My 2008 Tundra has been acting weird when I go to start it. Every once in a while (like one time in every 5 start ups) when I hit the key, the Starter will sound like its spinning up but not engaging the flywheel. It will spin for a period of time (thanks to the start assist...) and eventually engages and starts the truck.

Like I said, it doesn't do it every time. When it does occur, I've noticed it seems to have to spin longer before engaging every time it does it.

Is it just time to replace the starter, or could something else be causing this?

 

Sounds like a starter to me. I've replaced a couple on 5.7s in the last year or so. Unfortunately, the 5.7's don't use a rebuild able one like the older trucks, so your looking at the whole starter. Based on that, and the fact that it's a royal PITA to r&r the starter, I'd wait until you absolutely can't stand it.

To remove it, you have to remove the passenger side exhaust manifold.

Is yours fairly high mileage? All the starters I've done have been over 150k miles.

 

105,000 miles on it right now. I planned on waiting until it gave up completely on me... I was gonna replace it myself, but not if I have to remove the exhaust manifold. More money down the drain

 

Ya it's a pain with the truck on a lift. I can't imagine tryin to do one with it on the ground. Here's hopin it lasts a while still for you.

 

Yeah, I'm kicking myself for all the deep water crossing and mudding I did on this truck when it was new... all my parts are wearing out now lol. I just replaced the alternator 6,000 miles ago and now the starter is dying

 

Ouch...please tell me you were able to get one cheaper than OEM. Last one I priced out was north of $700...

 

The alternator was replaced with 500 miles left on the warranty, so I don't know how much it cost. I let Toyota pick up the bill

 

Lol good job!

It blows my mind how expensive some parts are for the newer stuff. I helped the tech next to me do a rear diff in a 2007 tundra a couple weeks ago. The reman third member was $2500 from Toyota...

 

Yeah tell me about it, I knocked one of my mirrors off in the hunting woods and it cost me $200 to replace it. That's the main reason I bought my '85, its cheaper to fix if I break something. Now I drive it more than I do my Tundra lol.