If you ever plan on removing your starter, read this first.

[Warmblood58]

A few things . . .first, having reading all the threads about going thru the wheelwell vs dropping it down, I went for the wheel well -so shoot me. removing tire, fender well shrouds brake line bracket and auto trans fill tube -10 mins. With passenger front slightly jacked up you have an excellent view of the starter. Removing main terminal, very easy, struggled with the trigger wire clip for a few (might be the hardest part of the job) and grapped my long harborfreight surgical clamps - game changer, I promise -grab the plug (the part that clips in) at a 12-6 position so when you do, you will compress the part of the clip that frees the plug to slide out -done, and very handy as the hands don't fit in that tight space easily. For starter bolts - just a couple of long extensions and a swivel, 14mm socket - I used a breaker bar (piece of pipe I slide my ratchet handle into) and popped them easily - came out fast. Pulling out starter is tricky but so pullout with the non gear end first, electrical contacts up - a little fiddly but it works fine. What did I pull out? A crappy reman no name starter of course - I have a remaned Denso unit coming on Monday. Less impressive was the kid testing my unit at Autozone struggling with the cables - passed once, then failed twice . . . I do not anticipate any issues with new starter going back in on Monday

 

[Outrider]

A few things . . .first, having reading all the threads about going thru the wheelwell vs dropping it down, I went for the wheel well -so shoot me. removing tire, fender well shrouds brake line bracket and auto trans fill tube -10 mins. With passenger front slightly jacked up you have an excellent view of the starter. Removing main terminal, very easy, struggled with the trigger wire clip for a few (might be the hardest part of the job) and grapped my long harborfreight surgical clamps - game changer, I promise -grab the plug (the part that clips in) at a 12-6 position so when you do, you will compress the part of the clip that frees the plug to slide out -done, and very handy as the hands don't fit in that tight space easily. For starter bolts - just a couple of long extensions and a swivel, 14mm socket - I used a breaker bar (piece of pipe I slide my ratchet handle into) and popped them easily - came out fast. Pulling out starter is tricky but so pullout with the non gear end first, electrical contacts up - a little fiddly but it works fine. What did I pull out? A crappy reman no name starter of course - I have a remaned Denso unit coming on Monday. Less impressive was the kid testing my unit at Autozone struggling with the cables - passed once, then failed twice . . . I do not anticipate any issues with new starter going back in on Monday

Thanks for the writeup. If mine needs work again, I may go through the wheelwell this time. First time about 17 years ago, I went underneath, and it took me about 4 hours to remove it.

Worst one I ever did was my daughter's 08 CR-V. 10 hours each way, with severely lacerated hands and my pets traumatized for a week. And I learned the very hard way that Denso makes good stuff and does a good job remanufacturing their stuff, but don't buy an XYZ brand that Denso remanufactured. That cost me more money and made me do the job twice, since the plunger wouldn't extend far enough to engage. On that one, the first time I worked from underneath. Simple but extremely difficult due to access, visibility, etc. Second time from the top, which required removing the intake. Much more complicated, but I could see and get to things.

 

[2TH4IST]

Did 2 5vz starters. One taco and on 4runner. Both from the bottom, removed swaybar. About 30 mins each.

 

[phattyduck]

Thanks for the writeup. If mine needs work again, I may go through the wheelwell this time. First time about 17 years ago, I went underneath, and it took me about 4 hours to remove it.

On a 2WD, you do everything from the fender well and just drop it out the bottom where the axle would be on a 4WD. Not an EASY job, but easier than many RWD starters. Hey, it could be a UZ starter or Northstar starter in the valley under the intake manifold...

-Charlie

 

[Grgg1978]

So.... I changed out my starter on my 4runner 2ish years ago and that was one of the easiest starters to replace. Guess having a manual helps out. Automatic suckers....lol jk