D3AN

iTrader: (17)

I did this a few months ago for $11.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TOYOTA-SUBARU-DENSO-STARTER-SOLENOID-CONTACTS-PLUNGER-Repair-Rebuild-Kit-/131338712100?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1e9465b424

t2d2

iTrader: (8)

I finally tackled this today, as my starter had "started" acting up. Getting to the two 14mm bolts wasn't too bad, once you visually locate the upper one, but breaking them loose was rough. Some gorilla had tightened them down previously to the point that a breaker bar was barely sufficient. Turns out, mine had already been replaced with a reman unit.

In taking the cover off to replace the contacts, I removed the motor cover instead of the solenoid cover and can't figure out how to get it back on now... In my defense:

a) The pictures are all missing at the start of this thread, and absent from other such threads.

b) I was thrown off by the description of 7mm bolts holding the cover on. Mine has torx button heads on the solenoid cover and 8mm bolts on the motor cover.

c) I'm an idiot and always guess wrong when I've got 50/50 odds on under-documented car projects.

Anyway, I took off the two long bolts that run along the outside of the motor housing, and the two phillips screws that connect the cover to the internals. I think the internal part pulled out when I removed it, and I haven't figured out or searched out any way to push it back in. Has anyone dealt with that? It seems like the gear needs to spin down into the housing, but it's staying put no matter what I try.

t2d2

iTrader: (8)

I figured it out with the help of this video (19:25 mark, reassembly):


It might be that the armiture wasn't fully seated with the gear, but it was probably that I had the brushes around the bearing and needed to press them out one at a time to drop in lower.

Meghanw1

I have a 92 sc300. Will the replacement contact kit for the 98 Supra N/A work for my starter? The guy that I spoke to at the Toyota dealership didn't seem to think so.

Meghanw1

lol why do people at the parts counter have to make things so difficult? Is it because I'm a woman that they automatically don't think I know what I'm talking about? Just give me the part I ask for. Thank you CL for being smarter than the dealership. 😊

t2d2

iTrader: (8)

Don't tell the Toyota parts people it's for a Lexus. They seem to be trained to say it won't match.

salimshah

If you have a drill press use the chuck to push down the fixed contacts evenly and secure them. Its not the end of the world if the fixed contacts get secured down at an angle, but you get larger contact with the plunger when they are all flat.

Salim

Meghanw1

I got the starter out. Took it completely apart. Cleaned it. Changed the contacts. Lubed it all up. Put it all back together. Awesome! Except for one problem. . . . I broke off that stupid little rubber piece. I think it's a dust protector or something. Anyway, I'm wondering if I can just go ahead and reinstall the starter the way it is or is this little rubber piece more important than I realize? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I just don't want to have to deal with that stupid 14mm top bolt more than absolutely necessary.

Meghanw1

Make that 2 I broke off. Ugh.

Meghanw1

I broke this part off. How do you recommend I fix it?

matguy

I would probably worry about that more in applications where the starter is exposed to the regular under-hood environment. Ours are covered by the intake, so probably not so much a big deal. If you're worried, maybe find a way to semi-cover it with something that gives breathing room, but make sure it's something that can handle a bit of temperature (not duck tape.) I'm not 100% sure I got mine back on (I never actually removed the whole starter, just replaced the contacts with it still bolted in.)

Btw, I hate both the gender stereotyping that car parts places do and the Lexus / Toyota dealership parts counter disconnect between the brands.

Returd

I id the same thing, looked at a few parts places and finally found something i could use in a marine supply store. I had to do a little trimming etc. I was there for other reasons and was going to re-assemble without them but got lucky.