The starter on my 97 4Runner started clicking and finally would not start.

I pulled the starter off today and the contacts were really worn. I built them up with solder and reinstalled teh starter. So far so good. I ordered the kit from TOR to be on the safe side and will replace the contacts this weekend.

Thanks to HaveBlue (Alan) for the great write up in the tech section on starter removal on 3rd generation. The starter came our just as described.

Thanks to TOR for the fine service with the new contacts.

 

I had the same problem...also a 97 4runner and 90K....here's a photo of my starter contact that was replaced...

yota thread

Starts no problem now.

 

Y'know, just a word of advice; it might not be the starter contacts. Try the other stuff first.

On mine, I thought it was the contacts -- I would get the click click more often than not; it got so bad that I wouldn't drive my 'runner anywhere I had to stop the engine, for fear of its not starting again. Finally I had enough and dove down under it today to try and get it going one more time; but before I did I started jiggling the power leads to the battery (where the previous owner had done his wonderful workmanlike splice and hack job on the wires) and then gave the key a turn -- started right up. And kept doing it all day long, to where I think my 'runner is going to go back in service tomorrow.

My moral is "Be sure that you've tried the easy stuff first." I still have the contacts and if it starts acting up again, I'll be ready for it, but I'm just happy to avoid the work.