drain completely. Using a piece of string, I wrapped it around the upper brake line/fitting and pulled it to the left out of the way. The starter is now completely accessible. Bleed the brakes after re-assembly.

REMOVING STARTER FROM 3.0 V6 2ND GEN 4RUNNER

Thanks to 4Wheel

DISCONNECT THE BATTERY FIRST THING!!!!
Use a combination of your longest 3/8 drive extensions to get your ratchet in front of the motor mount, do this from the top side leaning over the fender, this is to remove the top bolt, remove the wires from the top side also when you get BOTH bolts removed you can rotate the starter to gain access to the terminals. The bottom bolt is on the transmission side this one you will need to be under the truck, then go back topside and undo the wiring. You will have to move transmission cooling lines if you have an automatic, one of the mounts for the lines actually uses the starter bolt to anchor. Don
Click to expand...
 
No dont pay toyota 500 for that! unless youre not too fond of your money....its not really hard, they just dont make it easy to get to. jack up the truck, take off the tire like they say, and follow the directions. not sure if this will help or not, but heres another link:

starter replacement
 
THANK YOU Lexusbstrdchild for that pictorial. I am very fond of my money, but my husband is 70 yrs old. I think with the pictorial my son can help him do it though.

suprisingly, it's been acting fine for the past 2 days, so we have some time. The runner has about 128k miles.

I'm saving your webpage for future reference if it starts up again. We're hoping it was just moisture and that the problem cleared itself up.

thanks again.
 
runnergranny said:
just started acting up. The first turn it does one quick 'rrr'....next turn it starts up. Just started doing this when it started getting down in the 40's.

Starter? Seems to run fine otherwise, but I'll ask my husband if there are any other symptoms.

thanks!
Click to expand...

Is the starter turning every time or is it clicking? If it's engaging and turning every time then I would look elsewhere. If it's hard/slow on the first turn it may be the battery. A battery has less power the colder it gets. If the symptoms return, try starting with a battery boost jump start (even if your battery isn't dead, it may just not be holding a full charge.) If it turns better (or normal) then the starter is OK.
 
Last edited:
Re: Re: 99 4x4 cold weather hard start

Kmvreter said:
Is the starter turning every time or is it clicking? If it's engaging and turning every time then I would look elsewhere. If it's hard/slow on the first turn it may be the battery. A battery has less power the colder it gets. If the symptoms return, try starting with a battery boost jump start (even if your battery isn't dead, it may just not be holding a full charge.) If it turns better (or normal) then the starter is OK.
Click to expand...

thx Kmvreter. It sounds like it could be the battery. I asked my husband if it could be the alternator isn't charging the battery, but he said he thought all electrical was working fine. I bought the runner used last year so I don't know the age of the battery.

He has a battery charger, so maybe he can check the charge on it.

Yes, when it acts up, it clicks on the first key turn and the 2nd key turn it starts up like nothing is wrong. It was fine for about 4 days and it acted up again yesterday. very weird.

thx again!
 
by that last comment you just said, it sounds more like the starter contacts are going bad.mine would start fine for a week, then one day, it wouldnt start, just click. and the second try would be just fine. and it did that 3 days in a row. replaced starter contacts, havent had a problem since.
 
How easy is it to replace the starter terminals? Do I have to go through the same removal process?

I get that first click. Wait a second, and then it fires up. It's been happeing intermittently these past few weeks. Its a 99 V6 , with 105K miles. I just replaced the battery for the first time and the problem persists.
 
hey i think i have the same problem wid that just its worse when its colder out if the truck sits all day it takes alil bit to get started and then it will start ive already replaced the battery so i dont really no why it does that
 
runnergranny said:
that would be nice. My husband said you can get to those from under the car rather than pulling the whole thing out?
Click to expand...

No, unfortunately you still have to pull the whole thing out. You have to pull the starter apart to change out the contacts inside. While youre at it, clean it all out. It will be dusty in there from the copper on the contacts, its like a copper dust mixed with dirt. I cleaned mine with contact cleaner. You can get it at an auto parts store, i used the kind from CRC, but you can use another if you like.
 
oh darn. Then we'll have to get it done. Taking it out is the worse part. So far it's been behaving, so we'll let it go as long as we can.

thanks again for your tips. If we can find someone that can do it, we'll avoid the dealerships at all cost if we can.
 
ok so this is wierd, i have the exact same problem as yall do.

when i go out to start my 4runner it clicks the first couple of times then starts up fine. I have the remote start and that gets confused sometimes, it will try 3 times to start it then say its out of range if it clicks those three attempts.

LexusbstrdChild: So i need to replace the starter contacts? and how much are those and how long does it take?
 
i posted a link near the bottom of page one, follow that, and it should take an hour or 2 depending on how fast you go and if you run into any thing. contacts are around 15 bucks at Toyota, and they usually have them in stock.
 
ehh those are details on installing a starter, are the instructions for just the contacts in there?

also thanks for your help with this!
 
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