Rebuild or replace starter?

C

CanukRunner

New member
This morning when i turn my key (with the clutch cancel button on or off) I just get one solid click.. my battery is about 3 months old.. so its probably not that.

I remember seeing a starter rebuild kit somewhere? is it worth trying? or just get a reman?

Thanks!
 
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CanukRunner said:
This morning when i turn my key (with the clutch cancel button on or off) I just get one solid click.. my battery is about 3 months old.. so its probably not that.

I remember seeing a starter rebuild kit somewhere? is it worth trying? or just get a reman?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Rebuild it all you should have to replace is the contacts it's easy and cheaper than buying a reman and the OEM starter is far better quality
 
1bad4r said:
Rebuild it all you should have to replace is the contacts it's easy and cheaper than buying a reman and the OEM starter is far better quality
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x2

and if the new contacts don't work replace the wiring to the starter ... as the vehicles get older that wire seems to have some corrosion build up not allowing it to carry enough current to actually close the solenoid on the starter.
 
1bad4r said:
Rebuild it all you should have to replace is the contacts it's easy and cheaper than buying a reman and the OEM starter is far better quality
Click to expand...


The starters on these last forever and would be a waste of money to replace. Google search Toyota Starter Contacts or similar combination and hundreds of threads will pop up a lot of them on here. The contacts are soft copper and wear out over time. Should be about $20-25 to get the comlete rebuild kit and then a couple hours labor. The contact replacement only takes about 15 minutes but figuring out how to get the starter out and putting it back in takes time. Several really good write ups on here about it.
 
Pikeman said:
The starters on these last forever and would be a waste of money to replace. Google search Toyota Starter Contacts or similar combination and hundreds of threads will pop up a lot of them on here. The contacts are soft copper and wear out over time. Should be about $20-25 to get the comlete rebuild kit and then a couple hours labor. The contact replacement only takes about 15 minutes but figuring out how to get the starter out and putting it back in takes time. Several really good write ups on here about it.
Click to expand...

I agree, it sucked when I had to remove mine. I broke the bolts on mine too which made it funner. But... here's a good write-up that explains how to replace the contacts without removing the starter...
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/63228-another-starter-contacts-removal-thread.html
 
It didn't cost me much to get the starter from my VW professionally rebuilt. The guy cleaned it out, replaced the brushes, tested it, did a bunch of stuff that's above my pay-grade. Cost me $110 and it was better than new and better than a non-OEM replacement part. Places that rebuild starters and alternators don't care what brand they're working on.
 
Alleghenyman= we are telling him to keep the factory starter and use Genuine Toyota replacment contacts as that is the only part that goes bad on these starters. The copper gets to thin and will not pass enough current.
 
I wanted to reply to the latest starter thread let everyone know how much I hate removing the starter in my 99 Limited.
I literally just came inside from replacing the contacts with the starter in the car and the only thing I had to remove was the exhaust bracket. The upper starter bolt was the biggest ***** to remove. I had 2' of extensions past the transfer case with a 3/4" ratchet on it and one swivel. It took everything I had to break it loose. I couldn't get enough room to turn the rachet without the 2' of extensions. Total time was about 3 hours. Good luck to everyone else.
 
Rebuilding them in most cases is unnecessary.

All you need to do is replace the contacts, and that takes 10 minutes at most.

The hard part is to get the damn starter out of the vehicle. It does help with a body lift though . ;)
 
Pikeman said:
Alleghenyman= we are telling him to keep the factory starter and use Genuine Toyota replacment contacts as that is the only part that goes bad on these starters. The copper gets to thin and will not pass enough current.
Click to expand...

If I have to go through the trouble to take it out I'd spend the $110 to get it rebuilt. This goes especially for something that gets driven underwater or in a lot of dirt, salt and dust.

The guy didn't rewind it or change any major parts, including the housing. He just cleaned it, tested it, put in new brushes, and made sure it was like new. It was still the OEM piece.

The big problem on the VW starter was similar - exposed copper contacts that corroded. The starter guy had a conspiracy theory about why they're made this way - can't say as I have a better reason.
 
Stick Figure said:
and if the new contacts don't work, replace the wiring to the starter ... as the vehicles get older that wire seems to have some corrosion build up, not allowing it to carry enough current to actually close the solenoid on the starter.
Click to expand...

how challenging is it to replace those wires?

would you also switch to a larger size wire?
 
Bump start sticking

JohnsD90 said:
Lol id have bump started it for a month till it got too annoying.
Click to expand...


I've been having starter issues on my 97 2.7 with 215,xxx. First, I thought it was the clutch switch since I'd hold the key and bump my pedal until I got her rolling enough to start. Then a few times I've had to grab my jack handle and a hammer to knock the starter that continued to roll AFTER trying to start and she continued to just roll. I'd have my key in my hand and be quickly searching for half of the jack handle and hammer to help free things up. Guess I need to do some starter work. Fuel filter while I'm in there, too. Wish I had a supercharger to bolt on since I might pull the Intake to make things easier.
 
Last edited:
Another old thread revival.

To replace or not to replace (or reman, or which, or... ah *** it)? 2002 4WD LTD, 153K, had her for almost 6 mos and working through the maintenance, necessary and preventative, on my list. I've been eyeing the starter for a while - battery replaced in 01.2016 and is great, cranking still takes a while. No documented replacement of the contacts (have the service hx) and I do a lot of long-distance driving - don't want to get caught several states away. While I know a good amount about cars, engines, and our T4Rs, I have few tools and almost no space to actually do the work. Advance has a reman Denso starter for $136 inclusive of the core charge, think it's $30 (gotta love that TRT30 promo). Amazon and Camelback have a reman Toyota starter for $190.

Questions:
1. Who manufactured the original starter from the factory? Toyota, Aisin, Denso?
2. Worth it to just rebuild the current starter or should I grab the Denso on Advance Auto and hold on to the current one as a back-up? 1-yr warranty.

Appreciate any feedback.
 
trovergraywilson said:
Another old thread revival.

To replace or not to replace (or reman, or which, or... ah *** it)? 2002 4WD LTD, 153K, had her for almost 6 mos and working through the maintenance, necessary and preventative, on my list. I've been eyeing the starter for a while - battery replaced in 01.2016 and is great, cranking still takes a while. No documented replacement of the contacts (have the service hx) and I do a lot of long-distance driving - don't want to get caught several states away. While I know a good amount about cars, engines, and our T4Rs, I have few tools and almost no space to actually do the work. Advance has a reman Denso starter for $136 inclusive of the core charge, think it's $30 (gotta love that TRT30 promo). Amazon and Camelback have a reman Toyota starter for $190.

Questions:
1. Who manufactured the original starter from the factory? Toyota, Aisin, Denso?
2. Worth it to just rebuild the current starter or should I grab the Denso on Advance Auto and hold on to the current one as a back-up? 1-yr warranty.

Appreciate any feedback.
Click to expand...

Just fix your OEM Denso starter. Pull it out, get the Denso and Toyota part numbers off the side and search for contacts and a plunger for the solenoid. I was unlucky and couldn't find an affordable set on Amazon or Ebay so I had to get the parts from the dealer. I spent $70 to get both contact kits and the plunger. The contact kits from the dealer have more than just the copper contacts. It includes all the other associated hardware for each side, but all you really need is the copper contacts. All the other hardware is reusable.

I took the starter out through the wheel well since I heard it was difficult to get it out the bottom on the 4wd 4runners. If you have a 2wd 4runner, you can supposedly get it out from below easily.

Here's a video I did of the repair:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WV1t5-wcoOI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
It sounds like our 05 V6 4Runner's starter contacts need replacing which I'm happy to and capable of doing but for the fact that I can't work on it where it sits now.

How do I bypass the the solenoid to manually start it? Is it as simple as using a heavy gauge wire to jump from the positive on the battery to the positive on the starter? Then I'd be able to drive it in to my shop to do the work.

-tj in the Cruz Mts
 
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