So I yanked my starter

[Kyngfish]

And it was all gunked up with oil inside. Pretty sure my valve covers are leaking. Safe to spray brake clean in there? Normal?

 

[rkntoy]

I would use electrical contact cleaner.

 

[phattyduck]

The brake cleaner will also eat the paint on the electric motor body. Make sure whatever you use is also paint safe.

-Charlie

 

[19963.4lsr5]

I use brake cleaner on that stuff.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Riceye]

 

[Kyngfish]

Well I used one of those Ebay kits and cleaned it out. Car is starting right up, so I guess problem solved. I'm sure if I ever have to do it again it'll be easier, but that was one of the least fun jobs I've ever done, everything was a pain in the ass and I also have a bad flu. And it's not like I don't have all the right tools, because I'm a tool addict. This morning I felt like if I ever had to do that particular job again I'd go ahead and sell the truck.

 

[Mark_BC]

I'm sure if I ever have to do it again it'll be easier, but that was one of the least fun jobs I've ever done, everything was a pain in the ass and I also have a bad flu. And it's not like I don't have all the right tools, because I'm a tool addict. This morning I felt like if I ever had to do that particular job again I'd go ahead and sell the truck.

You'll feel better tomorrow. Go get some chicken soup.

 

[Kyngfish]

You'll feel better tomorrow. Go get some chicken soup.

You're 100% right, but still, compared to my Carrera, packaging in the Toyota really stinks, starting with the oil filter, but the starter is right up there.

 

[theriddler]

Glad you got it fixed. I agree with the oil filter location too, it sucks. Glad they got smart on the 4th gen...not sure where the 5th gen is located.

Here's some valve cover advise for everyone...fix it as soon as you find it leaking. Oil can wreak havoc on things electrical and rubber. I think that's one reason why my sway bar and rack bushings were so far gone...the oil saturated the rubber and caused it to swell.

Quick fix on valve cover leaks: if you can't replace right away, just retorque them and spray off the residue with a contact cleaner. Retorqueing has worked for me in the past on only takes 10 minutes.

 

[baja1]

starters are a booger to get in and out......oil filters? piece of cake once I found out you unbutton that rubber flap and you're looking right at it from the wheel well! gracias T4R :reddance:

 

[Kyngfish]

starters are a booger to get in and out......oil filters? piece of cake once I found out you unbutton that rubber flap and you're looking right at it from the wheel well! gracias T4R :reddance:

Lol. I pride myself on spill free oil changes with all my cars. With that location you can do some things with plastic bags but one way or another something always drips. It’s really annoying.

 

[phattyduck]

Lol. I pride myself on spill free oil changes with all my cars. With that location you can do some things with plastic bags but one way or another something always drips. It’s really annoying.

Form-a-funnel, pressed right up under the filter, drains the oil right down and away from the skid plate.

-Charlie