Starter Replacment 2009 Tundra Limited

Yesterday after getting back from store I went out to start the truck to move it into the driveway. Nothing happens except a click. Battery is brand new. No fuses blown and the relay is working. I can hear the solenoid click on the starter when I got under the truck and listened when the wife tried to start. So I am guessing a new starter is needed. I would love to do this myself but I know my limitations. Can anyone tell me what the average cost would be for this starter to be changed out? Or what they have experienced cost wise? Thanks!

 

Give or take $1000 at the dealer. Its a PITA job

 

Will not be taking it to a dealer because thats the kind of money I figured it would be.

 

Yeah dont blame you. Nature of the beast w/ the starters and alternators on these things. No easy way to dig them out.

Good thing is my starter went 13 years and the original alternator is still going.

So you’re not doing them often, which is why I ate the extra couple hundred bucks and had the dealer do the starter.

 

Ugh.... that time?? Not fun, but is fairly "easy" if you have time on hand. I've done it myself... the bitch is going to be the 2nd heat shield that covers the actual starter... I ended cutting the corner as it was the last thing I needed and you only have enough room for your knife hand and a wrench, if you strip it like I did... you'll have to cut it, like I did.. ... I would also suggest having a rag over the frame rail... I lost an extension and a 12mm ... I still can't find it.

 

The right way to replace the starter is to remove the passenger side exhaust manifold first. You'll find a lot of people suggesting work-arounds, but I found that it's easiest to just spend the hour or so it takes and remove the section of exhaust behind the manifold and then remove the manifold itself. Once the exhaust manifold is out of the way, the starter is a walk in the park. You can reuse the exhaust manifold gasket as long as you don't damage it. By removing the manifold, you don't have to mess with the transmission cooler lines and you don't have to cut up the heat shields.

 

Just found myself in the same situation with my 08 5.7 as @tallguy240 . Ran to the store and came out to a single CLICK. After an hour or so of AAA calls etc... it started up and I flew home. While in the parking lot I tried knocking on the starter like old school and it didn't solve anything just luck after a bunch of key turns it started. Now at home it worked a few times and died again, I did have my son try and start it and being under the truck I could hear and feel the CLICK at the solenoid. In that dead state I accessed the starter by removing all the heat shields and tried to jump it with the battery. I applied the jump to the braided wire going directly into the motor bypassing the solenoid. All I heard was the spinning, It didn't sound like the bendix tried to throw out and engage the flywheel. Am I correct that by jumping it it should have thrown the bendix out and tried to engage the flywheel and attempt to start the truck? The key was in the run position also. I plan on doing the work myself I am just trying to get a feel if there is anything else I should be looking at. I am used to older vehicles with less crap involved for simple functions. Thanks

 

You can try testing the relay... I did to rule it out, as well as charging, then changing the battery as it was under warranty by a mere days... store guy wasn't happy about it either, but fuck that guy and the white horse he rode in on.... other than that its pretty straight forward, you will have to loosen the wire harness in order for that starter to come out, atleast on my 5.7l I did...
Starter gave me 4 starts before it just gave out, and the AAA guy and I went through the same process of he banging at something while Ibtried to start it, but ni joy... biggest embarrassment was getting towed a half mile home... lol.. but I did the work at home myself.

 

@blackdemon_tt where is that relay? I'm sure an 07&08 have to the same. I have a manual on its way. What where you testing or is there a link to a different thread?

 

Sorry for the delay, I jumped it with a wire. Yes it's in under the hood behind the battery, the purple one. I pulled it and jumped it with a wire with the keys in the 'on' position... if you have someone else they can turn it over at the same time, if it's bad it will turn on with the jump, it's not you will get the same click and nothing. Which will confirm the starter.

 

I dont remember exactly how it was aligned.. I think it was the right tooth (driver side) to the top one (toward the cabin) I had to YouTube it, and someone did it in a Corolla and I replicated to no avail... I learned this because my Celica's relay is going and this is how I turn it on... except this relay is way different

Edit: if you don't feel comfortable with this, I'd suggest buying a new relay and replacing it. It's easier and safer, if it doesn't work either you could always take it back and get your money back.