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So I replaced my starter

Discussion in 'Electrical' started by DXO, Nov 29, 2021.

  1. Nov 29, 2021 at 7:33 AM
    #1
    DXO

    DXO [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2020
    Member:
    #42228
    Messages:
    22
    Gender:
    Male
    South Shore, MA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Crewmax Limited
    My starter has been acting up once it's cold out for about a year, it will spin but not engage the engine, usually works on the second or third try. I bought a new starter last winter but never installed it, mostly because I stopped thinking about it once the weather warmed up and had 0 issues until it resumed it's issue in the cold last month. I think I figured out a couple of things I haven't seen mentioned in any other threads to help with one of the worst jobs to be done on a Tundra. Firstly if you live in the Northeast like I do, resign yourself to the fact that most of your 10mm bolts will not be going home after this, they will be broken off - you can spray them and use heat but the end result will be the same. I had read several different write ups on this, most mention loosening the pass. side motor mount, I was not looking forward to that one either. Before starting, again esp. where they salt the roads, order a set of starter bolts, they're only $6 for the pair with washers at the dealer and you won't find anything comparable at the hardware store, the shoulder will be too long and they cost twice as much. I immediately knew I was in for some trouble when the 14mm socket was loose on the bottom bolt head, it had deteriorated to about a 13.5mm, I immediately made it nice and round trying to get it out, my Craftsman nut and bolt extractor worked great on an impact and took it right out, the top bolt is where you will lose your shit. I spent way too long trying to just get a socket on it, the trans. cooler lines are in the way, even with the mounting bracket bolt removed, and the lines off at the transmission. Save yourself the aggrevation and go from the top, spend 15 minutes and clamp the 2 hoses and remove the brackets so the 2 lines are completely free, I did this and the top bolt was out in less than a minute, and still in great shape to boot. With those hoses removed, I was able to wiggle the starter out the back without lifting the engine, the new one went in with no problems. There is also some access from below to the wiring on the solenoid, just slide towards the front a bit from underneath, carefull those plastic caps on the battery cable can be brittle, i had to plastic weld mine back together. I worked on this on and off for almost a week, I think I could do it in a few hours now by removing those lines first. I don't have many pictures mostly beacuse I was freezing my ass off in the driveway and it was dark out about 20 minutes after I'd start. Hopefully this will help somebody who has to do this, as much as it sucked, it sure is nice hitting the remote start and not hearing it whizzing away outside. For ayone who hasn'e seen it, it's behind the manifold, you can see a bit of the blue Denso label.
    IMG_20211123_160506.jpg
     
    baraynavab and NWPirate like this.

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