Starter: rebuild or replace?

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

a.mus.ed

a.mus.ed

Joined
May 18, 2008
Threads
39
Messages
976
Location
Tucson, AZ
My starter has been doing the stuck plunger thing for a while, where the starter will keep spinning after ignition and even with the key off. Until yesterday it was a rare issue and would remedy itself quickly. Today it went full retard.

I have it pulled now, and I need to know what to do: rebuild it, or replace with a reman unit from camelback. I have no idea what I'm looking for, since this is the first time I've ever looked at a starter that isn't attached to its engine. So...?

Thanks in advance for the help!
image-2178698409.jpg
image-3993321852.jpg
 
You can rebuild them yourself if you just order the parts. I know there is a dude in chandler called chandler starter and alternator. I had them rebuild an alternator once. They could rebuild it also. I'm sure there's more shops like them all around the valley or down in your neck of woods too. I don't trust rebuilt starters or alternators from autozone, checker, or even napa anymore.
 
You've already done the hard part. Slap the new parts in there and call it good.:steer: Toyota uses high quality starters, If you get a reman, you never know what you'll get.:eek:
 
Luna on Grant and Stone has the parts needed..
 
Thanks for the advice so far. Let me clarify:

-I'll either rebuild or buy a reman starter from Toyota, as that's what they've got in stock at Camelback.

-My question is whether I should rebuild given the condition of my parts. I ask because during the ample searching (:flipoff2:) I did before posting I encountered a couple of posts saying something along the lines of, "if [the plunger] has been stuck for more than a couple of minutes, I would replace the starter." I'm way out of my area of expertise here, since this thing has no strings and I can't figure out how to play twinkle twinkle little star on it, so I have no idea if, based on the way it looks, it's done or will be fine for the next ten years after I do the rebuild.

At this time I'm leaning towards picking up rebuild parts (contacts and plunger) from anywhere in town that carries them so that I can rebuild it and get it back in the truck and still make my camping trip happen tomorrow. I'm as pro-Toyota parts as anyone around, but I think aftermarket parts should be okay on this one? If not, plan B is to wait for the parts from Toyota and carpool on the camping trip - which we all know isn't as fun as driving your own.

I appreciate everyone's input!
 
It's rare that anything goes wrong with a starter besides contacts and plunger. You can replace those for ~$20 and you'll be good to go for years.
 
BrotherRob said:
You've already done the hard part. Slap the new parts in there and call it good.:steer: Toyota uses high quality starters, If you get a reman, you never know what you'll get.:eek:
Click to expand...

What he said.

You've done 70% of the work already. Contacts and plunger are uber cheap, seems you might have a local contact who can get you OEM parts at a decent price? :lol:

Ebag333 said:
I always cheat on the contacts. Loosely bolt them into place, then drop the plunger into place without the spring. Press down on the plunger as firmly as I can, then finish bolting the contacts down.

Way I figure it, having them perfectly straight does no good if the plunger wants to come down at a slight angle. This way they'll be true to the plunger no matter what.

It's worked well for me over multiple starter rebuilds, haven't had a single issue with this method. :meh:
Click to expand...

You'll also want to clean up all the gunk inside your starter. I had one that looked like that (spare starter I picked up), IIRC the breather tube on it had rotted away which lets dust and gunk get into it. I just cleaned it up and didn't worry about it as it's a spare (and as a "spare" has lived on the :princess: truck for a couple years now).

Starter motors are incredibly hard to kill, they see very little use and the ones on the 80's are seriously over built. They're completely rebuildable too, so even if something more serious than plungers/contacts was wrong, you don't have to buy a new starter.


Oh, and next time you start seeing/hearing evidence of contacts failing (long crank times, starter sticking, getting a "click" when turning the key to start, etc.) spend the hour or so and $20-30 and change the contacts. I've heard of car fires where the source was caused by a starter sticking on (basically plunger welding itself to the contacts). Be a major bummer to burn the truck to the ground over $30 contacts that need to be replaced once every 3-5 years.



RE: aftermarket parts, not sure if the aftermarket parts will fit this application. Take the contacts and plunger into the parts store and see what they have, what do you have to lose?

Have you checked to see if Camelback has them in stock? Wouldn't surprise me if they did...
 
medtro said:
He is not local to Camelback Toyota.
Click to expand...

More local than I am. :flipoff2:

But the Toyota stealership local to him very well might have it in stock as well.
 
Ya, they're not local to me but I did call them first. They don't have them in stock anyway. I'll be calling around to the dealerships here and then the aftermarket stores starting now.
 
Luna is closed until Monday, neither of the dealerships here have them. They were happy to quote me prices: Precision ~$48, Desert ~$84. I guess they learn to communicate those prices with no quiver in their voice after years of experience screwing people.
 
Is there a local BAP around you?
 
splitshot said:
Luna on Grant and Stone has the parts needed..
Click to expand...

X2 - They have done starters for me for my 4Runner, FZJ-80 and my Beech TravelAir. Good folks and good prices. Quick too. Terry

Whoops....a bit late. T
 
Last edited:
a.mus.ed said:
Found, replaced, installed, on my way to the camp. Thanks for all the help, guys.
Click to expand...

Good deal. In a pinch even Checkers, vatozone, etc, have a kit that works, IIRC cheap.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom