Starter questions On my 2004 LC w/300,000+ miles (2 Viewers)

[2004LC]

I have a 2004 Toyota Land Cruiser that would not start after leaving the grocery store yesterday - vehicle would not jump start - AAA towed home. I had not been having any starting or battery problems. When turning the ignition on and attempting to start the vehicle I could hear the solenoid click once. I would have to turn the key to the off position and then back to the start position to get the solenoid to again click just once. It seems like a dead short to me. After I got home I replaced the battery with a new battery and thourghly cleaned the cables. I tried using a jump wire on the relay with the same results. I’m guessing that with over 300,000 miles on the odometer it must be the that it must be the “original starter”, causing the problem.
After calling my local Toyota dealer and getting a quote for $1400, I’m in the process of removing and replacing the starter and have a few questions. Note: I’m finding a lot of mouse droppings and what looks like a nest under the intake manifold.

Do you have to remove the fuel injector connectors and/or the fuel rails when replacing starter? If so how do those connectors release?
Thanks

 

[leveeguy]

Link to factory service should help with the entire process.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/resources/2004-fsm.7/

 

[TahoeZ]

You definitely want to read through the FSM process.

 

[DuckLN]

You certain its the starter?

If so, Long ways to go from the looks of it - but you’ll want to pull the injectors and replace the o rings and grommets while you’re doing the starter otherwise they may leak when you get it all buttoned up. Been there it sucks.

Several good threads on starter replacement.