Where is the starter on a 1988 2-door toyota corolla

SOURCE: 1999 Toyota Corolla interior door handle

There's two screws by the handle, pull those out and you'll see how it all connects on the inside. I was able to remove my broken one, and drill a hole into the plastic where it broke and reuse it - it's lasted over 4 years now. 

SOURCE: replacing starter on 1988 toyota corolla

should be on the back of the engine block going into the transmission somewhere you may need to get under the car to access it good luck please rate -jeff

SOURCE: can not find starter in my 1988 Toyota Mr2

Look under the vehicle, between the engine & the transmission. You can't see it from on top.

SOURCE: 1988 Toyota Corolla high idle with lights on

Because it's carbeurated they have an electric 'idle up' solinoid (or vacuume) to compensate for rev loss when load is put on the engine caused by the alternator working harder because your using power. It should have a small adjustment screw on the carbeurator to lower the revs. If you have it set too low it will shudder when in drive & foot on brake with headlights on. It should only pick up about 200rpm when lights are on. To find the screw, take the air filter off, run the engine & look for something moving when the lights are turned on & off. Somewhere near the moving bit you will find the adjustment screw. I hope. I'm not sure exactly where it is on that model.

SOURCE: i need to replace the starter or the solenoid on a

You need to expand more on your statement. What do you want to know? How to replace the starter/solenoid? or should you replace it. Depending on the symptoms that you are getting like is the starter dragging when you turn it over or is it making a whining noise?
If it is dragging sluggishly then possibly after you have excluded the battery, the bushes(2) could be worn and is easilly replaced along with the four commutator brushes. If it is whining that could be due to the solenoid not engaging or possibly the bendix mechanism. Attach + 12 volts to the thin pigtail lead that comes of from the solenoid and attach the negative lead to the body of the starter, you should get a healthy kick response and looking inside the halfmoon open section of the front of the starter assy you should see the engaging gear kick to the front. Certain Toyota Corolla models have 2 bolts that mates the starter to the gearbox and others have 3 bolts. I have also found that in some cases the earthing band that goes from the negative pole of the battery to the chassis of the car and the engine sometimes doesn't make a good contact either on the engine or body, check these out as well as that can lead to not enough current passing through for efficient cranking.