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When did your Starter fail on your 2007-2013 Tundra?

Discussion in '2nd Gen Tundras (2007-2013)' started by mlong219, Aug 31, 2018.

  1. Aug 28, 2019 at 8:01 PM
    #31
    equin

    equin Texarican Tundra

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    Only starter I’ve ever had to replace was on a fullsize Ford Bronco. Ford’s can be difficult to work on. Engineers gave little thought to getting at hard to reach parts, nuts and bolts with most things. But that Ford starter was easy to replace. Disappointed to hear of the difficulty and labor costs involved with Tundra starters, though. Not looking forward to that if and when the time comes.
     
  2. Aug 29, 2019 at 5:11 AM
    #32
    snivilous

    snivilous snivspeedshop.com

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    5.7 4x4 auto 6 speed double cab. I think I undid the passenger motor mount from the frame and lifted the engine with a floor jack like two inches and it came right out. Like I said, it wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be and was pretty fast all things considering. One of the rare times that doing the work myself was actually faster and cheaper than Toyota (apparently) quotes.
     
    Rica25, Yodder J and equin like this.
  3. Aug 29, 2019 at 6:00 AM
    #33
    15whtrd

    15whtrd Mr. Blonde

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    TRD Pro suspension, +2 Coachbuilder shackles, 2015 TRD Pro headlights, 20% ceramic tinted windows, clear ceramic tinted front windshield, aFe drop in pro s dry air filter, TRD airflow accelerator, TRD oil fill cap, TRD 18 psi radiator cap, BDX Bullydog tuner, Weathertech floor mats front and rear, rear seat fold down mod, DNA hard trifold tonneau cover, Linex with uv protection, TRD rear swaybar, TRD center caps, TRD Pro grille insert with color matching surround and bulge, TRD PRO headlights, aluminum oil filter canister, Real truck tailgate seal, Pop-n-lock tailgate lock actuator, rear diff breather relocate, RCI front skid plate. 275/70 R18 BFG KO2s
    Gone are the days where you can get underneath and hit it with a baseball bat, or hammer and get it going. LOL
     
    D4x4TRD, Filthyphil, Rica25 and 3 others like this.
  4. Aug 29, 2019 at 6:38 AM
    #34
    Jerry311SD

    Jerry311SD New Member

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    2005 with 117K miles, no starter change yet
     
    Rica25 likes this.
  5. Aug 29, 2019 at 8:43 AM
    #35
    equin

    equin Texarican Tundra

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    Thanks, I’ll remember that tip if and when I may need to replace it myself.
     
    Rica25 likes this.
  6. Aug 29, 2019 at 10:30 AM
    #36
    snivilous

    snivilous snivspeedshop.com

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    Rica25 and equin[QUOTED] like this.
  7. Aug 31, 2019 at 1:18 PM
    #37
    mgalyean

    mgalyean New Member

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    2007- 205,000 Starter went out and that was the very first real issue other than maintenance or window seals... followed soon by brakes and struts, window motors, and now overheating! sounds unlucky, but each event immediately followed a long distance move. Made it there with trailers before the problems, so i feel pretty lucky!
     
    Rica25 likes this.
  8. Sep 3, 2019 at 9:59 PM
    #38
    old7spaz

    old7spaz New Member

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    none
    starter gave up @ 240,000 miles on my 08 , first time she left me sit !
     
    Rica25 and equin like this.
  9. Sep 6, 2019 at 9:18 AM
    #39
    Yodder J

    Yodder J New Member

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    Generally no, a starter is not something you have to normally change or deal with like belts, hoses, brakes, or struts. They generally tend to build starters like tanks, I mean, they are big and heavy and look like an industrial electric motor piece of hardware. As for Tundras, I've not heard of any issues with the starters until this thread and what I've learned is that it's a PITA to change a Tundra starter.
     
    Rica25 and equin like this.
  10. Sep 7, 2019 at 9:05 AM
    #40
    Ryder

    Ryder New Member

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    2007 Tundra with 2014 wheels Smittty built bumper and winch
    I have never heard of a starter ever failing on any japanese vehicle in my long life, and I have owned 12 of them.
     
    Rica25 likes this.
  11. Sep 7, 2019 at 9:07 AM
    #41
    Ryder

    Ryder New Member

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    2007 Tundra with 2014 wheels Smittty built bumper and winch
    It was replaced under warranty right? That is a factory problem. A defect.
     
    Rica25 likes this.
  12. Oct 5, 2019 at 1:51 PM
    #42
    dragon_coma

    dragon_coma New Member

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    I’ve got an ‘08 5.7L also. Happened 30 mins ago. I’m gonna go check relays and battery (which is only 3 months old!) and hope. Only have 125k miles on it. My driveway is inclined so not sure if I can do the motor mount/jack option... might have to cough up a $G...
     
  13. Oct 5, 2019 at 2:00 PM
    #43
    SC_TRD

    SC_TRD Big BASTRD 4x4 Enthusiast

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    Mine failed in my ‘08 Sequoia a couple months back....180k miles though. Why did they have to make them in such a terrible place to replace.. I didn’t feel like wasting. 1.5 days of my time, and many cuss words, so had the dealer do it $1.6k..

    Good luck to anyone that this happens to, the Toyota engineers made this a difficult problem!
     
  14. Oct 5, 2019 at 2:04 PM
    #44
    dragon_coma

    dragon_coma New Member

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    Has anyone done the standard method of exhaust manifold removal? 1 to 10 on difficulty? Seems like even the jack-motor-up-leave-exhaust-manifold-on-method is a 9 for complexity, with mult bolts shearing, etc.
     
  15. Oct 5, 2019 at 2:07 PM
    #45
    dragon_coma

    dragon_coma New Member

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    $1.6k! Inflation? Might be worth a weekend under the truck...
     
  16. Oct 6, 2019 at 5:42 PM
    #46
    Tileguy

    Tileguy New Member

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    Had my starter replaced at 357000 miles on my 2011 5.7, can't complain. Local shop did the replacement at about $ 600.
     
    Filthyphil, bleach, Twinky and 2 others like this.
  17. Oct 7, 2019 at 2:16 PM
    #47
    dragon_coma

    dragon_coma New Member

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    1), damn! 357k miles on an ‘11! Well done sir

    2) local guy that comes well recommended quoted me $900 all said and done. Dealers wanted ~$1200

    So, I sent her off...

    22E27285-9DFE-468A-8735-C5F853640F6E.jpg
     
    McYoda, htw_hawaii and SC_TRD like this.
  18. Oct 7, 2019 at 3:33 PM
    #48
    FirstGenVol

    FirstGenVol Brake Czar

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    Starters scare me because they don't always give a warning before going. I go to some remote areas and I'm always afraid my 18 year old starter is going to give out. They seem to last for a very long time though. No matter what gen Tundra you have.
     
    SC_TRD likes this.
  19. Oct 7, 2019 at 3:47 PM
    #49
    jonjolie

    jonjolie New Member

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    I have a Lexus LS460 that I attempted to replace the starter on. Half way through it I cut my losses and sent it to my mechanic. I had to take off one side of the engine mount, a section of the exhaust, the oil dip stick sleeve, and some of the suspension. Mind you all these nuts and bolts were in tight ass places that my hand barely fit into. Nope...my time is done here. Paid $900 to my mechanic, starter went out at 178,000. Couldn't be mad about it.
     
  20. Oct 7, 2019 at 3:49 PM
    #50
    Tileguy

    Tileguy New Member

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    Yep she is up to 387K now, still running well.
     
  21. Oct 8, 2019 at 10:11 AM
    #51
    HbbTundra08

    HbbTundra08 Epstein Didn't Kill Himself

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    2008 Toyota Tundra Crewmax 5.7L with 216000 miles on it. Still original starter, one owner, and a daily driver. I better watch myself! Lol
     
  22. Oct 8, 2019 at 11:38 AM
    #52
    htw_hawaii

    htw_hawaii Tundra N00b

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    I don't think I've ever seen a Tundra on tow truck with my own eyes. Not that they don't exist, obviously. I'm not delusional to think that Tundras are gods that have graced us with their presence by taking the form of invincible trucks. I just never seen one in person, is all.
     
    Boosted4runner likes this.
  23. Oct 8, 2019 at 12:11 PM
    #53
    Trident

    Trident New Member

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    [​IMG]

    The view from the passenger seat of the roll back when my 2007's starter failed.

    Edited to add: The $225 tow bill was the most expensive part of the repair.
     
    Last edited: Oct 8, 2019
  24. Oct 8, 2019 at 12:13 PM
    #54
    Rubberdown

    Rubberdown Spilling my guts here.

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    2008 with 238K on it and it was still going strong when i sold it.
     
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  25. Oct 8, 2019 at 1:25 PM
    #55
    mrstangblb

    mrstangblb New Member

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    Yeah, it's just like anything else - it could last 250K, or it could go out for whatever reason a lot quicker. I had a Toyota Solara convertible that had about 95,000 on it when the starter when out, and even though it was under the hood it was HARD to get in and out. I sold it at 167,000 and it was still running strong, but I had already determined if it went out again I wasn't going to do the labor on it again! I can only imagine what a pain this starter in my Tundra would be.
     
  26. Oct 8, 2019 at 1:27 PM
    #56
    mrstangblb

    mrstangblb New Member

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    I thought my window seals were unusual - in this SC heat I've had one of them around the top of the window on the passenger's side start melting, and when I let the window up and down it smears down the window. This is the first vehicle I've EVER had that problem with. I haven't tried to replace any of them and hope I don't have to - maybe I can get by with them.
     
  27. Oct 9, 2019 at 12:12 PM
    #57
    swamper

    swamper New Member

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  28. Oct 9, 2019 at 12:30 PM
    #58
    Twinky

    Twinky Keep the shinny side up!

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    Its OK though. That tundra will be hauling that tow truck after it gets its starter fixed.
     
    htw_hawaii[QUOTED] likes this.
  29. Oct 13, 2019 at 3:15 PM
    #59
    TundraCrewMax

    TundraCrewMax New Member

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    "Gone are the days where you can get underneath and hit it with a baseball bat, or hammer and get it going. LOL"

    Not quite. My 2010 5.7 suddenly just 'clicked' after 240,000 miles. Tapping the starter with a long pry bar gets it going, someone on the key as I tap, sometimes not if I'm lucky.
    Debating how to fix it for two weeks now.
    Inside the pass front wheel well pull the snap from the top of the rear mug flap. Pull it back an you can see the heat shield(s) The lowest visible bolt is actually the second heat shield attaching directly to the starter.

    Tap that bolt, and go! Maybe

    UPDATE


    I got tired of banging the starter to start my truck so here's my contribution to the 5.7 Tundra 4x4 starter replacement body of knowledge

    Videos on Youtube are not efficient and possibly pranks, but they provide some views on what you see under there.

    'Atslemmons' on the thread below has the best procedure. Do take the heat shields of in the order he does. The only difference for me was I removed the two upper engine mount bolts(recommended elsewhere on Youtube), seemed easier.

    https://www.tundratalk.net/forums/t...ods/453962-5-7-liter-starter-replacement.html

    When you remove the 1st heatshield you will see a square nut welded to the manifold, that is the biggest headache, the bolt comes in from behind, took my unskilled impatient hands hours to remove it (not doing it in proper order probably made it worse). It is probably impossible to reinstall, mine fell into the frame anyways, so I did not reinstall. Too late I realized a reverse installed smaller nut and bolt would work in there, hold the smaller nut behind the manifold then screw the bolt in from the front. (might need washers)

    The starter will 'exit' out the side straight towards you with the engine lifted.

    This guy has a video on the dip stick removal, it was harder to reinstall than I expected, two people needed, one a spotter down below.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Ue5bQ8pfM

    Two people, above and below, goes for most of this job.

    Good luck
     
    Last edited: Oct 20, 2019
    Luckydog likes this.
  30. Oct 13, 2019 at 3:49 PM
    #60
    dragon_coma

    dragon_coma New Member

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    Well it wouldn’t have been on a tow truck if I’d had all the right tools and enough time to try it myself. As it was, with no rust at all, one of the bolts still snapped at the repair shop. Glad it wasn’t me.
     
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