Starters

I have a 2004 Tacoma with the 2.7. It has 145,000 on it. I'm trying to find out just how many miles anyone else has gotten out of their original starter before it crapped out on them. I like to replace parts "before" I end up with a $500 tow bill and stranded on the side of the road. I realize it has to do with the "use" of the starter. Running lots of around town errands and such where it is used 10 times a day year after year or just two or three times a day going to work with the usual stop at a store a few times a week.

 

Wife has a '98 with 150k. Original starter.

 

181k on mine. 03 2.7, I think it's getting tired though. Doesn't like the cold much.

 

Thanks for the replies so far. Mine still works perfectly even when it's at -10 with 10-30. It turns over slower but that's to be expected. I'm just wondering who has replaced their starter and at what mileage. So far, it seems like I am safe for quite a while.

 

Replaced my started a couple years ago at around 170k. The contacts were getting shitty.

 

200,000 plus and I am brutal on the starting system 10 mile round trip 5 or 6 starts .

If your worried pull the starter new contacts and plunger maybe brushes good to go for another 10 years

 

95,000 / 11 years of mostly 16 mile commuting and errands on my '04 before the starter became intermittent. Replaced the contacts and it's like new.

 

Who cares how many miles?
Irrelevant info

 

Yes, I know. That's why I added the type of use. Miles just gives an idea of how long they will last. If the starter is used 20X a day that's different than 3 or 4.

 

At 60k miles and 12 years on my 1998 TRD I had to replace the internal contacts.

 

55k 2014 TRD Crew Cab Sport... Starter just crapped out. Started as intermittent failures then it completely died in the driveway of the dealership....still waiting to find out if they agree that it's a warranty thing.

 

236K miles on my original starter. I realize I may be on borrowed time
90% Daily driver too - I have gotten a Tundra that gets used 10% of the time

 

The orig cold weather starter lasted about 11 yrs, same as the AC/Delco Pro battery. Replaced with the same and have already replaced contacts in this one once after about 4ish? yrs. The reman starter was/is a lifetime warranty, but I just fixed it with the contact kit,,,for now. I take alot more time checking things, than the poor sweaty kid in the back slamming rebuilds together, Just give me the warrantee part and I'll fix it. 2-3 revs and it fires right off like it should.

Back to work,,oh joy.

 

15 years and 297k on the original. my fathers 02 has 100k. our 06 corolla has over 600k with the original. they just go when they want to.. no real "life expectancy" I've noticed..

 

You will have a warning. The contacts in the starter seem to start acting up before they are completely shot enough to leave you stranded. My only recommendation is to rebuild your factory starter (easy job) with oem contacts instead of throwing a new Auto-Chinese-Zone (or the like) starter at it.

 

Good news! From what i have read the starters give a "warning" before they go. The dealer told me that if I order a new starter it might be rebuilt but it might be one of the OEM starters that just has never been sold. He did say the chances of that are very low. I'll probably see of I can find and OEM and put it on a shelf for future use. I like to keep parts that might go bad in stock before they crap out on me. That way, since this is my only vehicle for the time being, I'm not waiting around for the part to arrive. I can fix what is wrong with the original one after installing the new one and then have a spare since being "new" doesn't really mean anything these days.

 

My starter went about 13 years and 148,000 miles. The replacement task was much easier than I anticipated. The warning I got that the starter was failing was when the truck wouldn't start on a bitterly cold evening.

If you think your starter is failing, take an hour and just replace it.

 

It takes 20 minutes after you get the starter out to replace the contacts and plunger. Buy the parts, fix your starter, save some money, and learn some stuff all in one go.

 

It can be a monster getting it out,,for some who have never laid a hand in there. Do some reading and use good judgment.

 

I have looked down at the starter and it doesn't look like an easy job for someone who doesn't wrench on vehicles on a regular basis. However, when it comes time to yank it I'll be doing it so I'll find out if it as hard as I think it is.