Swapping my starter

I have a 1996 v6/4x4/automatic transmission/base model Tacoma. I changed my starter two years ago (I know I should I have rebuilt it) and now it’s already dying… Luckily this one is under warranty. What makes it worse is that it wasn’t even the starter that was messing up last time it was just a bad wire… lesson learned.

Anyways last time getting the old starter was a nightmare. After taking the skid plates off the bottom we had to partially remove the rack and pinion to get it out. There must be another way! I watched all the videos I found but they weren’t helpful for this truck. Please help

 

Ain’t no way to get at it from the top… perhaps the side with the passenger tire off. (I’ll have access to a lift)

 

The automatic starters are longer then the manual starters making them a royal pain. The output is higher.

The easy way I found is remove the left wheel and wiggle it out above the frame.

Some I dropped the front drive shaft .

Over the years they all tend to blend together until I am under the truck.

 

I did mine last week, I was able to get it out though the passenger side wheel well. I had to remove the tire and disconnect the brake line that rest on that frame rail.

 

Cool. I’ve never disconnected a break line before… is that straight forward? Also did you use a lift?

 

I recall undoing a brake line bracket, and carefully 'moving' the brake line a bit.

Pulled the starter through the wheel well but only after angling it down towards the ground, then pulling it up and out.

 

This^ There are some videos showing how to do it. I think I have one on my home computer. I will look tonight.

 

I can’t figure this out… last time I went from underneath and partially removed the rack and pinion. I have the tire off but I can’t even get at the bolts

 

Just shine a flash light and look for the cleanest part under your vehicle.

 

I wish you could see what I’m looking at… there is a fuel line and break line in the way of getting it out the side

 

See?

 

I just carefully bent the brake lines to make room for starter to snake thru the passenger side. Tire must be taken off.

 

What about the fuel line?

 

Isn't that the transmission dip stick tube?

 

Whatever it is it’s welded and inflexible

 

Yes it is.

Single 10mm bolt holds it and I've removed mine whenever I needed to pull the starter.

I'd replace the o ring that comes from the bottom of that dipstick tube as well.

 

It's not welded, and not meant to be flexible.

You have a 2-piece transmission pan and that piece is the dipstick portion of it.

It slides into a small portion of tube that extends upwards from the transmission pan.

And o ring is all that prevents from fluid from seeping out between the two parts.

 

Okay I have the break line and transmission line out of the way but still can’t get the bolts off lol

 

Same way you removed them last time.

Not sure I understand the issue if you've done it before already.

 

Last time was two years ago and we went through the bottom… this time I have no lift, I have covid, and no help