July 2012 UPDATE: The parts are now available from several sellers on ebay! Simply search “Toyota starter repair kit” – Jim shows you how to repair your Toyo…
July 2012 UPDATE: The parts are now available from several sellers on ebay! Simply search “Toyota starter repair kit” – Jim shows you how to repair your Toyo…
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There were some problems with the switch in the shifter (if it has an automatic on the floor) have him try starting it in neutral instead of park and that is a simple adjustment. But if it is ‘clicking’ then probably not that as that will be a dead circuit as it is a safety feature. Otherwise, just like old American cars, it seems to be the armature dragging inside the starter case due to heat expansion, but two new starters seems to negate that theory. I still think it is heat/starter related.
Earl, Nice film. My buddy has a 1990 Geo Prizm with starting problems. Pep Boys replaced the starter twice (If they can be trusted). Now he is having problems getting it to start on very hot days after using AC. When he turns the key it only clicks when the car is hot. After the car cools, it starts. Any ideas? Thanks.
I’m thinking his problem is solenoid, neutral safety switch, or somewhere in the ignition system where metal will expand when hot. However I only work on old us cars.
Had an issue with my 2008 Toyota Tacoma not starting. Watched your video and followed the steps and it fixed the problem for $20. Thank you!
Awesome video. Thanks so much.
what great video – learned a lot – taking my starting motor out tomorrow and fixing it – it just clicks when I go start it and finally after many attempts it starts and it start normal – just like you said in the video – thank you
I got them by googling for my local starter rebuilder. I got all three parts for $25. he also said these Denso starters well go through 3-4 sets of contacts before the brushes need to be replaced. my problem was as exactly as you described. it would eventually would only click but not start. What confused me was that the starter passed the bench test multiple times at AutoZone. as the rebuilt explained to me, that is because it is not under load. Thank you for saving me $71.
Please read the comments directly under the video. Thank you for watching.
I called my local Napa for these parts for my 98 Corolla but they said they don’t stock them. What should I be asking for? Thanks for your time and effort in sharing this with the rest of us!
Thanks for the vid Jim. This was a nagging problem on an otherwise bullet-proof 91 Corolla Diesel, youre a good man.
I have told everyone about how great your videos are, especially the giant cat head that appears.
Thanks again, Diana
I LOVE IT! This is so cool! You were thinking outside the box! (Of course, it is easier to manipulate the repair with the starter on the work bench, so probably better to remove it in most cases anyway.) But you proved that “in a bind” this “in-car” repair is an option! – We all love it when a plan comes together. – No brownies or gifts are necessary, the best rewards are the replies like this one, please give my regards to your sister and tell her thanks for thinking of me.. – Jim
Hi Jim – I needed to fix my sister’s car quickly and found your video here. I didn’t have the time, tools or a jack to remove the starter completely so I sanded the contacts while still on the car, and voila, it worked! She was so happy she asked me to get your contact info so she can send you some brownies or something. This video saved her hundreds of dollars, or at least delayed that expense. Thanks!
Thank you so much for this vid man, this is exactly the problem with my 90′ camry, ill be doing this repair tomorrow! 🙂
Hi Tom, I would still look at the starter first. Primarily as it is the easiest thing to check first. At the point these begin to fail, any slight tapping on the starter body often will restore function for a short period of time. If you have the habit of turning the key and engaging the starter when the engine is already running, then yes the starter gear and/or flywheel could have bad teeth. But my feeling is that it is only your starter contacts. – Jim
Hi Earl, (thanks, if you see this, Tom T in So. Calif)…
Today on my ’99 Toy Tacoma 6cyl, when I got a click-click (auto parts dlvry driver)…1st, I jump out and look at battery. Then a parts guys walks by/says, “Put truck in 2nd gear, rock it a bit”. Did that and voila, truck started! Did that one other time during morning routes. Rest-o-day, was fine. Sooo, I reckon it’s probably either worn starter gear (or flywheel teeth?) goin’ out… If you have a take on this, wait your news :):):)
Howdy,
I would bet this is your problem. You have to take it off anyway to change it, you might as well look in there when you get it off the car. Let me know if this fixes it.
Thank you for watching my video. 🙂
My 2003 Camry XLE would not start yesterday due to the starter or solenoid. After 2 hours, I realized it took a few taps on the solenoid to get it started. Do you think this falls in your “90%” of cases where the cleaning will work? Or should I get a new one altogether ($125-$250)?
Not sure how old it is. Only that it all happened at once and the engine has always fired up after one turn up to this point. Thanks for the response, Earl!
Excellent !! I wish I watched your video before I pulled the rest of the starter to bits. Lucky I haven’t put the starter back yet.
Thanks from Australia.
Thanks, good point. It turns out that after sitting the rest of the day, the car started just fine when my boyfriend came home and I wanted him to listen to it. For the rest of the week, it has started just fine, not a single issue. Maybe the plunger was a little stuck initially? Not sure, I’m just so happy it’s working!! Thanks so much! Way to save a bunch of cash!
Dude you saved me a bunch of money. fix worked like a charm. Thank you very much!
My thoughts would be that you have not installed the motor correctly into the mounting area. There is no reason that after only cleaning the contacts, the solenoid-driven gear on the starter would not engage the gear on the back of the engine and turn the engine over. Unless you left out the “plunger” or plunger spring from the starter motor? It seems that you need to first inspect your work.
This video inspired me to tackle my starter problem. Originally I would get a few blank clicks and then it would start. It seemed to be getting worse lately, so I wanted to fix it. I took everything apart and cleaned it as described, and now that I’ve reinstalled it and the starter motor is turning, but the engine is not cranking. When I had the starter out, they tested it at autozone and said the starter motor was fine. So now I’m really confused. Any thoughts?
Since this video was made, these complete kits are on ebay all the time. Just search “Toyota starter rebuild kit” Thank you for the kind compliments and for watching my video.
Just wanted to say THANKYOU! When I tested it out of the vehicle the solenoid engaged. I thought it was good. Then I saw your video. So I did the work and now the starter cranks really strong. Not sure why it worked, other then a voltage drop thru the contacts that affected the starter motor itself? I will have to replace the contacts later as the ones in it are pretty rough. I assume I can get the round contact on the pin as an assembly. Anyhow, thanks again, big time!
Yes it will work on your 1992 Corolla.
would this work for a 92 corolla?
earltuckian Thank you so much! I was just going to buy a new starter and trade in mine now, and pay a mechanic to do it. But after watching this video to the key, i completely fixed the problem myself in a couple hours! Thank you sooo much! You saved me money, time, and a headache.
BRAVO! Very helpful and I appreciate how you put the video together, you took your time and got straight to the point!
Excellent video! It was a BIG help and money saver.
Our NAPA is locally owned and the staff are very good at sourcing about anything. If you are dealing with a “corporate” NAPA that does not have a machine-shop in-house that repairs and rebuilds starters, generators, carburetors etc., then they will ONLY sell you a starter as they are only “countermen” not actually mechanics. You can buy the parts from Toyota and since my video was made, there now are several sellers on ebay also selling the kits.. Thank you for watching.
I looked on the Napa website, and couldn’t find the contacts. Do you have a P/N I can give them? Counter guy wants to sell me the entire starter.
you need to replace the starter.
I have an ’88 corolla. When I go to start it, the starter engages for a couple of seconds and the engine turns over a couple of times, the starter then disengages and I hear it free spinning. I have to wait till it quits spinning to try again. It doesnt turn the engine over long enough to crank it.
Cleaning of the plunger is clearly shown in the video. If it is bad, you will need to decide if you want to change it. Thanks you for watching.
do i need to change the plunger also?
What is wrong with your car is exactly what this video explains.
Thanks 4 the video, ive got a 92 toy v6 just turned 100k, new battey, having issues starting, one click then nothing, turn the key quickly a few times turns over.
COOL! Thanks for watching.
Thanks, Jim…you just saved me $240, plus a day without my truck! I didn’t replace the contacts, just sanded them down. Hope to get another 275,000 miles on the same starter.
sorry for lare response it was the starter i took a wrench and hit it it turned over so i took it off and replaced it been fine ever since …this is the second started and battery ive changed..03 pontiac vibe and thanks for the help
I am not a mechanically inclined individual but I got my starter out and did what you detailed and now I am riding around fat, dumb and happy. Thank you. I saved some bucks and got the respect from the lady of the house. Next stop…changing oil in her car…Thanks?? LOL!
It is probably exactly what I show in this video.
My car batter and alternator was tested and still all very good condition. The problem is sometimes when I turn the key nothing happens, no clicks nothing. All lights do turn on though. I have to turn the key 3-4x somtimes to get it started. Is this a starter contact problem or something more?
May you ROCK!!! thank you!!!
yep, the clicking as explained in the video. Check your battery connections first. That is easy and corrosion on the battery terminals can also cause the starter not to engage. Thank you for watching.
Good video. Going to try it out 2marro on my car as i had a problem with it today. Going to do this hopefully it will start it up. One question wen i turn the ignition it makes lots of clicking noise that means it is the starter?
Still could be the starter. Try pressing the horn while turning the key. If the horn sound gets weak when applying key load, then you have some current in the starter circuit. If the horn sound almost goes away, check connections on battery terminals and condition of battery. Toyotas are so reliable it is seldom a serious problem unless you go to a “stealership” where they use the common clueless technique of changing parts until the problem eventually is fixed. 🙁 Thanks for the compliment