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

Hoping this thread is still fresh enough to post to. I've got a 2007 Tundra 5.7L 2WD, 140K miles that won't start. I turn the key to Accessory and all dash lights illuminate. I turn to Ignition mode and all dash lights go off. It recoils back from Ignition mode and there is a short lull before all the dash lights come back on. After doing the following troubleshooting I think the starter has gone bad.
1. Tried all available keys in case transponder in keys had gone bad.
2. Interior lights and headlights did not dim upon starting. Checked OK on my voltmeter. Pulled battery anyway and took to NAPA. It tested good.
3. Fiddled with the shifter, trying to start in Neutral, etc.
4. Tested Relay. Seems OK. Applied power and heard it click. Resistance detected where it should be found. Not sure what the reading should be, but it had resistance between the control pins. I can hear the solenoid click when trying to start it, so feel confident that the relay is functioning.
5. Had someone turn key to Ignition while I banged on the starter with a broom stick. Nada.
Based on the above does it seem likely that the starter has crapped out? Anything else I should try? I used to have a T100. I had a starter problem one time and just pulled the starter and replaced some contacts.. Bingo! Man, that was easy to get to. As stated by everyone, the Tundra is a booger.

 

Try something heavier than a broomstick? I used a 20 lb pry bar. Good luck.

 

+1

However this was exactly what happened to me and it was the starter.

 

I just replaced mine. It was starting to fail and getting worse so it was time. 5.7 4x4 with 154k miles. I didn't go OEM with the replacement though and had a mechanic buddy install it for me. It's a PIA job for sure, worst design for a starter ever. I paid a total of $434 to get the job done, starts perfect every time now. Hopefully it lasts a long time or at least as long as I keep the truck. So far so good.

 

2007 and replaced it about a 2 years ago on vacation. Bummer. No warning. Had to have it towed as we were in the backcountry and nobody local could do the job; had to go to a dealer. I think around 130K at the time. Sure shortened the trip.

 

My 07 went out around 325,000. It died no warning and it cost about $1100.00 to fix. I looked at replacing it myself and saw what all had to be done to do the job and said “screw that”.

 

2010 5.7 4x4 @ 170k miles

 

Banged on it with something heavier as "TundraCrewMax" suggested. Still nothing, but didn't hurt to try. The lowest quote I received was $725 in my home town, but the wait time was two weeks and hoping. The highest bid I received was $1700 and a dealership in Austin Metro Area (Round Rock Toyota). That would have been a same day turnaround. That would have also required a $325 tow from the small town I live in two hours away. Went with a $125 tow to a small garage in a town 30 miles away. $898 for an aftermarket rebuilt starter. It took a day. Fires right up now. Glad to be back in the Tundra saddle. BTW. The starter failed at 140K with zero warning that anything was wrong. No weird sounds, hard cranks, etc. Just working and then not. I've gleaned a lot of good information from this site. Thank you all.

 

Geez, $898 for a refurb starter? That's pretty crazy. Hopefully you mean $89..

 

Haha, That would be crazy. I just didn't write my sentence correctly. The remanufactured starter was $275. OEM would have been $425, plus tax and shipping. As others have pointed out, this job is challenging and takes quite a bit of time and the labor was $595. I just checked the specific mileage on the original starter and I got 142,685 out of it.

 

Ah...I am feeling lucky I got the whole job done in the $430 range. I paid $150 for my new starter, it is aftermarket. It's always good to have a mechanic friend gave him some cash of course and beer.

 

Just passed 200k miles, no issues yet.

 

152000 miles and all is well. Also, my everlast battery I got from Walmart is coming up on 7 years! Extremely lucky and I’ve had no problems with it. Already have a northstar sitting just waiting to be installed. Probably the week after thanksgiving

 

I had to laugh - our first car was a 71 Karmann Ghia. I carried a hammer to bang on the solenoid but since we lived in Asheville NC at the time usually just found a hill to park on. You could work on that little death trap. Even drove home once with a string tired to the carbuerator.

 

Hope mine keeps working. Sounds like a pita

 

this one really has me thinking. Since its such a job to change is it best to go with OEM starter or are there decent aftermarket options? woudl hate to do the work and have an cheap one fail again

I have 240K on my truck - probably stupid to store parts but thinking of buying on so I have on hand if this is a known failure? Is that a waste?

Anyone have more than 200K on there truck without starter failure?

 

One night on my best friend's 67 beetle we had to tie all our shoelaces together to create a manual throttle cable so we could get home. Passenger side window down, me working the throttle using the shoestrings tied to the carb and he telling me when to give it gas (shift completed) or shut it down (clutch in). Thank god they only had 4-speeds! Good times!

 

I have a 2007 crew max 5.7 4x2.Been a pretty good truck so far. but every things a bitch to work on. who in the hell thought it was cool so we can't check our trans fluid without an act of congress. not to mention starters and water pumps and brakes. yea it's a good truck, but they designed it so 99% of people have to go back to the { thief's at the dealer ship}. I'm sure I am going to look hard before I buy another truck. I guess if I didn't have to do my own work it wouldn't matter. but you cats not getting gas mileage I can't complain about that. last week went on a road trip, didn't run the air and got 19.8 running 75 / 80 on interstate. this truck has got over 20 in good conditions a lot of times. around town is most of my driving I get at least 16.5 /17 mpg . I guess I really can't complain except when I have to work on it. oh it has 180,000 and really still strong. I wonder when it's going to give up? the only thing I have changed about the truck is the exhaust system. when it was new I put a Gibson stainless system on it. maybe that helps with gas? oh and it will still blister a chevys ass so bad and less not even talk about fords. oh one more thing it likes brakes, I am on my 3rd set and I drive her pretty easy most of the time. and while I am at it I may as well share how I fell about the dealers we have to deal with. I am going to do all I can never to deal with then again. now I know that's a mouth full, but there are some good dealers out there, I just need to find one. happy thanks giving and keep them toys going.

 

Bought the truck used (07 CM Limited) with 120,000 on it. Drove it about 500 miles and then no start. Luckily i bought the extended warranty lol.

 

On my 2008 5.7 starter died like someone threw a switch 80085 miles and 10 years old. What a PITA. Remove right front suspension, call a Priest, cuss in every language known to man, and realize the alternator is right next to it, drive racecar to parts store and buy a alternator. Install new alternator ('cause I figured tha'd be next) bolt up new starter, reinstall suspension, ponder WHY would toyota do this to me, clean wounds with non-chlorinated brake cleaner, reconnect battery and go find my bottle of Tito's. Just wondering if this is what I have to expect from the New 2020 CM I just took home?

 

Starting fine with 136K on my '07 DC 4X4 with 4.7L. I wonder what's more difficult, the starter or timing belt? I did the timing belt this weekend. Not too hard, just time consuming.

 

Today I had my wife bring out the Car-Fax the dealer made for us when we bought our 2007 DC, the starter was replaced at 208,000 miles, so at 245,000+ miles I'm hoping that we get another 200,000 miles plus on the replacement. I replaced the starter on our 2005 Sienna at about 174,000, it was rather easy, I just had to pull the battery and air filter box and the starter was at the top of the bell housing. My sons 78' Cressida was a royal PITA, but may have still been easier than changing out one on a Tundra, from what I've been reading and it doesn't help that I have big hands.

 

226000 bought it new 2011 original starter.

 

Not terrible the starter is around 500 bucks.

 

My starter failed at 10 years on the nose. I'd recommend doing the alternator while you're in there.

 

The alternator is an easy R&R. You can do it anytime. No need to shell out the extra $$$ unless you really need to.

 

My 2102 has 148K miles and no problems with the starter, if fact, I'm still on my original battery - even through NE Ohio winters. Actually, I've had no problems at all, except for the muffler heat shield falling off.

 

Mine was bad about 160k miles. First refurb was bad after a couple weeks so I got to do it twice. It helps a lot to pull the motor mount nut and jack the engine up. Starter just barely fits between the frame and exhaust manifold.

 

2007, 5.7l 2wd mine died at 208k gave me a warning stall at a store... so I took it home.. troubleshooted replaced relay, battery tested, swapped with my other catlr, jumped it and finally exchanged for a new one and nothing. Did get a crankshaft position CEL P0095?? If I remember correctly.... I did stall out about an 1/8 of a mile from my place and it would refuse to restart... so I was forced to call a tow truck for a 4 block tow ride. I did 3/4 of the job on jackstands on the side of the road, and a 1/4 in my driveway, because the tow didn't have room to drop it in my driveway... let me say its "exciting" having cars fly by like it's a local highway while laying underneath a mammoth..
I did follow my YouTube ASE certification and did swap out my starter without pulling the exhaust, pulling engine mounts nor cooling lines... I'll post the vids I used.. I did change it a bit, because pulling cooling lines and burping the system is overrated and scratch that.....
Overall it would've been about a 4-5 hour job, but I did some laying around contemplating the meaning of life, and 2012, and how the f.. I'm going to remove that one bolt with a 1/2 inch of clearance, and other life commitments, and my kid being special needs.... it took me about 3 days total.. 3-4 hours of work per day and 2 hours to set up, Jack, stands tools and ducking and dodging... so much fun..

 

Why so expensive, is because the starter is design to be located under the intake manifold, on top of the top block. yeah that's a pain in the butt. but yeah I haven't replace mine yet, it still running strong at 205K, but I replace my air injection pump before. one of them is in there, will mine is a 4.7 only. Anyway its not that hard too if you have some mechanic knowledge. The dealer will charge you 1k plus. Save your money for a part that is less than $200. Good luck.