Please tell me it's not the starter again...

[Leandro]

Hey folks
First, I hope everyone is safe and sheltered.
On 12/23/2018 my starter started giving me issues. The typical turn key and nothing happens.
I had a family trip planned for 12/26 to an inhospitable cabin the MI UP. So in the rush the get this fixed I purchased the starter I found handy, at AutoZone. I knew that was a mistake, but there was no time.
I spent all 12/24 replacing it along with the intake gaskets. I had the help of my wife's cousin that was visiting from Spain. I'm not a small guy, I'm 6' 3" and 300lb, so he climbed to the engine bay and did most of the hard-to-reach stuff.
Now, after 1 year, I started having the same issues, very sporadically, usually cranked on the 2nd or 3rd attempt, until this morning that I couldn't start the truck. (it started fine 1 hour later).

I'm really hoping it's not the starter again, I don't know how could I replace myself, and I won't pay $800+ in labor.

Is there any other issues that can present this symptom? You turn the key, but no crank, all lights, radio, everything dims however the starter doesn't make a noise.
I had my battery checked and is fine, although it needs a charge (my commute is only 10 minutes so it doesn't have time to charge). Usually when I start it in the morning the voltmeter reads around 11.6V. After start it quickly reads 14.4V and when it warms up it goes down to 13.6V or 13.7V
I could possibly swap the battery, but I rather not if not necessary.

BTW, the starter I have has lifetime warranty, however if I do have to swap it, I'll go with a reman Denso.

 

[Mike6158]

You might not have the same problem but I recently thought I had a starter issue and it turned out to be loose battery cables. I use the military style cables and I guess vibration cause the connection to come loose. I've since double nutted it. But yeah... I had intermittent starting during a 950 mile trip. I was positive that I was going to have to replace the starter but decided to check the terminals first. I hope yours is that simple

 

[abuck99]

Check this thread- your 99 could very well be a candidate:

My immobilizer fix

I got the famous crank but not start immobilizer problem. I replaced the 20A EFI fuse with a 30A fuse and it started right away. However, it was a temporary fix. I had the same problem again 4 days later. This is what I did to get the engine started. It has been working with no problem for...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[Leandro]

I thought the immobilizer issue would prevent it to start, but it would still crank.
Mine doesn't crank at all. Nada.

 

[gregnash]

I thought the immobilizer issue would prevent it to start, but it would still crank.
Mine doesn't crank at all. Nada.

If you hold the door open or have the window down with the hood open can you hear the starter CLICK?
Maybe have someone attempt to start while you have the hood open and are on that side. With what it sounds like, mine had very similar issues and would do that same. Ended up that the Denso reman'd that was installed 40k miles ago had gone. However, this starter had been installed a number of years ago and the last two owners did not drive very much..

 

[95Fantasma80]

Buying OEM should be a sticky

 

[2001LC]

"everything dims " is telling. This is usually starter contacts failing. But if only 11.6V before trying to cranking over, that's to low. Older 100 series tend to far better on lower volts ~12.-4Volts. 06-07 do not fair as well under 12.7V.

 

[Leandro]

I do hear the click when turning the key, loud and clear.
I tried to record a video, but every time I pull my phone and start the camera the truck cranks right up. Maybe that's my temporary solution, every morning I just pull the phone, open the camera app and start the truck.

 

[2001LC]

When immobilizer or neutral switch failing. You'll not hear a click at stater or see lights dim as you try to crank. Those don't allow power to starter, so nothing happens if they're failing.

So if battery good, and battery post and clamps good, clean and greased. It's 99% your starter.

 

[Leandro]

When immobilizer or neutral switch failing. You'll not hear a click at stater or see lights dim as you try to crank. Those don't allow power to starter, so nothing happens if they're failing.

So if battery good, and battery post and clamps good, clean and greased. It's 99% your starter.

I know, I just don't want to do it again

 

[gregnash]

Yup... definitely seems like starter. Time for a Denso and be done with it (hopefully) for a while. Keep your current one and rebuild it so you have a spare.

 

[Leandro]

UPDATE:
yesterday went to start the truck after a week of being parked in my driveway and the battery was dead, reading 11.0 V
The battery I had came with the truck when I bought it on June 2016. So it was at least 4 years old.
Made a run to Walmart and picked an Everstart battery for $98, manufactured on 3/20.
Not my first choice but I prefer that one to the AutoZone or Advance Auto.