With failing starters replacing the contacts seems to be a standard approach and may cure the problem of a starter not doing its job. I'v been dealing with a with starter issue for at least two years. The failure of the starter has been sproradic and without pattern. In an attempt to fix this I have:
- swapped out starters (but always with a used one)
- replaced the battery
- replaced starter contacts
- built cables using 2 ga wire
- grounded starter directly to battery
- even had alternator shop rebuild starter
and finally
- replaced plunger.
Having good cables is a must. Installing the new battery neither helped nor hindered. The rebuild was just throwing $$ away. Replacing contacts was a short term solution. Replacing the plunger and having good contacts seems to be the answer to properly repairing an old starter.
Yesterday the problem popped up again. A turn of the key and nothing from the starter. I had a new plunger sitting on the counter thanks to John Hocker, Sierra Toyota. Part # 28235-35080, $18 + change. So I pulled the starter and swapped out the plunger; this could probably be done without yanking the starter. Hit the key and now have a nice strong starter response. My tenative conclusion is that the plunger wears along with the contacts and that both need to be replaced when a starter begins to show signs of failure.
One photo of fairly new contacts which been subjected to an old plunger, and a new and old plunger side by side.
- swapped out starters (but always with a used one)
- replaced the battery
- replaced starter contacts
- built cables using 2 ga wire
- grounded starter directly to battery
- even had alternator shop rebuild starter
and finally
- replaced plunger.
Having good cables is a must. Installing the new battery neither helped nor hindered. The rebuild was just throwing $$ away. Replacing contacts was a short term solution. Replacing the plunger and having good contacts seems to be the answer to properly repairing an old starter.
Yesterday the problem popped up again. A turn of the key and nothing from the starter. I had a new plunger sitting on the counter thanks to John Hocker, Sierra Toyota. Part # 28235-35080, $18 + change. So I pulled the starter and swapped out the plunger; this could probably be done without yanking the starter. Hit the key and now have a nice strong starter response. My tenative conclusion is that the plunger wears along with the contacts and that both need to be replaced when a starter begins to show signs of failure.
One photo of fairly new contacts which been subjected to an old plunger, and a new and old plunger side by side.