HOW TO: Remove/Install a starter/fix a clicking starter (2.7 liter 3RZ-FE engine)

Just stumbled across this. Going to give it a go in the next few days. Mines just clicking but eventually will start after 10-15 tries lol

 

mines starting to click/intermittently drag a whole lot...so, i guess i need to do this to it

 

It will come out that wheel well. Post 17 pic 1. You can sawzall off that forward brake junction from that bracket. 1st,,,Leave the bracket bolted to the frame,,cut just under that union. Two fingers pulls back the union now, and the other hand is free to juggle the starter thru the well hole. We are damn lucky,,these are very lightweight starters. No sniveling about the weight. Come help me hang a old detroit diesel starter motor. Trim off and round edges if you want to,,or leave that cut off end in place to zip tie the union back to the bracket,, using the bottom forward brake line.

I cut that leg off from bracket and union and now that union just hangs free. It could be done more cleanly,,like relocating that damn bracket further back on the frame rail, with even more cussing and sweating. Different ways to skin a rat.

Not all trucks are created on the same shift!. Some have a easier time to remove,,and some are visibly more difficult. A game of millimeters there.

 

I pulled mine out through the bottom, but I don't have all that pesky ifs in the way

 

Mine had an issue with starting up this morning and my neighbor who has worked on Toyota cars guarantees it's the connectors, so I mine as well get this kit and do the plunger, too. My question is did this kit come with the rubber o-rings that goes on the connector bolts? Were your o-rings bad when you guys did this replacement?

I was able to get it started with a few hits on the starter (it actually starts better then it ever has so it must be the connectors).

 

Did the job last night with my neighbor. The hardest part was getting the bolts off since it was difficult to maneuver through the areas to get to it and get a good hold. The job took about two hours, but replacing the plunger/connectors took maybe 10 minutes of that time. The part I got was off ebay for $10.29 + free shipping. The company shared in this thread that sales this kit seems of good intentions, but save $25 bucks and get it off ebay. Fit perfectly and started right up!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TOYOTA-SUBA...ash=item2edcfde095:g:UrcAAOSwNNxWE8lo&vxp=mtr

 

i used the dorman kit...kinda had to piece it together with the factory pieces and stuff...and had to reuse the plunger, but she hits the first lick everytime now...so it must have worked...top bolt on the starter is kinda a pain, but swivels and my air gun got it off...and y'all with the 4wd's had me worried it would be a pain to remove, so i didn't hold it when i removed the last bolt...sob fell out and came down 7 feet and smacked the ground haha...prerunner ftw, i guess...

anyway, here's one of the contacts

 

btw, took me pretty much exactly an hour, with air tools and a lift haha...gotta love workin over lunch

 

Can someone point me to a Kit for the Plunger and Contacts as I want to replace them? I have a 1998 Tacoma 6 Cil. I am in Canada THX

Do I need to ID the starter at all first?

 

Can someone get a clear picture of the ground wire location that's down by the starter positive and connector

 

Was forced to do this on the side of the road last week. It was a neighborhood so not too dangerous. Anyway, I didn't end up taking the left-front wheel off of my 2000 2.7L PreRunner automatic. I was able to remove both starter bolts from underneath, going feet first just under the driver door. It wasn't a cake walk, but it wasn't awful. Took me about two hours, perhaps a bit more. Ordered the contact and plunger kit from the link in the first post and that part was very easy to change out.

 

Do you know where I can find a good walk through for the 3.4 5VZFE engine?

 

Great write up, just used it & my truck starts again today!
That top bolt was a bitch. I had to do the whole process from below since I didn't have any flat ground to jack up the truck.

 

I know this is an old thread but I just wanted to say thank you for creating this write up. Helped me out a bit tonight replacing my starter.

 

If follow it for if I ever need to.

 

ordered my starter rebuild stuff the other night. shouldnt be too hard. thanks OP for writing this up

 

Finally had a chance to install this tonight. Its doable on a 4wd although an epic pita. Brake lines, clutch slave lines and all manner of fuckery in the way. Had to do it while still in the truck. An assistant with an extra set of hands holding the flashlight makes it a 20 minute job. 12mm, 14mm, a 7mm, extensions a universal, 2 cigarettes and patience is needed.

Instant gratification when the bastard started up 1st try. My contacts and plunger were well past the point of no return. Thanks again for the write up with pics. Made it a ton easier.

 

on step 3, how do you remove that rubber shield without ruining the tabs?

 

I used a panel tool from Harbor Freight. Screwdriver handle to a little flat "Y" basically pulls the plastic popper thingy out of the way to pull the liner out. The passenger side ones on my truck were already ruined so I just ripped them all out and tossed the liners. It's not a vital part

 

so i can just rip that biotch off?