I think I killed my starter

[5280Hawk]

I went to Jump start my 60 this morning, because I wanted to pull it out from beside my house, I'ts been sitting for about a month.

At first it would turn over a few times (once or twice) Then it stopped all together. I let it charge up for a while then tried it again, but It's not moving at all. When I turn the key I see the voltage on the guage drop.

Did I fry it? Is there a fuse I should check? Im not sure where the fuse box is besides the one in the cab.....

 

[beaufort-fj60]

sounds like your battery is dead. It's real easy to take the starter off and take it apart. There is a plunger that goes up and down. I can get "burnt", easy fix.

 

[5280Hawk]

The battery is very dead, but i had my Tacoma connected to it to Jump it. The Voltage was reading up over 12 and all the gage lights were on, when i would try to turn it over, It showed a draw and the needle would drop....

Should i try to let it charge on my Tacoma's battery for a while and try again?

 

[beaufort-fj60]

if the battery is semi dead the starter will "click click click..." you might have dirty connections also. Clean the wire connections at the battery, the one that goes from battery to starter, and the one that goes from the starter to the frame.

 

[beaufort-fj60]

there are a few nice threads on rebuilding those.. here is one

https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/105626-here-toyota-part-s-starter-rebuild.html

 

[brokenparts]

yep, sounds like you have a bad connection. Usually when the voltage drops that low its due to a bad connection somewhere. Did you crimp your ends on or are they soldered?

The other thing is that your ignition switch might be on its way out. I chased and chased and chased what you were describing for months. Replaced starters, starter wires, checked batteries, etc... I ended up bypassing the column solenoid wire in favor of putting a fancy push button style starter switch (great for anti-theft too). Havent had a problem since.

 

[5280Hawk]

I guess Ill pull the starter to check the connections,

Brokenparts - Im not sure what your referring to crimped or soldered ? the battery Connections? they're crimped i just looked.

If its the Ignition though, it wouldn't have tuned over in the beginning right?

When the ignition goes, isn't it kind if intermittent for a while?

 

[5280Hawk]

thats a Great thread BTW.

 

[lovetoski]

I'm going to suggest a different possibility..,the problem may be related to how you are doing the jump.

If the battery is really dead on your cruiser, and the starter is old them two things are making the jump harder:
1. An old starter draws more amps
2. A dead battery draws more amps (cause it wants to be charged, diverting amps away from the starter.)

So, what can you try differently?
1. Make sure your Taco is running at 1500 rpm or so while you are jumping. Alternators put out fewer amps at idle.
2. Use big fat (and yes more expensive) jumper cables. Skinny/cheap ones cause voltage drop, this can reduce the total watts to the starter to the point that it can't start the truck.
3. Make sure the jumper cable connections are clean.

Hope this helps.

 

[brokenparts]

The big cable wire really should have soldered ends on it. Lots of times the ends gets crimped on there but there can be loss of power if the cable gets crimped near the end of the shielding and holds the shielding to the end fitting but doesnt make a good connection. Soldering helps make a good solid connection.

My ignition would perfect at times and then sometimes I would just get a click, click, click each time I tried to turn it over... each time the voltage meter would drop more than it should when turning over the starter. An easy way to check your ignition at the column is to simply run wire from your starter solenoid (the little terminal on the starter) close to the battery with the end of the wire exposed. When you touch it to the postive terminal, the starter should turn over (granted you have a good ground) and start it if you have the key in the "run" position. If that seems to fix the problem then you know the problem exists somewhere in the ignition column to the starter.

I took the easy way out and just wired in a new switch to bypass the ignition. I just put my key in the "on" position and use the button to start.

 

[brokenparts]

I'm going to suggest a different possibility..,the problem may be related to how you are doing the jump.

If the battery is really dead on your cruiser, and the starter is old them two things are making the jump harder:
1. An old starter draws more amps
2. A dead battery draws more amps (cause it wants to be charged, diverting amps away from the starter.)

So, what can you try differently?
1. Make sure your Taco is running at 1500 rpm or so while you are jumping. Alternators put out fewer amps at idle.
2. Use big fat (and yes more expensive) jumper cables. Skinny/cheap ones cause voltage drop, this can reduce the total watts to the starter to the point that it can't start the truck.
3. Make sure the jumper cable connections are clean.

Hope this helps.

Yep, I agree. My idea is just one of many that could be the problem.

 

[brokenparts]

oh yeah... you can just pull your starter too and have it tested at an auto parts store. Most will do it for free.

Another trick that I DO NOT RECOMMEND but have used on the trail is to bridge the starter and starter solenoid with a screwdriver but watch out... it can throw some nasty sparks and give a decent shock if your not careful.

 

[ohrly?]

dude, just put your tacoma batteries in and see if your cruiser will start up

 

[wengejor]

I had the same problem some time ago. I took the starter apart and cleaned all of the connections as well as the battery terminals. All is good now!

 

[5280Hawk]

I pulled the starter yesterday,

It was super easy to get out. The small wire that connects to the starter has a clip and the end from the Vehicle side was missing the plastic clip, the wire was attached but it seemd to be pretty loose.

Im taking the starter to Checker get it tested today.

 

[5280Hawk]

I actually took the starter to Pep Boys to test it, and Sure enough

IT PASSED!!!

So, I took it home and Cleaned it up, I cleaned all the connections to the battery and the starter and the Ground. And I bought a brand new Battery to boot.

Once i got it all connected, If cranked over like it was brand new. Fired right up.

So i guess i fixed the problem, and I have a Cleaned up starter and new battery to show for it!

Thanks for your help, guys.

 

[5280Hawk]

Revisited

I don't get it.

It's doing the same thing again. It started fine yesterday, and today it won't turn at all.

I took the Starter off again, and cleaned all the connections. I put it back on and it turned over and the truck started. I turned it off to try it again and ....Nothing.

I can see the voltage needle drop when I turn the key. I tried unclipping the small wire to the starter which must be the ignition, I then looked at the needle when i turn the key, and there is no drop, so it must be the Starter solenoid right?

 

[Pighead]

Or your battery died overnight...

 

[5280Hawk]

Or your battery died overnight...

I don't think so, because the lights work and are bright, and the one time it did fire, it didn't sound weak at all, plus the Battery is only about a month old.

They have a Starter in stock at NAPA im going to get it tomorrow.

 

[Zack1978]

I don't think so, because the lights work and are bright, and the one time it did fire, it didn't sound weak at all, plus the Battery is only about a month old.

They have a Starter in stock at NAPA im going to get it tomorrow.

Many people here rebuild their starters with OEM Toyota parts, however I went the route of a reman starter from a good parts place with a lifetime warr.


Zack