Is your starter going??? Quick and easy repair!!!

[TDAlmighty]

Thank you

I have lurked on this forum for some time, but 1st time poster. Thanks for everything and in particular this post.

My '97 4X4 3.4L with 161k miles was having the classic starter contact issues. After reading some other posts, I opted to try the "repair-in-place" option based on this post. My wife and I tackled the repair without major problems -- it would have taken approxiametly two hours if we did not have multiple interruptions.

One thing to add to the posts above, my Toyota dealer was able to look up the specific contacts I needed by using my VIN so I did not have to play the guessing game prior to the repair.

 

[Stone618]

i just swapped out my starter this sunday. 12inches of extension and a swival would have been nice to have. didnt notice it until i was putting it back together. douh!!! also, if your gonna take out the two bolts holding the starter on, i will just drop out the bottom. i have a non 4wd. not sure if the 4wd is different. why work on the solinoid in the truck if you dont have to.

 

[notrayray]

i just swapped out my starter this sunday. 12inches of extension and a swival would have been nice to have. didnt notice it until i was putting it back together. douh!!! also, if your gonna take out the two bolts holding the starter on, i will just drop out the bottom. i have a non 4wd. not sure if the 4wd is different. why work on the solinoid in the truck if you dont have to.

The 4wd's are not as easy to get out.

The solenoid are usually the issue when you get a click or just nothing. He fixed his for about 40 dollars and the OEM Denso starter is higher quality then what most part houses have. How much did you spend on an aftermarket starter?

 

[Lunatick]

starter breakdown image

I also have used this thread to fix my starter-- thanks. Im adding 2 pictures that will be helpful to other people who have to do this .

 

[cj80cruiser]

Part numbers are
-Starter solenoid rebuild parts-
28235-54380 Plunger magnet switch
28226-54340 Kit starter repair
28226-72010 Starter kit

from here.....:hatsoff:
3rd Gen 4Runner FAQ

My 96 4wd limited used a different Kit starter repair. I believe my truck started its life in the north until the owner moved to Florida and traded it in for something new. Not sure if which starter I have as there seems to be 2-3 different ones used.

28226-22050

 

[SilverBullet01]

Why a 1/2 drive rachet? Seems kinda large for the job.

thats what she said.......

lol sorry, back on topic. I will head to the dealership tomorrow to get this done!

 

[mrbee2828]

My starter went a few weeks ago and I managed to fix it with this and other how-tos. I consider myself having an intermediate knowledge of the 3rd gen having done car stereos for a living and owning 2 of these trucks. I've never done engine work though. The repair took me the better part of the day and I have a body lift which made it easier. I don't know if it was the 90° heat or what, but it wasn't as "easy" as some say.

The hardest part was getting the damn thing off. I had to remove the plates under the engine to use my stock jack and get stands under it so I could take off the wheel. I have a 2.5" lift and 33" tires so that was the lowest point of the truck I could work with.

Once that was done, getting to the bolts with the proper extensions was a challenge. The parts were $30~ after tax and assembly was super easy. Getting back in was again challenging but all in all it was worth the effort to save $200+ at a shop or stealership.

 

[jmildoc]

very helpful picture thanks

 

[thor999]

Hell, I'm going to do this as a preventative maintenance! great info, thanks!!!

 

[farmerjon]

Is this true for both 2WD and 4WD models?

I had my mechanic do it last time and he said there was no possible way to do it through the wheel-well - I had told him that it might work to do it by leaving the starter in the wheel well...

 

[ICD]

Part numbers are
-Starter solenoid rebuild parts-
28235-54380 Plunger magnet switch
28226-54340 Kit starter repair
28226-72010 Starter kit

from here.....:hatsoff:
3rd Gen 4Runner FAQ

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

Searching for: 28235-54380
Clear Search

Part Number "28235-54380" was found for TOYOTA, but we could not verify the part fits the selected vehicle.
You may still purchase this part below.


Quick Order
Part Number 2823554380
Part Name PLUNGER, MAGNET SWIT
MSRP $29.57
Core $0.00
Online Price $21.32
-----------------------------------

Searching for: 28226-54340
Clear Search

Part Number "28226-54340" was found for TOYOTA, but we could not verify the part fits the selected vehicle.
You may still purchase this part below.


Quick Order
Part Number 2822654340
Part Name KIT, REPAIR SERVICE
MSRP $7.84
Core $0.00
Online Price $5.66
------------------------


Searching for: 28226-72010
Clear Search

Part Number "28226-72010" was found for TOYOTA, but we could not verify the part fits the selected vehicle.
You may still purchase this part below.


Quick Order
Part Number 2822672010
Part Name STARTER KIT
MSRP $14.65
Core $0.00
Online Price $10.57

 

[kevin1285]

Does anybody know if this same repair applies to 4th gen? I'm having the same exact issue with my wife's 04', but all my google searching turns up people discussing it regarding 3rd gen.

 

[ICD]

Thinking about doing this myself here with my LBJ since the whole wheel will be off.

As for you ^^^ looking at the parts diagram they 3 and 4 gen look identical but on some parts the KW are less on the 3rd gens. Maybe someone else could verify with parts numbers.

 

[S Brake]

Nice, I'll probably be doing this sometime soon.

 

[downpour11]

Is this true for both 2WD and 4WD models?

I had my mechanic do it last time and he said there was no possible way to do it through the wheel-well - I had told him that it might work to do it by leaving the starter in the wheel well...

You can replace the contacts through the wheel well but it's a ***** and a half. Pull the tranny dipstick out and remove the brake line brackets so everything is out of the way. I ended up just replacing the whole starter but I pulled it out through the wheel well. Limited space but it's do-able.

 

[Hollis]

So I see everyone is getting them cheaper than I can find them.
I have the Contacts issue and have yet to fix it. The Reason? My 3 nearest local Stealerships are charging $25 per contact repair kit. I thought it was $25 for both at first which was ok but...

That is $50 without tax in Houston for two pieces of copper!

Orielly's, Advance, and Autozone don't carry it.
I may have had 2 bad reps for NAPA but they said they did not have them.

Any links to where you guys get them? I will gladly pay Shipping if they are $10 a piece!

If I am going to pay $50 for L shaped pieces of copper with a hole in it :eyebrows: I want to be taken to dinner first!

 

[theizzardking]

So I see everyone is getting them cheaper than I can find them.
I have the Contacts issue and have yet to fix it. The Reason? My 3 nearest local Stealerships are charging $25 per contact repair kit. I thought it was $25 for both at first which was ok but...

That is $50 without tax in Houston for two pieces of copper!

Orielly's, Advance, and Autozone don't carry it.
I may have had 2 bad reps for NAPA but they said they did not have them.

Any links to where you guys get them? I will gladly pay Shipping if they are $10 a piece!

If I am going to pay $50 for L shaped pieces of copper with a hole in it :eyebrows: I want to be taken to dinner first!

yeah, but that's toyota brand copper made in the ancient and mythic mountains of japan by shaolin warrior monks who have passed down the skills of making hand beaten contacts with tools forged by the gods for more than 10 years ......

i think i will be doing this soon as well...slow starts since i bought the thing still better than the starter gear making noise all day....

 

[Kanger328]

Ugh...I don't know how you all did this so easily. I tried this the other day and it was such a PITA! I gave up when trying to unbolt the "triangle" bracket that holds the exhaust. The front axle half shafts just make it too tight to get any real torque to break the bolts loose. *Sigh*

 

[Hollis]

So I see everyone is getting them cheaper than I can find them.
I have the Contacts issue and have yet to fix it. The Reason? My 3 nearest local Stealerships are charging $25 per contact repair kit. I thought it was $25 for both at first which was ok but...

That is $50 without tax in Houston for two pieces of copper!

Orielly's, Advance, and Autozone don't carry it.
I may have had 2 bad reps for NAPA but they said they did not have them.

Any links to where you guys get them? I will gladly pay Shipping if they are $10 a piece!

If I am going to pay $50 for L shaped pieces of copper with a hole in it :eyebrows: I want to be taken to dinner first!

Found a place in Houston if anyone comes across this thread for factory replacement parts.
Transworld Services
6203 Hwy 59 S
Houston, TX 77074
713-777-8696

They just moved from 6335 Hwy 59 S
Factory parts, less than the dealer

$25 out the door for both kits, that is a 50% savings!

 

[So Many Roads]

This is another thread on replacing the starter contacts - the instructions are a bit more clear...

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/63228-another-starter-contacts-removal-thread.html