DIY Starter Solenoid Repair
10-12-04, 11:22 AM
#1
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DIY Starter Solenoid Repair
I'm sure many of you have at one point turned the key to START and heard nothing but a click.
9 times out of 10, this means the contacts on the starter solenoid are going out.
Most people just go out and get a new starter, but for under $20, this problem can be fixed DIY style.
I came across a great website that hasn't been mentioned on CL.
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks/Starter.shtml (Roger Brown is the owner)
This guy is in California but ships the contacts for ~$5/piece
For those of you who do not trust anyone but the dealer, here are the Toyota part #s for the replacement contacts on a non-turbo Supra starter:
Motor side contact: 28226-22050
Battery side contact: 28226-74070 (This one is usually the culprit)
I called the Lexus dealer, and they told me they don't sell the contacts for our cars.
They did however offer me a remanufactured starter for only $271
That's all folks!
~Alan
9 times out of 10, this means the contacts on the starter solenoid are going out.
Most people just go out and get a new starter, but for under $20, this problem can be fixed DIY style.
I came across a great website that hasn't been mentioned on CL.
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks/Starter.shtml (Roger Brown is the owner)
This guy is in California but ships the contacts for ~$5/piece
For those of you who do not trust anyone but the dealer, here are the Toyota part #s for the replacement contacts on a non-turbo Supra starter:
Motor side contact: 28226-22050
Battery side contact: 28226-74070 (This one is usually the culprit)
I called the Lexus dealer, and they told me they don't sell the contacts for our cars.
They did however offer me a remanufactured starter for only $271
That's all folks!
~Alan
10-12-04, 03:16 PM
#2
Yup I remembered that link back from when I was doing my start contacts. Great site, very informative. If you have the time to wait for this guy to ship them out, I guess I would go for them. The contacts from Toyota are only $30 for both and they come with all the little extra things you might wanna replace while you're in there
Good luck to anyone looking to do the contacts, they can be an absolute pain without an impact socket wrench with a ton of extensions (to drop the starter).
Good luck to anyone looking to do the contacts, they can be an absolute pain without an impact socket wrench with a ton of extensions (to drop the starter).
10-13-04, 06:55 PM
#4
Here, this is what I wrote to lawman when he asked me how to do it:
To remove it, you will most likely need air tools. But if you are doing it by hand, then you may be able to do it, it will just be very hard to get leverage on the upper bolt. To remove the starter, you need to jack up the front of the car (or ramp it up), and slide under. Also, dont forget to disconnect the battery...Once your under the car, look near where the tranny meets the engine, and will soon find the starter. You need to disconnect an electrical connection, then unbolt a bolt and remove the wire that the bolt was securing. Now there are 2 more bolts left, they are both 14mm. You will need a wobble extension, a 6" extension, a 14mm socket, and of course a socket wrench (or hopefully an air socket wrench) to get the top bolt. The lower bolt isnt hard at all, you can easily get it by hand, its just alot of turning. After getting the starter out, you will need to unscrew 2 screws (if I remeber correctly), and then you will have access to the contacts. These are easy to replace. Once the new ones are bolted in, clean up everything, and have fun bolting the starter back up. You will need to get a "battery side starter contact rebuild kit" and a "motor side starter contact rebuild kit" from Toyota, should run you about $30.
Good luck, and any more questions, feel free to ask
There you go
To remove it, you will most likely need air tools. But if you are doing it by hand, then you may be able to do it, it will just be very hard to get leverage on the upper bolt. To remove the starter, you need to jack up the front of the car (or ramp it up), and slide under. Also, dont forget to disconnect the battery...Once your under the car, look near where the tranny meets the engine, and will soon find the starter. You need to disconnect an electrical connection, then unbolt a bolt and remove the wire that the bolt was securing. Now there are 2 more bolts left, they are both 14mm. You will need a wobble extension, a 6" extension, a 14mm socket, and of course a socket wrench (or hopefully an air socket wrench) to get the top bolt. The lower bolt isnt hard at all, you can easily get it by hand, its just alot of turning. After getting the starter out, you will need to unscrew 2 screws (if I remeber correctly), and then you will have access to the contacts. These are easy to replace. Once the new ones are bolted in, clean up everything, and have fun bolting the starter back up. You will need to get a "battery side starter contact rebuild kit" and a "motor side starter contact rebuild kit" from Toyota, should run you about $30.
Good luck, and any more questions, feel free to ask
There you go
10-13-04, 07:49 PM
#6
No prob man. As for the time it takes, it really depends. With my air tools and me already having done it, I could this job in less than an hour. However, without air tools and it being youre first time, it could very well take you 4+ hours (most of that time struggling to remove the starter). Now if you have air tools, you should be able to do it in tless than 2 hours.
Good luuck man, and if you need any help, dont hesitate to post or PM me
Good luuck man, and if you need any help, dont hesitate to post or PM me
Last edited by /Aerostar\; 10-13-04 at 07:49 PM.
10-13-04, 07:58 PM
#7
Originally posted by /Aerostar\
No prob man. As for the time it takes, it really depends. With my air tools and me already having done it, I could this job in less than an hour. However, without air tools and it being youre first time, it could very well take you 4+ hours (most of that time struggling to remove the starter). Now if you have air tools, you should be able to do it in tless than 2 hours.
Good luuck man, and if you need any help, dont hesitate to post or PM me
No prob man. As for the time it takes, it really depends. With my air tools and me already having done it, I could this job in less than an hour. However, without air tools and it being youre first time, it could very well take you 4+ hours (most of that time struggling to remove the starter). Now if you have air tools, you should be able to do it in tless than 2 hours.
Good luuck man, and if you need any help, dont hesitate to post or PM me
Thx again,
Peace,
jonny
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10-14-04, 09:54 AM
#8
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EDIT: Just read another one of your posts and now know you have a SC400. You can't compresison start a automatic so please ignore all the stuff below. (I'm only leaving it in case someone with a stick ever finds this usefull)
The starter on the SC4 is located in the "valley" of the V8 and is toward the back of the engine.
From what I remember you have to remove a LOT of other stuff to get to the starter.
Not sure if your car is a stick, but if it is you can start it on compression(so you can drive it to your mechanic).
In case you've never done a compression start:
1) Turn the key to ON
2) Roll the car either forward or backward(whichever is easier).....if level ground, have someone push you
3) Press in the clutch and put it in gear (first if going forward, reverse if backward)
4) With the car rolling at about 3-5 mph, quickly drop the clutch (make sure you have enough room to do this as the car will jump)
5) Quickly press in the clutch
6) Your car should be on....if it didn't start either a) Your key wasn't turned to ON or b) You didn't have enough speed.....go back to step 2 and try again.
Good luck.
~Alan
The starter on the SC4 is located in the "valley" of the V8 and is toward the back of the engine.
From what I remember you have to remove a LOT of other stuff to get to the starter.
Not sure if your car is a stick, but if it is you can start it on compression(so you can drive it to your mechanic).
In case you've never done a compression start:
1) Turn the key to ON
2) Roll the car either forward or backward(whichever is easier).....if level ground, have someone push you
3) Press in the clutch and put it in gear (first if going forward, reverse if backward)
4) With the car rolling at about 3-5 mph, quickly drop the clutch (make sure you have enough room to do this as the car will jump)
5) Quickly press in the clutch
6) Your car should be on....if it didn't start either a) Your key wasn't turned to ON or b) You didn't have enough speed.....go back to step 2 and try again.
Good luck.
~Alan
Last edited by SPORTcoupe; 10-14-04 at 10:01 AM.
10-14-04, 05:23 PM
#10
Originally posted by /Aerostar\
Oh wait, you've got an SC400? Sorry bro, my directions for a 300. I dont know how to do it on an SC400, but Im pretty sure there have been threads about it.
Good luck
Oh wait, you've got an SC400? Sorry bro, my directions for a 300. I dont know how to do it on an SC400, but Im pretty sure there have been threads about it.
Good luck
Take care,
jonny
10-15-07, 08:03 AM
#11
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Hey, Jonny...
check this link out. it doesn't give you step by step instructions.... but, it shows you where the starter is located on an SC400. Have you tried cleaning all the contacts on all the ground wires yet? That's supposed to help and may even keep you from having to take your engine apart. Good luck!
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...starter+toyota
check this link out. it doesn't give you step by step instructions.... but, it shows you where the starter is located on an SC400. Have you tried cleaning all the contacts on all the ground wires yet? That's supposed to help and may even keep you from having to take your engine apart. Good luck!
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...starter+toyota
10-15-07, 08:13 AM
#12
Hey, Jonny...
check this link out. it doesn't give you step by step instructions.... but, it shows you where the starter is located on an SC400. Have you tried cleaning all the contacts on all the ground wires yet? That's supposed to help and may even keep you from having to take your engine apart. Good luck!
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...starter+toyota
check this link out. it doesn't give you step by step instructions.... but, it shows you where the starter is located on an SC400. Have you tried cleaning all the contacts on all the ground wires yet? That's supposed to help and may even keep you from having to take your engine apart. Good luck!
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...starter+toyota
Appreciate the help but this was 3 years ago
LOL - thanks anyway,
Jonny
