1UZ starter motor rebuild?

[millsi]

I will confess i know very little about starter motors or anything electrical for that matter.
Engine is coming out soon to install a few things so thought it may bhe a good time to have the starter motor rebuilt due to its position.
What is generally involved with a starter rebuild? New brushes etc?
Its working fine at the moment, but would rather do some preventative maintenence before something goes wrong.

[RA35GT]

Basically just new brushes mate. And new contact bit. (Sorry dont know name heh)

Very easy to pull apart and do.

[3sgte]

We never rebuilt the starters on those things (at a Lexus dealer).
In 12 years we never saw a single set of bad brushes.
The regular culprit was the starter magnetic switch (contacts) and once a bad starter drive.

I wouldn't mess with the brushes.

[millsi]

Cheers, the starter does sometimes stay engaged after i let go of the key. Not sure if its something to do with the ignition barrel or starter itself.

[3sgte]

What year is the 1UZ from?
Starter magnetic switch can cause that.

[Cuzzo]

Cheers, the starter does sometimes stay engaged after i let go of the key. Not sure if its something to do with the ignition barrel or starter itself.

I have the exact same problem.

Let me know how hard it was to remove the starter.

[CrUZida]

There are a couple of tutorials on the web about removing the starter. Basically all the intake manifold, fuel rails, etc have to come off.
Once you've done it a few times, its about a 1hr job, tops.

Regarding rebuilding the starter, all I've ever done is polish up the copper contact plates, as they get pitted over time.

But all my issues have been failure to start, not stuck on. Perhaps the shaft just needs greasing.

[matty12]

mine also continues to run after the engine starts so im interested in the fix.

[3sgte]

The fix is usually the starter magnetic switch.
Polishing the contacts is not useful. Either replace them, or replace the entire starter magnetic switch (solenoid assembly).
Given the position of the starter, I don't think I could justify cheaping out on this. My time is worth more than a starter switch.

In some cases a starter that is stuck on can cause a car fire.

http://www.motortrend.com/cars/1997/...lls/index.html

[Z20soarerrr]

Starters are very basic electric motors, there is not much that can go wrong with them. I used to work in a motor shop rebuilding motors, and while i was there we were regularly rebuilding workers starters. The Brushes last for years, i recently rebuilt a 7m and a 1j starter, both starters had seen well over 100k and the brushes still had another 100k worth of carbon left to use. Not recommended to do it at home as cutting and resoldering the new brushes on can be tricky.
The main thing that goes wrong, is the starter contacts. Either get replacements, or if your cheap, they can be made if you can get your hands on some copper, if you dont have access to that, you can silver solder the faces of the contacts and then file the face flat again, done that a few times.
Solenoids can be pulled apart and fixed aswell, even the sealed throw-away items, basically just have to unsolder the contacts on the solenoid, pry the pressed case off, and it comes apart easy.

The only reason i have rebuilt so many is i did it at work, could do one in about a day, was fairly easy.

There arent many reasons why the motor wouldnt disengage, the two most common problems would be the plunger in the solenoid and the pinion gears. For the solenoid, you can test for it if you have the correct test gear, otherwise dont bother, and for the gears, you have to check for visible damage, properly greased etc.

Hope ive helped!
Mat

[DX20VT]

We never rebuilt the starters on those things (at a Lexus dealer).
In 12 years we never saw a single set of bad brushes.
The regular culprit was the starter magnetic switch (contacts) and once a bad starter drive.

I wouldn't mess with the brushes.

Have done probably a dozen starters from the 1UZ's.
As said brushes are usually fine, always do contacts and plunger,
and have also seen more than usual amount with faulty drives,
so I'd reccomend that you replace that too.

[millsi]

Have done probably a dozen starters from the 1UZ's.
As said brushes are usually fine, always do contacts and plunger,
and have also seen more than usual amount with faulty drives,
so I'd reccomend that you replace that too.

What sort of $$ do you think im looking at to get an auto elec to do it?
Not worth the hassle of me attempting it and it fucking out down the track.

[millsi]

sent the starter to the auto elec. cant remember what he said but something was bent and couldnt be fixed. so i now have a new aftermarket starter.

[DX20VT]

Really? Cause unless the housings are smashed there is bugger all else in there that you cant get replacement bits for.

I didn't reply with a price as I dont know how prices over there compare with NZ.

What was the new starter worth?

[millsi]

$470 trade.