replacing starter contacts (clicking)

[bassthrive]

Insert key, turn to start, *CLICK*...

Are your battery and associated connections OK, but starting is still weak? It may be worn starter contacts (the internal ones, inside the starter solenoid). Apparently this is a very common problem with high mileage denso starters.

I would like to share this helpful link. I did not write it, but it inspired me. My 120,000 mile contacts looked exactly like the before picture. I did not purchase an entire repair kit. All I got was two new copper contacts for $5 from a local automotive electrical shop (could not find this at autozone/advance/carquest).

http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenance/starter/

[Vuluz]

This has happened to me before. I thought it was the starter too but it was actually my battery. I took it to autozone and it barely had any juice. Bought a new battery, never had the problem since.

[Down2TheC]

I had that on my 4Runner! I eventually got a new starter. Doh!

[1BADGTS]

Starter conacts are a very common problem with a very easy fix. The only warning I have for people doing this at home is to make sure the new contacts you put in are the EXACT same and installed in the same order as they came out!! In my 10 years with Toyota I have seen about a dozen people how have done this repair themselves and burned up the high voltage part of thier engine wiring harness (among other things) !! You can get contact kits (2 kits required) from your local Toyota dealer for less than $20 and it comes with everything you need and you know it will be correct for your car or truck. Some vehicles you need to take the old ones out, bring into your local dealer and match them up. For some reason Toyota doesn't show starter contact part numbers for all vehicles, thats why you need to match them up. Then just make sure you install everything in the same order it came out, this is very important !! As long as you follow those few simply rules, you can save yourself a bunch of $$$ !