My starter has been intermittenly not been functioning. I have a stick with an overide switch. The stealer is telling me the starter is bad and the starter relay got hot???? wants to replace both. CHECK THIS!!! $289 for the starter $78 for the relay and $287 for LABOR with tax hes telling me $657 IS HE CRAZY!!!! or am I. Has anyone else had this done. I got my clutch put in by a dealer in Ga. for $750 and thats a way bigger job.!!! Hes telling me 3.5 hours labor!!

 

ther starter in my 91 4Runner was only like 100 bucks. Took an hour for ME to replace it on a 22RE motor. Its a tight squeeze to get at

I think your getting the SHAFT

Also I think Roger Brown sells contatcs. www.4crawler.com

 

The copper contacts in the starter will get worn down and cause it not to work all the time, everytime. If you do a search for "starter contacts" you should be able to find the part numbers. Most likely its just the contacts and not the whole starter. My symptoms were that sometimes it would take bumping the key 5-7 times before the starter would turn over. I don't know what or how the relay would overheat and why it would need to be replaced, too. What are your symptoms?

I got the contacts from the local dealer for about $15 and my starter has worked just like new for 25k miles since I put them in. The good news is that they are really easy to put in the starter. The bad news is that it really does take a long time to remove and install the starter. It is a very tight fit to get it off and back on.

 

those are the symptons, I have to turn the key 5 or 6 times when its cold to get her started. Whats this about the contacts? How come the dealer is telling me he has to replace the whole thing. Please explain so I can tell them. He did say the contacs were bad but I assumed that you have to get a new starter and of course thats what the stealer is telling me. I already found a stealer w/labor $60 less for $237 and the parts about $60 less. I HAVE TO TRAVEL TO NJ BUT THE TOTAL WOULD BE ONLY 500 AND CHANGE. Funny thing is it still will start! Just not on the first time. I know that wont last though.

 

You can pull the starter out and replace the contacts yourself. Contacts at the dealer are about $15-20. A new plunger will be about $25. Order the parts at the dealer and then put them in yourself. It is tight to get at the starter, but it can be done in about 30-40 minutes. Taking the starter apart and replacing the contacts is very easy. If you head over to 4x4wire.com and do a search, you will find a write-up on how to do this. Even if you have to replace a relay, you can do the contacts first and see how it works. You will save a ton of money on labor as you know after visiting the dealer.

link-
http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenance/starter/

 

my 98 TRD had the starter replaced by my buddy before I bought it from him. He said it was a bitch, had to loosen the motor mounts and jack up the motor to get it out...

edit, seeing your last post, from what my buddy said it did the exact same thing. Wouldn't start on the first try, but eventually it didn't start...

 

here's the info needed for the starter repair. (Part number and instructions)

http://www.off-road.com/toyota/tech/starter/index.html

I did this repair and it cured my problem. Don't ask any questions when you go int to order the part, just give them the part number. If you ask for the starter repair kit or anything along those lines they will have no idea what you're asking for.

My problem came back about a year and a half later but ended up being the plug that connects to the starter. Ended up having to replace the plug. All in all, both fixes ended up costing me about $30.

The thing with the dealer is they don't really REPAIR the item, they just REPLACE the item.

 

look at rogers site and read the posts on how to fix it dont but the dealers stuff and never buy from napa or checker etc Go to a local rebuilder of starters and alternators etc and talk to the guy, he can explain alot of the workings and might even have a local source for the fix it parts Mine was so trashed had to buy a complete rebuilt starter, $135 plus the peace of mind that it was done right and ALL the moving/wearing parts were replaced. Never give up the original stock part, fix it first--- 10 bucks it is the contacts