Has anyone ever replaced their starter on their 3VZ equipped with Downey headers? It looks like there is no room to pull the starter out anymore through the fender/wheel well. Should I just let the dealer or a shop worry about it?

Any suggestions or comments welcomed.

Thanks.

 

I've got the same problem! Trying to resolve a potential starter problem but can't seem to get the starter out due to the Downey Headers. Help... Anyone?

 

I replaced my started a year or so ago and had the same issue. I tried several things and don't remember exactly which one helped. I will take a look at the starter area today and see if that will jog my memory.

I remember having to twist and rotate the starter around to get it out. Have you actually tried to remove it or just looked at the clearance between the header, frame, and fender opening?

 

I haven't tried taking off the starter yet. If I can't get it out through the normal passage way with the headers on, I guess I'll just unbolt the header and move it around to see if I can make some space to clear the starter. It looks like there will be even enough room to pull the starter straight up through the engine bay if I was to unbolt the header.

BTW, I took the truck to the dealer on Thursday so I wouldn't have to worry about the problem... or so I thought. The professionals over there said that they wouldn't be able to take out the starter either. Little whiners.

 

I definitely did not remove the header or loosen any of it's bolts.

Anyway, try rotating and spinning the starter in several directions.

 

Bump...

 

not a thread jack but.....
do you think any of these starter failures had anything to do with the headers burning up the starter??? I'm looking at both downey and NWOR

 

I don't beleive that to be the case for me. I've had my headers for about eight years with no problem. I am experiencing a "once-in-a-while" starting problem that may not even be related to the starter. I thought I would rebuild/replace the starter as a saftey precaution for some backcountry trips I will be taking. In my opinion, you should go for the headers!

 

If they are ceramic coated there should not be any added stress to parts under the hood (or near the headers). The downeys are ceramic coated, correct?

 

no, not all of them... ii wish mine were.

now i have starter issues too. gonna get a shop to do that and replace the right side header gasket. i have a gasket leak from hell...

i wish i never done this thing...

gonna get a 1" body lift too in the future just to ease the removal of the starter...

 

Ok, I got my starter out but I did unbolt the header. Before going to that last resort, I tried for a several hours to get it through the normal passageway but no matter how I moved the starter, it never could line up with the opening. I did find a gap between the motor mount and the differential that the starter just barely caught on when I tried to pull it from there. Maybe someone else with better luck can pull it out from there.

The thought of my headers (ceramic coated Downey's) cooking my starter did come into mind. When I opened up the starter to peek at the internals, it ended up that in my case the contacts were just dirty. The vent tubes on the starter had hardened up and cracked in several places (problem was there before the headers were put in) so dirt and/or debris from the vent tube went into the starter and got on to the contacts. That's what caused my starting problems.

 

I've talked to a mechanic at my local stealer about this very issue. He said he's replaced a starter on a 3VZE with Downey headers and had to loosen the engine mounts and jack the engine up to get it out.

 

i know this is an old thread , but does any one know if the same issue goes for the doug thorley headers on the 3vze when trying to remove the starter ?

my starter is starting to act up and i have the doug thorley headers on my 3vze, i really hope i dont have to loosen the header bolts up , are even having to loosen the motor mount and jack up the motor sounds horrible if thats what has to be done , really hope not

 

Same issue here old thread . I have a LC Engineering Header and they tell me the starter can come out without removing the header. Does anyone have any info on this? It does look tight but the technical group at LCE say yes Thanks for any help

 

I have a 1988 4Runner 3VZE

 

Not familiar with your rig but perhaps removing the solenoid and associated wires from the starter than the starter itself might free up some wiggle room, I know the 5ve-fe is tight to remove in stock form aswell.

 

You sure it's your starter?
You wanna go through all the trouble of removing a starter before you verify that indeed it is defective and that replacing it would solve your problem?
(pls see my signature)