Opins on the starter rework vs reman (1 Viewer)

[toddslater]

Over the weekend I started (no pun) to get the lag and/or have to turn the ign 2-4 times to get lil sparky (the 97) to life...so did the simple things to rule out the batt and alt. They are fine. Looked at all the posts re: changing/renewing the contacts and plunger...seems like a 1-2 banana effort, so I call my local toy part dealer. Contacts in stock, plunger will be here no later than wed...sweet. But it is at this point he says to me that he really wouldn't recommend doing the contacts and plunger. He said they "always" come back to bite them in the a$$. He really recommended (and especially if I was intending on keeping the truck) to get the toy reman starter... Said it should get me at least 80k's worth of trouble free starts. Whereas, replaceing the contacts and plunger ...well, I'd see him again in a few months and get the joy of saying ...yep I should have listened to you. Reman starter $175...contacts and plunger, cheap. I told him to order up the plunger and I'll go that route first. CruiserDan (and others) what is your call on this ? Am I just jerkin my gerkin ?

 

[Gumby]

Sounds like he needs to make a boat payment.

One thing to keep in mind. If the contacts are worn tot he point where sometimes they do not work, then they can stick together and the starter will not stop turning. If this happens when the wife borrows the truck, it will make you sad.

Worst case, buy them both. Put the reman in and fix the other for the parts shelf. Then in 90,000 miles when the contacts go bad, you'll have a replacement ready to go.

 

[mabrodis]

My personal feeling is he wants to sell you more cause...well, he gets more money then. I don't doubt others have came in and bought parts then found out later the whole starter was shot, but were these people Cruiser owners? There's a big difference between parts for a Camry and Cruiser parts.

There if ofcourse the possibility that there is more wrong with your starter than just the contacts (and plunger). But read some previous posts about this and I think you'll discover that many, many people have replaced their contacts and what percentage ended up replacing the entire starter...very low. For me I have had the contacts replaced once and then did it myself the 2nd time. The time I paid it was under a 3rd party warranty, took it to a Lexus dealership, they actually put in new contacts versus replacing the whole starter, but their new contacts lasted maybe 50K miles. The ones I put in then have been in for about 25K now.

It's a very easy job, I would do the contacts and see how it goes.

 

[toddslater]

Todd,

That crossed my mind since I love having spares on the shelf ready to install...until he said he wanted my starter in exchange. And where is the hell is your watermelon lookin helmet avatar this season ? go ahead lay into the bucknuts

Mabrodis,
I can live with a 50k life expectancy. 3 to 5k seemed a little underoptomistic. When he wanted my starter as tradein..that pretty much conviced me I had nothing to lose (except my starter) and everthing to gain by doing the contacts and plunger.

 

[Gumby]

Sorry, I was still stuck in Fawk with Landpimp mode. I'll fix it right now.

 

[landtank]

The mechanics that work at this dealer are probably a bunch of knuckleheads and can't put the parts in properly. The most critical area is being sure the contacts are flat in the starter. If someone were to hold the contact in place with his/he finger and then tighten the nut the contact would likely twist slightly and then not perform up to par. I've rebuiolt Toyota starters several times on different models and never had any issues. But then again it's done correctly.

 

[Koffer]

I just did mine a week ago and while I was playing I would make a job into something a little harder so I took the whole thing apart The brushes and other goodies looked fine so I cleaned it up inside ,a little heat proof grease on the spots I cleaned some off and good to go another 100k
I could see if it had stuck on and overheated or was muded up real good and then left that way with a grit inside then a remaned would be the way to go .
Tell him you'll see him in 7years for some more contacts and a plunger

 

[Scamper]

I did the contacts and plunger about 20K ago and have absolutely zero problems. A very easy 1 job.

Just be sure you press down firmly and evenly with a block of wood or something on the contacts as you put them in and tighten, as Landtank says. Oh...and be sure to remove the positive battery cable at the battery before playing with the starter

 

[bjowett]

Toyota starters last a very long time... usually, but not always, they'll go through a couple sets of contacts and a plunger or two before other sections need work. I also like to regrease the clutch and gear reduction unit while I'm at it. You can go further and inspect the motor bearings, brushes, commutator, etc.

 

[clownmidget]

...and add breathers...

 

[Chris_Geiger]

Many years ago I did replaced the contacts on my 4Runner starter and it kept working a long time after that.

It's funny this came up today. With 180K miles on my truck I started seeing signs that my head gasket was going out when Marlin and I were driving to the Supercrawl in UT. As soon as we got back to the shop we pulled the head.

Tonight the head went back on and the truck should be done in a few days. Today we replaced the plunger and contacts on the starter. It was not having problems but I plan to have the truck for a long time. We also replaced the contacts in the alt. too. New belts and a few other items are going while it's all open.

The starter contacts and plunger cost just $30. Sure something else could fail in the starter but most likely won't for many years to come.

 

[Junk]

your parts dude is a monkeybutt. get a new parts dealer; someone that knows they are a monkeybutt

seriously, do the contacts. yes, more can be wrong with the starter. i have rebuilt mine several times and i also had to one time get a full reman starter due to other issues. the contacts should fix the problem, are cheap and you get a chance to do it on your terms vs in the rain on a cold day with high winds when you gotta go like a tjdiv.

 

[Beowulf]

>> I can live with a 50k life expectancy. <<

45k miles, so far, on this set of contacts with the original plunger.

-B-

 

[stayalert]

Ak the parts guy if he also works at VW. And if you need another opinion here's mine: go with the contacts/plunger replacement.
Rob M

 

[Andrewsreef]

I must say I went the remanufactured starter route and I hate it. It does not sound OEM to me. Kind of sounds like an old Chrysler starting. One of these days I will put a true OEM back in.

Andrew