Starter woes . .

[Moustache]

Well the truck has been sitting for a couple weeks now due to a bad starter (or so i think). I really dont want to throw alot of money at it getting it running since i will have a rebuild 1UZ for her in a few months. just need to get it running for now.

I did some research and learned of a starter relay located inder the fuse box cover. So i went and picked up a new relay and starter incase the relay doesnt do the trick.

Turns out the starter is wonderfuly hidden under the pass. exhaust manifold. And to top it off my 1990 3vze doesnt appear to have a starter relay. :wtf:

Could anybody lend any advice to where else the relay may be hidden? I dont have the cash to pay a shop to replace the starter right now and i cant seem to locate the relay or manhandle a wrench up onto the starter bolts. All of my money is wrapped up in rebuilding this 1uz and buying a house. . .

Kinda stuck here guys, any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

 

[Hyde802]

There is an access panel in the passenger wheel well, if you remove that it is much easier to get to the starter. But its still a tight fit.

Good Luck!

 

[Moustache]

I found that panel and sat for a few minutes scratching my head as to how im going to turn a wrench with the fuel lines, brake lines, speedo cable, starter wire, and 2 other wires right in the way. If anyone has done their starter and has some advice on how to attack these bolts i would love to hear it.

 

[Moustache]

Still no luck with removing the starter and i cant find this da** starter relay for the life of me. ive checked both driver and passenger kick panels with no sight of a starter relay. Im starting to think there is no starter relay, which is hard to believe when 88's and 89's have them, there are abs relays, a fuel pump relay, yet no starter relay. This is driving me crazy

 

[mikedks]

Oh man, that's gonna be ugly.
I have a 95 3.0, currently doing the top end, decided to replace the starter while I was at it because of the difficulty in access. Even with the exhaust manifolds, heads and all the junk out of the way, I still had to pull the a/c compressor for adequate access. With everything out, I still could not see the
bottom bolt because of the motor mount. If it makes you feel better(it won't), there are only two bolts holding it in, one electronic clip, and one nut for the battery cable. Good Luck

 

[RotaMan2]

First off, you don't use a wrench to take out the starter. You have to use a 4 foot long extension and get it from the front of the motor( the bottom bolt) the top bolt you have to get it from the back (trans side) wiggle the hell out of it till you get it out of there, at which oint you disconnect all the wires to the starter. You have to take it out thru the access panel in the passenger wheel well.. there should be 4 or 5 (10mm) bolts to this panel.

As for the starter relay some models have them behind the passenger speaker on the kick panel side. You will find 3 other fuses with it. its up there pass the fan motor just look around. If not in the fuse box in the enigine compartment then its here.

 

[Hyde802]

First off, you don't use a wrench to take out the starter. You have to use a 4 foot long extension and get it from the front of the motor( the bottom bolt) the top bolt you have to get it from the back (trans side) wiggle the hell out of it till you get it out of there, at which oint you disconnect all the wires to the starter. You have to take it out thru the access panel in the passenger wheel well.. there should be 4 or 5 (10mm) bolts to this panel.

Thats the way to do it. I dont know what they were thinking when they designed that.

 

[Moustache]

Oh man, that's gonna be ugly.
I have a 95 3.0, currently doing the top end, decided to replace the starter while I was at it because of the difficulty in access. Even with the exhaust manifolds, heads and all the junk out of the way, I still had to pull the a/c compressor for adequate access. With everything out, I still could not see the
bottom bolt because of the motor mount. If it makes you feel better(it won't), there are only two bolts holding it in, one electronic clip, and one nut for the battery cable. Good Luck

thats what i was thinking while i looked at it yesterday. I have my buddies 3vz 4door stripped to the block in my drive as well and cant believe how tucked away that starter is even with the heads on a table. Guess ill be removing the compressor this afternoon and probably the radiator while im there so i dont mess that up.

First off, you don't use a wrench to take out the starter. You have to use a 4 foot long extension and get it from the front of the motor( the bottom bolt) the top bolt you have to get it from the back (trans side) wiggle the hell out of it till you get it out of there, at which oint you disconnect all the wires to the starter. You have to take it out thru the access panel in the passenger wheel well.. there should be 4 or 5 (10mm) bolts to this panel.

As for the starter relay some models have them behind the passenger speaker on the kick panel side. You will find 3 other fuses with it. its up there pass the fan motor just look around. If not in the fuse box in the enigine compartment then its here.

I looked up in the passenger side kick panel and behind the glove box. i really cannot find the relay anywhere. Maybe they did the 90 2doors different? there are a ton of weird differences between my 2nd gen 2door and my friends 2nd gen 4door. hhmm

Thats the way to do it. I dont know what they were thinking when they designed that.

You and me both. The hid the starter on my 1UZ down in the VALLEY underneath the lower intake and coolant crossover tubes :wtf:

 

[Moustache]

Ran home on my lunch break to snap a few pictures of the different fuse locations, none of which contain the starter relay. . .

Drivers kick panel

Under the dash/above the steering column (fuel pump relay)

Pass. side behind the glove box

This is a "main circuit relay" below the fuses on the pass side

i keep pressing the relay issue because for weeks it would give me a click and after a few tries would crank right up. It now rarely turns over and i just hear the click. I have had starters die on me in the past with other cars but they usually die die. Not blink in and out for weeks like this one has been.

 

[Hyde802]

On both my 22re and 3vze the starters clicked for a while before they died.

 

[RotaMan2]

I think your starter issue is more of a (starter solenoid contact points). see if this helps. I had to do the same thing. 9 put of 10 this will be the problem if you just hear clicks.

Toyota/Chrysler/Mitsubishi - Nippon Denso Starter Solenoid Repair

 

[Moustache]

Spent all day yesterday working on that starter and she's finally replaced. My AC compressor has never worked since i owned the truck and had no intention on fixing or replacing it. Out came the compressor and belt for good. It's nice to now only see two serp. belts on the front

Never did find the starter relay so i guess i'll get my $35 back the core charges on my starter and my buddies starter ( i bought his starter the same time as mine) :frog:


Thanks for the advice everyone!!!

 

[SjamesT4R]

I m actually doing my starter tonight.. ive already taken the old one out.. but i never had to remove the compressor.. i just took the heat shield off the exahust disconnected the power wire and the clip and went through the front of the suspension with a swivel and from the back of the motor underneat with a swivel and about 6 extention lol.. wrench was long..lol but did you ever find the location of the starter relay?

 

[Moustache]

I m actually doing my starter tonight.. ive already taken the old one out.. but i never had to remove the compressor.. i just took the heat shield off the exahust disconnected the power wire and the clip and went through the front of the suspension with a swivel and from the back of the motor underneat with a swivel and about 6 extention lol.. wrench was long..lol but did you ever find the location of the starter relay?

Is your the 3VZ? I couldnt even see the starter from the front or top of the engine. .

Nope, never did find that da** relay:shrug: