Hi!

I guess my starter is dead (car do not start anymore, loud clicking sounds - battery is OK), so I decided to take it out - after 16 years and 200k it should be checked anyway.

I removed everything above the starter (intakes, etc...), but I cannot remove the water bridge because it interferes with the wiring harness above it. Does anyone have any instructions or manual or something which could help me removing those parts? I know it is possible to remove the starter without removing the water bridge, but I do not have the tools for it, and I do not have a small hand

Thanks for help guys & girlz.

 

get a adjustable wrench i even used a ratchet with adjustable joints but its harder but do able. just take off two starter bolts on the bellhousing on the left side. if you are going to use a tool once better off just buying it sucks not having tools.

 

is this on an 300 or 400. I've read the 400's are a PITA, but on the 300, i pulled mine out from below in all of about 30 seconds.

 

its a 400, and its a pita

I'm still not able to put anything near the starter bolts, because of the water bridge and the wiring above it.

I just got an adjustable wrench, but I need more space. For me its impossible to put it on the starter bolts without removing the things above them.

 

Un bolt as many bolts to the wirnign harness as possible. This will allow you to wiggle it around a bit. Take all the bolts to the water neck off this will allow you to wiggle that as well then take a ractchet with a deep set socket. Medium deep set, and you can un do the starter bolts.

Thats how I did it because I couldn't get to the bolts on that copper piping that go to the back of the water neck..

It also helps a ton if you take your hood off and actually get on top of the motor. No joke i was sitting and laying on top of my engine to do this

 

I took all 4 bolts from the water bridge off, it moves a little but not much. On the wiring I found only 2 bolts (on the rear side of the water bridge, of course, great engineering)... there should be more because it still barely moves. Any advice where to look for them?

 

nope those are the only two i removed.

Now its just simple hand dexterity. Put a small pipe on the ratchet and crank away

 

Once you get the thing out. Try changing the starter contacts inside the solenoid side of the the starter before purchasing a new one they are about $27USD at the dealerships or you can order them online. I changed mine out and its been going strong for over 6 months. It was on a 300 but the starters toyota uses can normally be fixed like this.

 

Yeah, the toyota starters are pretty stout. usually it's the contacts like sventhemac said

 

Check out this video it might be helpful for peole having the same problem


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxjPp...layer_embedded