20 year old starter ???

[bcp477]

Well, so the starter on my '90 AE92 sedan began failing....(the engine would not turn over when the key was turned.....though everything had power).....so I changed it. Not a job I want to do again, for a long time. Not really too tough, but little room to work back there....so I had to do most of it with my left hand only.

The interesting thing is, the old starter had an original Toyota part number.....and it looked as if it could be 20 years old. No way to tell, of course, but in any case, it lasted a loooong time, from the looks of it ( no way it was only a few years old). It would be amazing if it was actually the original starter, wouldn't it ?

[SuperRA]

It could be original or it could be that is was changed some time ago for a factory reman or new part. IMHO starters can last a long time or very short. It just depends on the one you get.

[90 GP]

Not an unusual thing for it to be an original. Mine is that old. I will eventually replace the solenoid contacts when it starts acting up and keep usiing it.

[SCT]

Yep! My starter was original,too, up until a year and a half ago when it died out. The reman'd starter I installed has been giving me occasional problems ever since, some flat spots inside it. Times where I go to start and nothing happens. A few taps does the works.

[bcp477]

Yeah, I'll just betcha that the replacement starter (reman.....but oddly enough with a longer motor) will only last a fraction of the time the old one lasted. If not for the $36 core charge....I'd keep the old one and have a generator shop rebuild it.

[90 GP]

Just for your information here is what is involved in the replacement of starter contacts which was the likely cause of your problems. A real easy and cheap DIY project.

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