Trouble removing starter from engine bay. Please help!

[Lugnutz]

Thanks for even thinking about helping me!

1998 T4R 4WD starter went out. Haynes manual made it sound easy but does not describe how to get it outa the engine bay. I struggled, and starter is off, but I cannot remove it from the engine bay because of all the other stuff that is in the way.

Looks like I could maybe get it out through the passenger wheel well but the brake line and tranny dipstick are in the way.

Please tell me how. Haynes led me to believe I could do this but I need more help!

thanks

 

[Baja Runner]

Yeah its a pain in the arse.

You need to unbolt the brake line, and unbolt the mount for the dipstick... at least thats what I did. I also bent the line slightly out of the way as well.

Here's a writeup, not sure if this will help you or not...

3rd Gen, 3.4 Auto starter removal write-up (pic heavy) - YotaTech Forums

 

[Blueman2]

There is also a write up on this site that has some good info, here:

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

I found that after removing the trans dip stick tube and unbolting the two brake line brackets, the brake line will swing out of the way fairly easily. With the brake line is moved out of the way, the starter will come out through the wheel well smoothly. I found it easiest, after removing both starter mounting bolts, to bring the starter out front end first. I was sitting in the wheel well with the brake rotor in my lap, the front of the starter was pointed over my left shoulder and the solenoid was at about the two o'clock position. The grommet on the coil lead wants to hang up a bit on the body flange but a little wiggling gets it by with no damage. I can post a pic tomorrow.

 

[Lugnutz]

Thanks Baja! That is just what I needed. I hope I might only need new contacts too! That'd save me some dough. My top starter bolt was a pain and seemed like it was possibly crossthreaded at the factory - sounds unlikely - I know -but the bottom one came out the rest of the way with just fingers after only 4 or 5 turns. Top one required a wrench to the last thread.

Looks like I will move the brake line and the AT filler tube for removal. I just wasn't sure that was the right thing to do.

I found that after removing the trans dip stick tube and unbolting the two brake line brackets, the brake line will swing out of the way fairly easily. With the brake line is moved out of the way, the starter will come out through the wheel well smoothly. I can post a pic tomorrow.

Thanks to you too!

Thanks again.

 

[quicksilvr]

....Haynes manual made it sound easy but...

If I had a nickel for every time this was true....


Hope you get it figured. I've never taken mine out, because I stooped to paying someone else to do it. It was the dead of winter, and I didn't have it in me to tackle it.

 

[Blueman2]

pics as promised.

going in over the frame rail, don't cut the boot on the body flange

rotated forward a bit and going past the brake lines

turning around for installation of bolts

almost installation position

 

[t4r4life]

thats tighter than a nun

 

[LittleCaesar]

The starter was the first thing to go on my 4runner and all I did was remove the rf brake line, pull the starter, and put a new one in. Still one big PITA.

The contact removal is the way to go.

 

[Blueman2]

thats tighter than a nun

still went in smoothly

The contact removal is the way to go.

If the boot on the cable into the starter body had been in better shape I would have done the same. I decided I did not want to risk having to do the starter in the middle of winter if the salt water found its way in via capillary action.

 

[Baja Runner]

Whats all that brown stuff?

Nice job man!