ignition/starting problems- I already tried these fixes

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Joined
Dec 14, 2002
Threads
88
Messages
1,228
Location
NW side of chicago
My truck (fj62) has had cranking and starting problems for the past few weeks. I assumed intially that it was a bad battery because it would only start intermitently once in a while and sounded like a slow chug-a-lug to a start. Once it started everything was fine including driving at night. Progressively the "no start" to happen more often.
I changed the battery but it seemed to work for only a day and the next day I couldn't start it.
I took off the starter and it bench tested at AutoZone- ok for starter and solenoid, After cleaning the terminals, I then reinstalled it back into the car and the car started on the first try. That evening, I tried to move the vehicle and the same problem.
I checked if there was a drain on the vehicle with a light bulb and jumpers across the NEG battery post and NEG cable and found no current. Therefore no electrical grounding draining the battery.
Tried jumping the vehicle with no luck on cranking.
I tried a direct jump/by pass to the starter but got alot of sparks, so I didn't push my luck anymore with that technique.
I can here the starter plunger activating when I am underneath the vehicle while somebody is turning the ignition. Tried bumping the starter.
I am suspecting a bad intermitent starter or ignition switch. What do you think?
How much for a new ignition switch? I had one starter die on me on a ford but it wasn't a gradual "no start" problem.
The vehicle has 209k and it looks like this could have been on it's second starter because it has printed "remanufactured for toyota".
Thanks alot in advance for all the advice.
 
Last edited:
Will it crank over at all now or is it dead?
Since the starter and solenoid tested good then I would look at something more simple before suspecting the ignition switch. Check your battery cables, they might look fine but may be corroded.
 
not a single crank or movement in the motor. I'm suspecting an ignition switch since my ford gave me a runaround also. I guess the only way to find out if the starter works is to try jump it to the battery again.
 
Check the condition of your ground wires. You could have a corroded frame ground not letting enough power flow to turn over the engine but everything else will work fine. I had this problem in a vehicle before and would start sometimes and othertimes would just click like a dead battery.
 
Have you disassembled the starter solenoid to check the contacts? I'll bet one of them is nearly gone. Replacements are available at the dealer for a few bucks.
 
Where are all the ground wires? The only one I see is the one closest to the battery, less than a foot away from the NEG battery post. I cleaned up the area where the starter meets the engine so I think there should be good grounding to the engine.
 
60wag said:
Have you disassembled the starter solenoid to check the contacts? I'll bet one of them is nearly gone. Replacements are available at the dealer for a few bucks.

I didn't check the solenoid because it initially checked out OK, but will take it apart, since the starter looks over 6 years old. thanks.
 
My money is with 60wag on starter contacts. Usually, one is much more worn that the other and so doesn't make good contact. I would repalce them both and keep the less worn out one as a spare.

___________________________
Cruzerman
'85 FJ60
'78 FJ40
 
There is a separate ground cable or braided thing running from the starter to the frame, right?...mine has this. I like the solenoid contacts idea, and don't rule out those pesky fusible links; they can create wierd electrical symptoms when they go bad.
 
Just took off the starter and inspected the plunger and contacts. One of the contacts looks worn and the plunger looks a little more rounded where they meet the contacts. I think this is the problem, so I'll give everybody an update after I get a new plunger and contacts at the dealership (probably on Monday).
 
Changed the starter contacts and plunger. It worked!
Initially I called toyota dealerships parts department, not knowing what to look for, the stealership tried to sell me a new starter. I gave up on them and went to a starter store.
The copper contacts and the plunger cost only 15.00 bucks from a small store that rebuilds starters. The guy looked into the book and didn't know which part number it was, luckily it's not too far from the house and I brought the starter to him and he promptly pulled out the exact parts. This must be a common part.
If they didn't have it I would have either bought reconditioned from Autozone for 129 plus tax or waited for parts from CDan. Luckily I got it and it starts like new.

Before it used to crank 3 or 4 times before the engines fires up. Now it cranks up almost immediately.

I never knew that symtoms of a slow crank that mimicked the signs of a drained battery could be the starter.
I've changed two starter before on different vehicles and both either was cranking at normal speed or not working at all. I can give you the small place that sells the parts but he doesn't do internet. I think going to a specialty starter/alternator store is the best bet because I've seen somebody else pay 12 bucks for just the contacts.
Thanks alot for all your input!
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom