What have you done to your Tacoma today? 1st Gen Edition

Anybody know what this is on the starter? It's on the contact bolt



I don't have one and the thing covering that bolt is a type of puddy on mine, so I'm curious if I can leave it "bare" or should I replace it with something?

 

I'm trying to remember, is it like that electrical paste stuff? If so, I think just make sure the contact surface areas are clean and protected

 

Yeah that could be it. So just clean it up and then add some brand new paste to it?

 

Yeah I never added more grease when I did my starter contacts. I don't remember it either. Is the grease there possibly to keep the contacts and crap from getting moisture and weathering? The grease is under that rubber protective cover right? Covering the contact and crap?

 

Nope there isn't a rubber cover on that contact just the puddy stuff. Once I get home I'll get a better pic

 

Actually I forgot I had this pic. Circled in blue, it feels like old gum

 

Pic makes it look like it came outta the breather tube, it didn't though right?
I'mma crawl under mine when I go back to my truck in a minute to make sure I'm giving you accurate info

 

It could've but I don't recall it, that will have to wait until I can confirm that. But does that bolt need to be covered? I tried to find a replacement but I may have to jerry rig something up

 

I'm wondering if maybe that's why it was covered with electrical grease, to keep it from getting corroded. I couldn't see the starter well enough on mine. Looking at this rebuild DIY I didn't see grease on his,
https://expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/denso-starter-contact-replacement.12746/

 

Mine was the same way when I did my starter. Mine had a cover/boot, but it was like putty by the time I got to it. Tried to remove the cover/boot and it fell apart, all stringy/gummy like you describe. I tried to find a replacement boot/cover, but they don't exist. I'm really anal about shit and it bothered me enough to just buy a new OEM starter...

 

That would be my guess. In Timmy's video I didn't see anything on his and he never put any on his just put his boot back on

 

Oh no shit? That's the boot all broken down? Well I'll be. Good to have that cleared up

 

Ah gotcha, well damn that sucks. I wonder if it'll be ok to leave that bare since I don't feel like buying a whole new starter for something that minuscule unless the rebuild kit doesn't solve my issue

 

Yeah it should be OK. Maybe wrap it in that stretchy shrinking silicone tape stuff

 

They also sell liquid electrical tape too.

 

That's right. That would prolly be even easier for this. Good suggestion

 

I'll look into that tonight since I have to stop and get brake fluid for bleeding my clutch tonight

 

Battery light came on 40 minutes into an hour drive and stayed on solid for about 10 minutes and then shut off. Had the alternator checked at Autozone and it tested fine. The belt is in place as well.
WTF??

 

As others have said, that should be a boot. On mine is a boot and plastic. I can get a pic tomorrow, diff is out so so many things are easy to access. Too bad the diff is such a pain to remove, would make a lot of jobs easier.

 

Playing the gas game?