ANTW1

The starter is attached to a plastic casing. Im struggling to detach that darn thing. Im scared to break it. Can anyone tell me how its done?

painguy

I am using your post and pics as the bible. No one has posted as comprensive a guide as you have. I have one question before diving in. All the pics show the starter as just a round cylinder but out of the car the other pics show the 3 bolt cover to the contacts and plunger, the pics don't look the same is there something that I'm missing?

I want to just replace the contacts and plunger but your pics of the starter still in the valley only show a round starter.

Any clarification would be helpful............ Lee

painguy

I am using your post and pics as the bible. No one has posted as comprensive a guide as you have. I have one question before diving in. All the pics show the starter as just a round cylinder but out of the car the other pics show the 3 bolt cover to the contacts and plunger, the pics don't look the same is there something that I'm missing?

I want to just replace the contacts and plunger but your pics of the starter still in the valley only show a round starter.

Any clarification would be helpful............ Lee

FrankT

Once the starter is out it will be obvious.

The 3 -8mm bolts are hidden from view when the starter is in.

You must remove the starter to replace the contacts and plunger, no way around it.

Good luck

David1969

I think the starter is beginning to go out. Not sure whether to replace the entire unit or just the plunger/contacts. For a few extra bucks I may just buy the entire starter - do it once, and don't worry about it for many years, hopefully. I'm very happy that the OEM starter lasted 12 years and shows how good the parts on these cars are.

Thanks to the OP for this thread and the pictures included as they have benefited many of us on here. Since I'm a mechanical pariah, I'll be contacting my mechanic to replace my starter ASAP. Just came to CL to see why my car is not starting since alternator is new and battery (Optima Yellow Top) is 2 weeks old. As always, this forum saves me BIG $ and time resolving these types of mechanical issues that are becoming common place with our 10 (plus or minus a few years) year old vehicles.

SlowGS4

iTrader: (5)

hey guys i need help

I just replaced my girlfriends starter on a 98 gs4, it starts up fine now....but...
-Idle jumps up and down on startup,
-it now idles high after getting warmed up,
-you need to step on the pedal hard, nearly halfway down for it to rev, and it does the same when manually done on the engine (like theres no response)
-also the vsc and vsc off, and check engine light is now on?

any ideas anyone? thanks in advance

SlowGS4

iTrader: (5)

ok so i pulled the battery again and cleaned all the harness/connections around the throttle body and manifold with crc electrical cleaner. lights are now off and throttle responds like how it should.

Now the idle jumps at like 600-700rpm and feels like its going to stall.

throttle body and maf has been cleaned, new filter and spark plugs within last 2 weeks.

any ideas anybody?

and i might have spilled some coolant into the head after taking off the manifold, not sure if this may be the problem?

FrankT

You most likely have a vacuum leak...
Double check ALL vacuum lines

Gook luck.

GS4_Fiend

iTrader: (22)

Retrieve the codes.

SlowGS4

iTrader: (5)

ill take a look tomorrow and check back.

will do. cel has been on before i rebuilt the starter. i think its a 02 sensor, but ill try to get them tomorrow too.

SlowGS4

iTrader: (5)

So I'm getting codes P0171, P01120. I did some research, P0171 (bank1) may be the oxygen sensor. Code P01120 may be the throttle position sensor, sometimes the gas pedal would work and sometimes it wouldn't, and when it doesn't the vsc/vsc off light comes on. I think its going bad. And I also found that the fuel vapor line has some cracks in the hose, along with the pcv hose. I will check back once i get these repaired. Car has 292k miles btw.

SlowGS4

iTrader: (5)

I got the throttle position sensor put in, was not a fun job... was kind of hard to get the the screws that hold them in but i managed to get the part on. idle does not jump anymore, and no dash lights. (havnt fixed the cracked hose either). my idle and throttle/peddle is fixed as of right now. ill have to check again in the morning(this is usually when it does not work).

Got the tps at kragens for 85 after tax. brand was bwp on box and its oem toyota denso.(stamped on part)

Neil4Speed

Hey Everyone,

Looks like I am doing this service soon. Could you guys please tell me if its worth doing the Timing belt while I am there? How much extra labor would be involved after the intake manifold is removed to replace the timing belt.

roccyGs400

iTrader: (11)

Hi all ive done this to my car and i just replaced the whole starter and now with everything put back together i get the cel,vsc,vsc off lights and when i unplug the battery for a bit and plug it back in the lights go away but now the car wont stay idleing and after 1000 rpms the car revs and sounds fine but if i let off the gas it just dies. Can anybody help its my only car and i need it to be back on the road. who knew changing a starter would be hell. the car worked fine before with no problems besides the starter going out on me

Jaydiii

Hey so I followed this writeup and now when I go to start my car it dies right after starting any ideas? Thanks