Starter set on fire

[MaoriUtility]

95 MU 4jg2
Yesterday morning was a particularly cold one here in Brisbane, and I was having the normal cold start issues(long cranking time), well it didn't start at all, the excessive crank must have heated the points on the starter and then the rubber point covers caught on fire, I was lucky enough to have an extinguisher in the boot, put out the flames and took the wife's Toyota to work...after I git home from work I looked to see what was going on under the bonnet....the rubber point covers on the starter had all melted...tried turning it over, it would crank but wouldn't start. So I'm leaving it for the weekend to get underneath and clean things up....

Q. Am i in need of a new starter?

Q. Is this just related to the radiator temp/timing sensor thing?

Q. Could my timing be out?

As always I appreciate the time and knowledge you guys give up to help

[geeves]

If it still cranks the starter should be ok although a slow starter could be the cause of the bad starting so still worth pulling out and rebuilding. Im guessing a dirty terminal on the starter is what caused it to heat up. Cleaning this could help heaps Do you wait for the glow plug light to go out before starting?

[MaoriUtility]

Yeah I wait for the glow light to turn off...gonna pull off all the wires, give the terminals a brush and have another go. If it's giving me grief still maybe a new starter will have to go in.
Reminds me of that snoop dogg song
"if it ain't one thing it's the motherf***ing other"

[MaoriUtility]

I pulled all the wires off the starter, brushed all the melted rubber and plastic off the posts with a brush...while I was at it I also tensioned up all the belts. Put it all back together and now she's happier...still takes a few cranks to start but starts on the first go. Shes needy but I also need to get to work lol

[MaoriUtility]

Starter has given up, won't crank fast enough to turn it over, will the starter from the 4jb1 fit the 4JG2? If it does I'm laughing...if it doesn't I'm crying

[geeves]

possibly

[stardog]

Same starter motor when mine went on the 3.1 I got a brand new 1 for $ 165. for Holden rodeo 2.8 of eBay and it works fine .

[MaoriUtility]

Ok I have a new(ish) starter motor from a 4JB1, I'm about to swap it out. Things are pretty tight in there in terms of space, shall I be removing anything to make the job easier??

[jellis]

nope pretty easy to do, bit of a jiggle to get it in and out.

[powerguy]

Also check your glow plugs. If you have one or two out it will make it hard to start.