Hey guys its been a while since I last posted on here. My 1998 4runner is now going on 312000 miles (I need to update my stats) and love to say other than wear and tear maintenence, I havent had to replace a part yet!

That being said I wanna keep my no parts streak going but my starter is crapped out or Im having some sort of other issue thats preventing the starter from catching the flywheel. This sstarted a few weeks back when starting the truck it would take 3 or 4 truns to crank, then 4 or 5 turns to crank and slowly it got to where it is now where it just spins and nothing else. Ive replaced the starter contracts already thinking it would be that. While I had the starterout I checked the flywheel teeth and didnt feel and broken teeth in there. anyone with some knowledge on this issue or ideas id gretly appreciate!

 

While you had the starter out why did you not check to see if the starter drive was working like it should.

They do go bad from old age.:jessica:

 

The more miles your vehicle gets the more bigger things become "routine maintainence." Toyota stuff lasts a long time and can take a beating, but it's not invincible.

Sounds like the starter is gummed up and not throwing the gear out into the flywheel. You have a few options for this. We'll go from worst to best.
1 - Carry a hammer around with you and when it gets stuck give it a few taps with the hammer and that usually frees it up.
2 - Tear the starter apart, make sure everything is there and grease everything real good to get everything moving smooth again.
3 - Suck it up and get a new starter.

 

I did take the starter to oreillys to have it tested, and did see the gear come out on the tester. It passed according to thier machine but is it possible its not coming out far enough to engage the flywheel?

B-Fake im about to take option number #3. I see carquest has rebuilt denso starters, I may go tat route. I wanna stay as close to factory as possible with parts and not have to pay the big bucks to Mr. Toyota.

 

UPDATE: Took my stater to have it rebuilt, i want to keep my denso starter and it was the cheapest option (90.00 vs. 140.00 at oreilly's) anyway got it back and put it in, it fires up like a champ on the first turn!

One thing I noticed and the shop confirmed this was the bendix gear was spinning freely instead of spinning only one way with resistance, the clutch in the starter was bad.