I recently went to my local toyota parts department Fredericks of Lebanon Pennsylvania, looking for contacts for my denso starter. I needed them replaced because I am leaving for the Outer Banks on thurday. I looked up the problem on this forum and found that a few people were given the wrong part when ordering from thier dealers. So I copied the number off of the starter itself and offered it to the parts clerk. The parts clerk said he did not need the number only the year make engine and trans of the vehicle. At this point I voiced my concern about recieving the wrong part and mentioned the fact that I was going on vacation in two days and needed the truck. He assured me everything was ok because it listed only one part for my application. He took my name and number and said I would recieve a call when the part came in the following day. I again voiced my concern over it being the right part and the fact that it was urgently needed. He said I will call you tomorrow. It was the next day and at 4:00 I still had recieved no call. So I called and it turned out the part was in? I bit my tongue and left right away because they close at 5:00. I brought the parts with and they ended up not matching, the battery side contact was pointing the wrong way. He assured me the part was just upgraded and it would fit because there were no other listings for my application. When I got home it did not fit! I called back at 5:02 and got the answering machine! Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I should handle this? Should I ask for a loaner car, new starter, I will not miss my vaction because of their incompatence. I went to great lengths to make sure this would be the right part and they dropped the ball more than once. What do you think they should do to make it right? I am going to give a copy of your posts to the manager so please be constructive.

I think you're SOL. I doubt they'll lose any sleep over it. You may get the satisfaction of showing the parts guy the error of his ways, but that's about it. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Next time you'll know to just tell them to give you what you want, not what they think you want.

As a temp fix, you can reuse your old contact for a while by spacing it up a tad so that it makes contact with the plunger again...

Our dealership up here takes their starters down the street to an automotive electrical rebuilders, so I just go down there with my contacts in hand, and pick 'em up; less than $15, and usually on hand.

I take the starter to NAPA after I put it back together for a quick bench check, then into the spares or onto a rig it goes.

Go get your money back; see if there's a shop in town that can hook ya up. If you opt to get another starter from a parts store, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THEM BENCH CHECK IT BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE STORE. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shame.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shame.gif" alt="" />

I've been an industrial mechanic for just over ten years now. If I were to screw up three times on one job much less just ordering a part, it would be my head. Why would anyone treat their customers so poorly while letting an employee screw up at will? Are parts clerks so hard to find that they dare not offend him?
Sorry if I seem angry but I take great pride in my job performance and now that its my turn to be the customer I get hosed by a slacker! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/butwiggle.gif" alt="" />
Thanks for listening I feel much better. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />
Hopefully if anyone has trouble with their T-100 starter contacts they will read this and avoid the dealer at all costs.

I'm lucky in that I've got an excellent parts counter person here at my Toyota dealership. And he and I did the starter motor contact thing oh, two years ago or so. Interesting debacle. Toyota has updated, revised, consolidated, changed, revised and replaced the starter solenoid contacts about 20 times in the run so far. You can buy them individually, in kit form, in revised form, etc.

The end result being it's a mess.

Were I you, I'd just go to Parts America or such and pick up a replacement starter and go. Stores like that usually have one on the shelf, ready to go. This is all presuming that your truck currently won't start because of the contacts.

And if for some reason you cannot get a starter motor, take the old contacts out and dress them. You can even build them up with solder if need be. You can certainly have the truck startable.

I'm sorry you had such a bad experience at the parts dept. The Toyota parts catalog is relatively easy to use, but it takes someone with a little patience to plod through all the steps to find the exact part. The parts guy can enter your VIN and then look through all the sections to identify your exact starter. The hardest part is probably choosing the cold weather or warm weather version based on where your truck was intially purchased.

It is hard to find good help and it is a 50/50 shot at finding a parts guy who is actually into cars. For some it is merely another sales job. Nevertheless, the dealer should stock several starter contact kits because it is common to replace them.

Keep searching and you will find a dealer with a conscientious parts guy who will take the time to help you and find the correct parts.

Fredericks offered to make it right by going to another local dealer who had it in stock and getting it for me. I was a bit upset over this whole trainwreck of an experience and never took notice of the bill till I went through my bills today. They charged me $20 shipping to run to the other dealer and pick it up! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />
Am I out of line or is this all a big pile of monkey S*IT?
As soon as I calm down I'm calling them and giving them a piece of my mind.
If you live in the centeral Pennsylvania area never ever go to Fredericks Chevrolet-Toyota ever!

i think i'd ask for my $20 back.

Call toyota central office
http://www.toyota.com/about/contact/index.html?s_van=GM_TN_ABOUT_CONTACT
and explain what happened and why you are ticked. Car dealers have more cars than buyers, and they are going to want to keep you buying toyotas...
from the website:


Contact Toyota


You have come to expect quality from our products and a rewarding ownership experience. Communicating with us is no different, which is why we provide a variety of ways to contact us and find the information you are looking for.

Customer Experience Center
If you would like to discuss your experience or share your comments, please call us. Toyota's Customer Experience Center representatives are happy to assist you.

Phone: 800-331-4331
Mon - Fri, 5:00 am - 6:00 pm PT
Sat, 7:00 am - 4:00 pm PT
Fax: 310-468-7814

Or send correspondence to:
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
19001 South Western Ave.
Dept. WC11
Torrance, CA 90501

Thank you very much dogslovetrucks for taking the time to gather all that information. It was something I should have done myself instead of b1tching so much. Im normaly a very laid back guy but this experience had me seeing red. Thanks for listening. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />
This forum is and its members are awesome <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />