Potential Starter Problem

[pint]

All the sudden in the last couple weeks I'm getting a weird sound occasionally when I start my truck. It starts fine, so far, but when I turn the key I get a noise for about a 1/2-1 second before and after the starter engages and does it's thing. The noise is not as loud as the starter itself, but a very brief slight whine? FWIW - My starter was replaced under warranty about 30K ago, and I put in a new battery about 10K ago. Any ideas? Loose wire? I haven't really dug into it yet as I've been out of town.

 

[Michael Hanson]

Going out again.2 cents Mike

 

[pint]

Come on, one of you guys must have an idea? If it's the freaking starter again I'm gonna be reeeeally pissed. Again, it starts every time just fine. There are just a few extra noises?

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Brakes pressurizing? Open up the hood, have someone else start it and see where it's coming from. Turn the key to "on" a few times without starting the truck and see if you hear it.

 

[pint]

O.K. here we go...hoping someone has a quick easy fix. Probably not! Finally had time to slow down and listen to what is going on since I had to drive 1100 miles doing a full loop of Colorado selling cabinets this week. It still starts, but is getting worse. The whining noise before the starter turns over has gone from 1 second to 20 seconds! It is coming from the drivers side of the engine. Hard to tell exactly where...my head was deep in the engine bay as my son cranked it a few times! A few days and 25 starts ago it cranked in 1-2 seconds. Now it takes 15-20 seconds? Very different than when my contacts went bad and I had the starter changed under warranty. Any ideas??? Something loose, bad fuse, retarded driver, 2nd bad starter, etc??? I really need to get this fixed and really don't want to take it to a local shop.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

I'm confused. So you turn the key to "start" and the stater doesn't engage for ~20 seconds or the starter turns for that time but the engine doesn't fire up?

If it's cranking over as soon as you turn the key, it's not a bad starter. If it's not firing up, then it sounds like an ignition or fuel delivery problem.

 

[pint]

I'm confused. So you turn the key to "start" and the stater doesn't engage for ~20 seconds or the starter turns for that time but the engine doesn't fire up?

If it's cranking over as soon as you turn the key, it's not a bad starter. If it's not firing up, then it sounds like an ignition or fuel delivery problem.

It doesn't sound like it is cranking at all during the 10-20 seconds lag time...just a whine like power is going somewhere, just not the starter?..then all the sudden the starter engages and "boom" it fires up? Like I said, this lag time has gotten longer as I've been driving the truck this week. Just no time to stop for "repairs" unless it dies. I'm sure it is going to die very soon and just not start. Please help!!!

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Yep, that sounds like contacts.

 

[pint]

Yep, that sounds like contacts.

OK, but when my contact dies at 80K, it would not turn over every time. I would turn the key and nothing a few times, then turn the key and it would start? This is very different? It acts like it is trying to start every time, but is delayed???

 

[Campfire]

Pint, did you replace the starter or did they "repair" it? It sounds like the starter is getting the signal and the motor is engaging, but the solenoid is not throwing out the pinion to contact the ring gear.
Try to do the "tap test" with someone helping you. Have someone start it, and you need top be ready with a long 3/8 extension down through the manifold to "tap" the starter when it makes it's noise. If it grabs and starts when you hit it, it's the starter again.
Good luck there man.

 

[pint]

Pint, did you replace the starter or did they "repair" it? It sounds like the starter is getting the signal and the motor is engaging, but the solenoid is not throwing out the pinion to contact the ring gear.
Try to do the "tap test" with someone helping you. Have someone start it, and you need top be ready with a long 3/8 extension down through the manifold to "tap" the starter when it makes it's noise. If it grabs and starts when you hit it, it's the starter again.
Good luck there man.

Thanks Jeff, I'll try that. Finally have a little time this weekend. The starter was supposedly replaced under warranty. I just looked at my receipt and it says replaced. Now it was probably a rebuilt one, but no idea. Pretty reputable shop.

 

[BMWSTOY]

Good luck Mike, I suppose the warranty from the new starter is out now too. bummer
If you need assistance, I am around this weekend

 

[NMuzj100]

Try to do the "tap test" with someone helping you. Have someone start it, and you need top be ready with a long 3/8 extension down through the manifold to "tap" the starter when it makes it's noise. If it grabs and starts when you hit it, it's the starter again.
Good luck there man.

I once had a Chevy Blazer where I carried a rubber mallet and hit the starter from underneath the truck while someone else turned the key. (Memories of why I now drive Toyotas) If the tap test works it confirms a solenoid problem.

pint - Was this a Toyota rebuilt starter or a parts shop special ? I have always had trouble with rebuilt starters/alternators from the regular auto parts places.

The whine may be the brake MC charging as suggested by Trunk Monkey and not related to the problem at all. Spend some time next to the MC so you know what that sounds like and can separate it out.

I would start with an electrical test of the battery to troubleshoot. Free at Checker, Pep Boys, et al.

 

[pint]

New OEM Toyota starter in and all is good! I had what I was told was a new one put in around 90K under the 100K warranty I got with the truck. In reality it was some off brand cheapo made in Mexico. It lasted 30k! Looks like it was a rebuilt unit out of a Yugo! The contacts were toast and it was beginning to eat itself from the inside out! Moral of the story...always use OEM Toyota parts. I was in too much of a hurry and didn't ask questions when it was under warranty.

 

[1loudLX]

Wow, that sucks! At least you guys got it fixed up tho tonight.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

I'm surprised a dealership would use off brand parts, especially under warranty. It's no money out of their wallet - in fact using OEM parts they'd get their profit margin on those too - all billed to Toyota or the warranty company.

 

[1loudLX]

It wasnt a toyota dealership....

 

[pint]

I'm surprised a dealership would use off brand parts, especially under warranty. It's no money out of their wallet - in fact using OEM parts they'd get their profit margin on those too - all billed to Toyota or the warranty company.

I bought the truck off one of those used car superstores 4 1 /2 years ago. The warranty was not through Toyota. The work was done by a very reputable local shop, but I didn't ask enough questions at the time because it was "free." I'll take some of the blame for being ignorant and lazy at the time. Never again! The receipt still says new, which it wasn't, but it's old news now. The guy that fixed it, who has done a ton of these, said he's never heard one make the noises this one did, or look like as big of POS as this one was! It's all funny now that my truck is back up and running!

 

[Trunk Monkey]

I bought the truck off one of those used car superstores 4 1 /2 years ago. The warranty was not through Toyota.

Ah, gotcha. I must have missed that earlier in the thread. Well, good lesson. Even with the warranty there's nothing that says they have to use OEM, so they probably would have fought you on that.