Originally Posted By: Cardenio327
I briefly filled in during vacation season at a Mom & Pop starter/generator/alternator shop doing tear downs and sandblasting.
The Nippondensos are the best. Their is a large copper washer inside the solenoid that burns up. The starter will occasionally just click once loudly, this means the washer is burnt. Look carefully in your phone book and find the Mom & Pop starter re-builder in your city. The washer should be about $5.
I refreshed a Nippondenso for a friend about a year ago [2000 Tacoma V6 w/about 200,000 miles]. It was actually in quite poor condition. It had two worn out bearings. I ended up changing the copper washer, all three bearings, and I had to buy a new bendix gear to scavenge some pieces off of. It ended up being about $40, but well worth it since it is the original starter, rather than a "who knows" parts store rebuild.
Yes, I have found the Washer and two 'L' shaped tags will fix a ND starter 90% of the time.
A very easy job to do at home. No special tool required
Cost, about $10