Flexplate replacement

[superfob]

Has anyone atempted to change the flexplate in the auto trannys? For the last 7-9 years mine has had problems with the starter. I touched the flexplate with my fingers and they seem to be scratched up. The starter is normaly able to start the car but 1 out of 15 times the starter misses and makes a whirling sound.

I bought a rebuilt starter a couple times. The first one worked better then the one that came with the car but the second one would not turn the flexplate at all so I went back to the old one. The newer rebuilt starters seem to have differently groved teeth.

[timebuilder]

I have experienced the same problem on my 1989 I-4.

According to my local electrical rebuilder, Toyota had a problem with starter engagement. My flex plate has a couple of areas where the teeth are worn down almost 50 %. The rebuilder says that Toyota came out with a redesigned gear for better engagement, and since the car was 15 years old at the time, the gear is used in the aftermarket on the denso starters for these cars. I'm not sure why your rebuilt starter would not have worked at least as well as the one you took out, but not every rebuilder may be using the improved gear.

I asked a service advisor at my local dealership if it was possible to move the engine and trans assembly far enough apart to replace the flex plate from below without removing either major assembly, and he said that one of them would have to come out to do it. So, I'll wait until I remove the engine and do it then.

[superfob]

Ya I was thinking the same thing, that there might be enough room to unbolt it with out taking out the tranny. I guess I'll just wait as well for one of the two to be in need of replacement.

[Tommy]

nope, definatly not enough room to remove the plate with the transmission in place. its gonna have to come out. there is an access plate on the bottom side of the engine where the tranny meets, couple of bolts and you can fully inspect it. if the teeth dont look worn down, try replacing the starter or the gear on the starter and see if that helps.

[Doctor J]

The starter with gear that does not have a flange and have slightly "fatter" teeth should work better ( I pulled one from 90 celica w/3SFE)