Starter - WTF!

Putting aside that some dcikhead cross threaded two lugs on my wheel, apparently with the air tool, causing the threads on the bolts on the wheel to tear apart, I finally get the bolts for the starter out. Curse those Japanese tiny hands - this was really ridiculous to get up in there.

Now I have the starter loose. It can't fit through any opening to remove!! Damn brake lines are in the way. WTF?



I have to remove those hard lines, causing my brake fluid to run out? The one really in my way goes right up into the master brake cylinder. Am I missing something here? The thing weighs about 100 pounds, so hard enough to hold with one hand and try to wiggle it around, but there is simply no opening geometry wide enough to get it out. I can't see anyway to remove it. I removed the bolt holding that brake line assembly off, but since those are hard lines that did not help at all, as there is no play with those.

?

 

I've heard taking the exhaust collector out gives clearance to get it out.

 

Best that I can remember Jim is to pull that bolt back out and push and rotate the assembly inward and backwards. That helps open the that area your looking at. It's been forever since I did one but you kinda massage the lines around the starter as you pull it out. I think that's how I did them.

 

Booyakasha!

I had to put the damn thing in from the top. The fuel lines going to the filter are flexible so I had to move them around a bit and twist and turn the starter to get in (gear out) but it went in. F'ER! Started up first try.

I took the old one apart and it looks great, other than where the mouse or whatever chewed the line. Looking at it out of the truck I probably could have just dumped some goo on it and it would have been fine.



I am going to fix these stuck screws:



And put it all back together as a used starter for sale. When I get those screws out and replaced I'll show how nice the contacts are.

 

Dang, is there something significantly different from '97 to '99? I knew nothing about my Taco before I had to pull the starter out, and I don't recall it being all *that* difficult. I tried the dismount from underneath, which was challenging, but once I tried through the DS wheel well, it was pretty easy. No fuel lines / brake lines in the way from either direction that I recall. The contacts inside were a mess, however.

 

It is unreal how difficult it is on this year. I have no idea if they changed anything or not in later 97's through '99, but others commented they got it out through the wheel well. I tried for a few days and there was simply no way it was going out that way unless I disconnected those brake lines, which I was in no mood to do. I tried to flex them as much as I was comfortable, and no go. The OEM starter was longer than the one I replaced it with, and a hell of a lot heavier too. It was a real bitch to try to deal with, as I could barely get my hand and arm into that space. Not even my forearm would fit into that gap between the lines and the bolt coming out of the UCA. Removing the manifold would have done the trick, but damn, that would be a suck thing to have to do for every starter swap.

Anyway, it was not a fun job getting it through the top but it worked. That starter better last a lifetime! lol

 

Great photo. When I have to do mine, I'll do the fuel filter at the same time, since its right there.

 

My 98 was the same way. It only comes out if you twist it and turn it in an exact way. It fits through an opening in only way way. I can't remember exactly what they position was, but it took my about an hour to turn and twist it just right.

 

Yeah, I spent hours trying to figure it out on the wheel well (fail), but it took me maybe 15-20 minutes futzing with it going through the top. If you consider the flange with the bolt holes and the gear the "head", I had to feed it in ass first then twist it around to get it to fit between the lower manifold and the stuff to the right. Then I just turned it around via the wheel well and bolted it right up.

 

I hope yours is easier than mine. Even with the starter out I could not see an "easy" way to get to the fuel filter to replace it. I am planning on painting my manifold so figure when I do I will replace the fuel filter then. Good luck!