Ye old faithful Trundra gave me some trouble this past week. The starter wouldn’t turn on several occasions. After trying several times it would eventually go but I couldn’t diagnose it because it would always start when I went to diagnose. I ended up cleaning battery and chassis ground connections really well, and clean the fuse/relay box under the hood which was filthy with dust. I pulled the starter relay and had a look at it and put it back in. Since then the truck has started every time. I thought the starter was shot but maybe not. I’ve watched a few vids and it is a
to change. I’ll drive the truck to work this week and see if it acts up again. I’m guessing I’m not out of the weeds because the connections I cleaned were pretty good to begin with but who knows. Intermittent electrical problems are a pain.
I did grab a spare relay from parts store so if it happens to strand me I can at least try swapping relays. Funny, local dealer wanted $170 for the relay and $1050 for the starter. If I end up doing the starter I found a shop that will rebuild with a 24hr turnaround.
Well six months later and the starter is acting up again. It is strange, as it never acted up at all until last week after having an issue with it back in December. Anyway, it is making a loud click when not starting where the starter is located, therefore telling me the solenoid is engaging, which likely means everything is working as it should up to the starter. I called around this morning, and Toyota wants $1700+tax to replace, and and a local indy wants $1650 with a non Toyota starter. Toyota calls for 7.5hrs labour, while the indy is calling for 10 hours. A mechanic buddy said he's not about to let me pay for that much labour so he ordered the starter from Toyota through his place of work for $500 and he's going to install it when it arrives. Puts me without a truck for a week or so as the starter is 3-5 days away, but I can make do and work from home for the next while.
My initial quote from Toyota for the starter back in December was $1100. When I called them this morning for a quote it was $580. Not sure where the original number came from. Almost like they gouge on price if you don't get the work done there. Or somebody just effed up.