i did the same damn thing today...it sucks
i definately lost feeling in my fingers.

my problem is either the coil or the starter.

this cold is ridiculous-supposed to be a low -20 tonight.

why do i live here?

I replaced the contacts in my starter this time last year and it's already clicking again at times. Can anyone explain how contacts could be gone again in just a year?

I had someone help me push mine in the garage I wasn't going to fair the -20 deg weather to pull my starter this evening. I had to put the starter kit on order since the toyota dealership doesn't stock them. It's funny maybe I am the first one to order the kit from this stealership. They were like huh what a starter kit what's that?. I gave them the part # and they were like yup we can get it. It will be here tuesday.

Hate to burst your bubble but the thing that you replace the copper contacts in is the solenoid!!!!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

the last time I put in a starter ( because the contacts went out) I modified it,,,didnt want to climb uder or down the side to fix,,,,I bypassed the contacts and put a ford seliniod up on the inner fender well. then i only have to toss the old one and bolt up a new one in about 3 minutes,,,,,contacts almost always burn up before the brushes in the starter do.

Hmm I have ford a starter solinoid. I am going to do it right though and wait for my part to come in though.

Easy... How old is your battery? What CCA rating is it? How old are your battery cables?

If your starter does not get an adequate power supply, it will burn the contacts out faster. The low power starts are heating up the contacts to the meltdown point every time, and soon, you lose the starting ability again.

Change the contacts, then upgrade the battery cables to 2 or 4 ga. Drop in a better battery. All starting problems should be gone for a looooooong time.

I run an 875 cca (at 0*f) battery, 2 ga battery cables, and marine terminals. I have no corrosion problems whatsoever, and the starter spins faster than the day the 4Runner rolled off the assembly line in June of 1987. I also run a segment of the original negative cable (8 ga) from the negative terminal to the body. Best ground strap I have found (compared to the 14 or 16 ga wire from the factory).

I plan on these contacts to last for at least 200,000 miles (originals lasted 160,000, due to good battery maintenance). It took a bad battery cable to finally do in the original contacts.

what i meant is its not like most other starters..it dont have an external solinoid like chevy's that you can get away with whomping on with a hammer for a bit...

I got the starter out and it is the solinoid contact it is worn down to almost nothing. I ordered the solinoid repair kit from toyota yesterday they told me it would be here tuesday. I am going to do some scouting around some parts store with other kits and see if I can find just the contact until I recieve the one I need for the repair.

My solinoid contact is basically worn down like this guys:

i got a few extra new ones here if you cant find any..also..if you got a battery altonator and starter place where you live they to will have plenty...might just give you one for free...it only cost them .03 cent a piece...if you got a wire wheel on your bench grinder,make sure you clean up the bottom of that plunger..it will be kinda rough and when you put it back in it will eat up your new contact........