Topic: problems with starter

[Travis H]

so my original Toyota starter went bad so i replaced it with a kragen starter and it worked for one day so i brought it back and exchanged it for another and that one only worked for a day also. the second one kragens tested on there machine and it worked but it wont work on my truck unless i beat on it with a metal pipe.

so my question is. is there testing machine right and something else is making the starter not work in my truck or did they give me the wrong starter? it looked the same as my old one.

so anyway i got my money back because im tired of dealing with the ppl at kragens so im probably going to buy one from napa on monday.


oh its for a 1987 4runner 22re 5 spd

any input on this would be great. Thanks

[junya92toy]

Youre first mistake was getting a aftermarket starter. See if they have your oem one. You will never get a good starter like that one, usually the only thing needed replacing is the starter contacts. Its very easy to do.

[Travis H [OP]]

Youre first mistake was getting a aftermarket starter. See if they have your oem one. You will never get a good starter like that one, usually the only thing needed replacing is the starter contacts. Its very easy to do.

ya, ive been reading today and it seems thats the way to go. anyone know how much a new one will cost from toyota?

[swapped89]

sometimes the shims in the starter are not correct. And you just have to rock the vehicle while its in gear. Then try starting it again. After doin this off and on for a week my aftermarket starter works just fine now.

[junya92toy]

It will go bad in a year.

[Cheesemaker]

Pop the end off and put in new contacts and a plunger.  That usually solves 90% of the issues.  If not then need to look at replacing the wiring and relay for the starter. 

[Rocks For Brains]

Also as your Toyota ages and with the constant starting over the years "ALL" of the electrical parts will wear out. The switch wears, the resistance in the actual wires, it is just a product of time. Now if you get your starter from Toyota and you are still having issues try adding in a relay to the switch at the starter. You can run a auxiliary light relay from the battery and use the ignition switch as the low voltage side. What this will do is turn the switch into the signal to activate the relay which will provide full power to the solenoid instead of the now reduced power that the aged system is supplying. I've had to do this on several rigs I've owned and it works like a charm.

[Rocksurfer]

Also as your Toyota ages and with the constant starting over the years "ALL" of the electrical parts will wear out. The switch wears, the resistance in the actual wires, it is just a product of time. Now if you get your starter from Toyota and you are still having issues try adding in a relay to the switch at the starter. You can run a auxiliary light relay from the battery and use the ignition switch as the low voltage side. What this will do is turn the switch into the signal to activate the relay which will provide full power to the solenoid instead of the now reduced power that the aged system is supplying. I've had to do this on several rigs I've owned and it works like a charm.

  I was on his laptop when I posted, guess I should check before I post. So anywho that is what I've done in the past to fix aging wiring.

[Travis H [OP]]

just to update this, i bought a starter from napa and its been working great so far. if it dies in a year then ill replace the contacts.

[Cheesemaker]

Everything you need to work on your starter.
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks/Starter.shtml