After removing all the hardware and connector, I found there was no room anywhere to remove the starter from the vehicle. I removed the front tire, dip stick, exhaust manifold heat shield, but all the openings are too small to allow the starter to be removed. V-6, AT, 4WD. Anyone know how to get the darn thing out?

Probably through the wheel well after you remove the liner.

After getting in there with all my socket extensions and knuckles and removing all that stuff, do you think a little rubber liner would keep me from accomplishing my task? Puh-LEEEZE!
I finally figured out how to get it out myself. I wish I knew how in the beginning- would have saved myself several hours.

Well then, how?

Maxman1 -
Please tell me how you got your starter out. I'm trying to remove the starter from my 98 4Runner, v6, AT, 4WD.
Thanks
Paul

Better send him an e-mail

I just installed one in my 97 4Runner yesterday. I found the easiest way was to remove the trans tube, lift the truck, remove the right front wheel, remove the rear splash pan, remove the power cable and plug from the starter, remove the two bolts holding the starter in. Then remove the 4 bolts holding the steering rack in, disconnect the right front ball joint, slide the rack out, and bring the starter out from the bottom. I know it sounds like alot of work, but it shouldn't take more than 2 hours if you have the right tools. If anybody else has an easier way, feel free to post.

I am looking forward to doing this. Not.

maxman1 I struggled yesterday with the same thing. I will be attacking it tomorrow. Can you give me some pointers or is it just how Leenmachine says. I would sure appreciate it.

Better e-mail him

The key is to gently push the brake line out of the way. Remove the bolt on the inside of the frame that holds brake line in place. The exhaust manifold heat shield and the upper half of the tranny dipstick also must be pulled. Once all this is done the starter goes right in.

Excellent - Great information for the rest of us..:)

It's a ton cheaper and a snap just to rebuild the starter with a small bag of copper parts from the dealer. Just REMEMBER how the parts go back together. Got it?! Good.....

Whoa! Sorry guys! I didn't realize this thread was still of help. Here's what I did: Disconnect the battery. Remove the dipstick and upper half of the dipstick tube. The tube wiggles right off after unbolting it. Don't forget to plug the hole with a clean rag or something to keep debris out. Get in under the vehicle with extensions and a knuckle to remove the starter mounting bolts. Remove the front tire and the protective rubber sheet inside the fender. Look at the brake line. There is a removeable segment that, one removed, will give you great access to the starter. I would be hesitant to just bend it out of the way, since a kink will ruin the brake line. Let the brake fluid drain completely. Using a piece of string, I wrapped it around the upper brake line/fitting and pulled it to the left out of the way. The starter is now completely accessible. Bleed the brakes after re-assembly.

Thanks for the return post! :)

Forget it. This car repair nonsense is not for weekend warriors. I thought, "Okay, how hard can it be to repair my starter motor and/or solenoid?" Repairing it sounds simple. Getting access to it to remove it is a whole other issue. I want to know what retarded monkey designed this vehicle such that you must disassemble half the passenger side wheel assembly just to get at the god damn thing.

Maxman1 and Leenmachine pretty much tell you what it will take, which is way too much work for any sane person. It would be more worth your time to go buy a six pack and watch some massochist get under the car and do it for you. Oh wait, it's going to cost about $300 for someone to do the work so that means I'll be about 25 six-packs in the hole.

This is a 1998 Toyota 4Runner. Judging from all the different ways I "learned" to get the starter motor out on the internet, Toyota changed the design almost every year.

So to reiterate, if you don't do car repair and don't have hours to waste trying in vain to disassemble half your car to replace one small part, forget it. Send it to a mechanic.

I'll never buy a Toyota again. Piece of shit that it is.

I see... You want a vehicle that has been engineered so that all components are easy to get to and easy to work on.

Don't hold your breath.

How about a big wheel or tricycle?

I still bang my knuckles - does that count?