Starter Dying - 170K Miles... Repair, or Replace

[denvermaxd]

2000 4Runner SR5 5-speed manual, 3.4L V6

Starter is beginning to die. I'm getting single crank, then click, crank/click, click, click, crank-crank-click... eventually, she fires up. But clearly, the end is nigh.

So, at 170,000 miles, should I spend ~$50 on the contacts/plunger from Toyota dealer, or ~$200 on a completely new starter? I'm pretty mechanically inclined, with good tools, so DIY should work either way (unless I'm missing something from the writeups I've perused).

Local (trustworthy) mechanic told me at that many miles they usually recommend complete starter replacement, and the total was going to be close to $400.

 

[Dirtyfingers]

Yeah that's about when they go. I'd recommend just replacing it. Get yourself some drinks and do it yourself man. Unless you want to just have it done.

 

[raty4R]

@ 215,000+ miles I replaced just the contacts about 6 months ago. Acts like it's new. If the rest of your starter looks good, I would just replace the contacts.

 

[boostincoupe2]

Look on eBay for reputable junkyards selling used OEM parts out of totalled Tacoma's & 4Runner's. I got a 04 Tacoma OEM starter with 4,000 (yes, 4,000) original miles on it for $50. Look for listings that have the mileage of the truck they were pulled from.

Bolted right in and I haven't thought about it for two years since.

 

[Kanger328]

I just fixed my starter for $0. Pull it out, take it apart, clean out any gunk, take a wire brush to the contacts, re-install and see if it's still good. If not, replace. Just my .02.

 

[nissanh]

JUST REPLACE CONTACTS. YOUR STARTER WILL LAST FOR 400+ K MILES....

Usually you can see the wear on copper contacts once you open the solenoid.

REMEMBER to DISCONNECT the BATTERY FIRST!!

There is a thread on how to replace the contacts without pulling the starter out from the truck.

 

[kball]

2000 4Runner SR5 5-speed manual, 3.4L V6

Starter is beginning to die. I'm getting single crank, then click, crank/click, click, click, crank-crank-click... eventually, she fires up. But clearly, the end is nigh.

So, at 170,000 miles, should I spend ~$50 on the contacts/plunger from Toyota dealer, or ~$200 on a completely new starter? I'm pretty mechanically inclined, with good tools, so DIY should work either way (unless I'm missing something from the writeups I've perused).

Local (trustworthy) mechanic told me at that many miles they usually recommend complete starter replacement, and the total was going to be close to $400.

All the starter contact issues I've read about just have a single "click". If I'm reading it right, yours sounds more like a weak battery or bad connection.

 

[hrt4me]

All the starter contact issues I've read about just have a single "click". If I'm reading it right, yours sounds more like a weak battery or bad connection.

are the wires to the starter still good?

 

[denvermaxd]

All the starter contact issues I've read about just have a single "click". If I'm reading it right, yours sounds more like a weak battery or bad connection.

My OP was misleading. When I said "click, click" I meant consecutive key turns, not a rapid or repeating click. It's definitely one click per turn of the key, and sometimes it turns over, sometimes it doesn't.

Since I just spent a bunch of $ on Christmas gifts, I'm going to try the contacts swap first. If the starter looks bad when I get it open I'll reevaluate.

 

[white_n_slow]

If cleaning up the contacts doesn't work, just get a NAPA starter and it will last a good decade. Costs about $120. I have used 4 of them on different vehicles and no trouble whatsoever. I think they're remanufactured OEM.

 

[jmildoc]

agree with majority of above posts, replace the contacts and carry on. shop online for parts.

 

[nissanh]

Buy contacts from NAPA. It is MUCH MUCH easier to replace contacts than pulling the starter out from the truck.

My toyota car has its OEM starter and for the past 8 years all I did is replacing the contacts.

If you have an access to compressed air, just blow some air to clean the solenoid compartment.

Remember to DISCONNECT the battery FIRST (there is a constant 12 V coming to the starter from the battery)