SHANEMAN

I have a 2000 Tacoma prerunner 2WD w/ 3.4 liter v6. My starter is going out and I need some advice. Is changing the starter yourself an invloved task? Any help would be appreciated

loosehead

Welcome to the forum Shane.

How many miles do you have on your Taco? I have 63,xxx on my runner, and the starter began to act up about 1000 miles back. I did a search on here and found a lot of good info on the starter contacts getting too worn to make the starter actually turn. Do a search for starter trouble, or starter contacts, and you should find all the info you need.

What are your symptoms? When cold, mine would just click when I turned the key, finally after several tries, it would turn over. I bought the contacts from the dealer for less than $30. It took me almost a whole day to do the job, though. There is very little room to manuvere the starter out between the body and the frame rail. Someone had a writeup on their website on the starter removal, but I can't remember who or where...

This will get you headed in the right direction, though.
Good Luck!

keisur

shaneman, check this site first, you may not have to replace it, it may just be the $12 contacts that need replacing:

http://4crawler.cruiserpages.com/4x4.../Starter.shtml

rimpainter.com

Or if you find out that you do need to replace it, here is a write-up of the R&R.

SHANEMAN

The truck has 44,000 miles. I tried calling toyota and ask them to extend my warrenty. they would not. Noway a truck with this mileage should have starter problems. When I go to turn the key it just clicks once. sometimes it takes 20 trys to start it. I looked into the contacts and they do look cheap. I have a friend who is getting me a new starter, not rebuilt for 130 bucks, toyota wanted 400 to replace and install. In my opinion they have a problem with starters that they will not admit too

keisur

haha.

I would seriously try the contacts thing first, that sounds like what mine was doing and I replaced the contacts and 20k later, starter is like new.

SHANEMAN

i do have one question. the starter is located on the passenger side? correct. Is it visible from looling under the trucks? any hints??

rimpainter.com

Dumb question here, but is the starter not part of the powertrain warranty? TOR?

SHANEMAN

I tried telling them that. no dice. They tell me its electrical.

loosehead

THe starter is on the pass. side. You need to remove the little rubber piece to really get a good view of it.

I agree with keiser, it really sounds like the contacts.

My $.02

SHANEMAN

once the starter is off. is is hard to replace the contacts

loosehead

Here's an article on the whole job:
Adam F's starter repair .

Its alot easier to change out the contacts than to get the starter off and on the truck.

SHANEMAN

GUY'S
FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE EFFORTS. I'M NEW TO THIS FORUM AND CAN NOT BELIEVE THE RESPONSE. I WILL INVESTIGATE REPLACING THE CONTACTS AND I REPORT BACK. THANKS AGAIN

2000 TACOMA SR5 PRERUNNER

rimpainter.com

Your welcome, but whatever you do, never type in all caps!

keisur

no/ just follow the wrtie ups that both me and 96 posted.

EDIT: oops, Loosehead posted a good one too.

keisur

YEA A-HOLE!!!!!! Just kidding.

Nathan G.

Hi all,
I recently had to put a new starter in my 99 truck (Less than 60 months old and less than 60K miles) too.
After reading all over the "net" about the contacts failing, I was sure it was only the contacts (in the starter) that needed replacing. Here is the kicker...I could not find a shop that was willing to replace only the contacts and not the entire starter! (I checked at several >5 shops) I was unable to remove the starter myself with the hand tools that I own. (I could get a sockett wrench on the lower bolt,but no room to turn it) so this turned into a expensive repair for me. (you ever priced the starter...omg ,they are proud of it!)

I believe these starters are flawed in design. (contacts) A couple other Toyota truck/SUV owners I know have experienced the exact same failure with these starters.
The answer is: NO read on....

I called Toyota to ask about this and they said the starter is not covered. Somehow that starter is not part of the powertrain to them?!? I told them that I felt this was a defective design and pointed out that several others have had the same failure. They assigned me a case number and said if they had enough complaints they may issue a service campaign. I told the representative that I have read all over the internet about these starters failing. The representative suggested that I ask these people to call into the warranty number and report the failure.
So to all that have experienced this failure:
1)Please call Toyota Warranty @ 1-800-443-4999
2)Get a Case number assigned
3)Keep all of your receipts in case they actually do "make good" on this.
4) don't hold your breath!

Regards,
Nathan G.

keisur

That is why you need to go to the store and pick up the "right" tools for the job. I have no difficulty getting to mine.

keisur

Probably because it doesn't supply power to the drive wheels. Just like the ignition switch wouldn't be covered or the battery wouldn't be covered. They all help start the engine, but...