6G Celicas Forums

So I'm not in a big rush to fix my starter, I'm looking to get by cheaply. It's had intermittent problems for over a year, and I've been getting by just trying the key until it works, or failing that, tapping the starter with a ball peen hammer. Occasionally I've been looking for a starter rebuild kit for this (95 GT 5SFE 5-MT Denso starter.) The dealer just wants too much for each part. Can anyone help me find a kit for cheap?

Just get a lifetime warrantied starter at your local Advanced Autoparts / Parts America. It's not like it's hard to change on our 5SFE if the cheap replacement does decide to go out.

I bought the one which actually burned most (the larger contact) and needed
replacement from my dealer for $6.83 + tax. How much cheaper
can it be?

Well I wanted to get a kit with all new contacts, plunger, brush, etc. If you buy all those parts at the dealership it's the price of a used starter at the junkyard. And a "cheap" rebuilt starter from an auto parts store is still $100. For that price I'd rather keep hitting it with the hammer! And the rebuilt's not even a Denso starter. But if I can't find the kit I want maybe I'll try your advice and just replace the one contact. Thank you!

A burned contact is all you need to replace for another 80,000 miles or so.
Sandpaper the plunger. For perfection, replace both contacts -
second contact kit was ~$13 (it is smaller yet twice more - go figure!).
Still about $20 all - and your starter wil last longer than any junkyard unit.
If you are REALLY cheap - seek aftermarket contacts, about $5 apiece.

OK, I can deal with that. Maybe I'll just take the starter out and assess the contacts before I decide. Thanks!