Boulder CO mechanic
 

From reading threads here, it appears I need to replace the contacts on my starter (89 4x4 PU). My local shop (Trepkes) wants to replace the entire starter for roughly $250 (over the phone estimate).

Wondering if I should look elsewhere and if anyone has a recommendation. I'm guessing just having the contacts replaced wouldn't save me that much money ($100??) and may mean a future headache since it's the original starter. FWIW my truck has under 120k miles and runs fine otherwise.

DUDE pull the starter and take it to D & D auto electric on 44th ave in wheat ridge, just west of Kipling, they are right next to four to go. Dont get rid of the original starter, I did and got a NAPA replacement. Had to replace it! Cooked it all the insulation was flaking off and the stator was chewed up. rebuild the original and then you know what is good and what is bad. The guys at D&D do good work and are very helpful. A rebuilt starter for a 22r cost me $130 and I put it in while parked in front of the shop.

Boulder toyota has the contacts for around $15-$20 last time I checked. You can also order them from Rodger Brown. It only takes about 1 hr. to change the contacts and clean the starter, ussualy this is the only thing that goes wrong with the Toyota starters, you will probably get another 100K out of it.

Replacing the contacts is generally only a DiY operation. Just about every mechanic/shop will want to swap out the entire starter. It's cheaper and easier for them as well as more profitable.

Starter is a pretty simple DIY job. If you want to tune up the existing starter, take it to Venatta Electric at 8th and Pearl and he'll fix ya up.

C

I 2nd the recommendation for Venatta. If you get a whole new unit, get a reman. Toyota and not an imitation. Either way removal and replacement will be the toughest part of the job. Not too bad if you've got the 4-banger, kind of a pain if you have the V6, but still doable in an hour or so.

Okay, you all convinced me to do the deed. More of a PITA than implied. Warn anyone doing this they need the *just* the right amount of extension (not too long or too short) for the socket wrench. And some braniac at Toyota decided to stick a bracket for a hydraulic line on the lower starter bolt. There is no way in hell of getting this lined up again when reinstalling the starter! I spent almost an hour trying to get it bent just right and finally gave up and installed the starter without the bracket in place so it's just dangling now (doesn't appear like it will go anywhere or get messed with). Oh yeah, and the Toyota dealer charged $24 for 2 dinky pieces of bent copper (nothing else comes with them) even though I only needed one.