Starter Contacts: Failure Warning?

[Tinkerer]

Question to the folks who have experienced the infamous 100 Series starter contacts failure: Did you get any warning before complete failure?

Or, did the starter just die, without any advance warning?

I'm at 97k+ miles, wondering if I should just bite the bullet and replace the starter to avoid being stranded...

 

[bluecruiser]

I got a warning .....it would take 3 or 4 times to start a couple of days before I took it in to be replaced...All is good now...I would not wait too long if it starts being inconsistent...Don't want to get stranded, especially offroad..

 

[e9999]

on some trucks, like the 80s, some hesitation starting is often the first indication, sometimes followed by a fire as second indicator... Other times, it's in the reverse order...

in fact some of us, like myself, upon reading all this, put in a quick disconnect on the battery to shut things off in a hurry in case the contacts stick...

 

[Tinkerer]

I got a warning .....it would take 3 or 4 times to start a couple of days before I took it in to be replaced...All is good now...I would not wait too long if it starts being inconsistent...Don't want to get stranded, especially offroad..

What exactly happened when it took 3 or 4 times to start? Would it crank slowly? Not crank at all, followed by normal crank & start when tried again? Not engage the flywheel at first? Make odd noises?

on some trucks, like the 80s, some hesitation starting is often the first indication, sometimes followed by a fire as second indicator... Other times, it's in the reverse order...

in fact some of us, like myself, upon reading all this, put in a quick disconnect on the battery to shut things off in a hurry in case the contacts stick...

Holy Fmoly! What sort of quick disconnect did you install?

 

[mscott]

I had plenty of warning. Probably 3 weeks (though could be more since my wife "didn't tell you, because it only happened like 5 or 6 times").

When it finally died, I sat there for a few minutes and just cranked the key on and off rapidly. It eventually fired up. That was the suggestion from my mechanic. He said it would work and did. Took it over immediately.

Thanks to everyone on this board though. I had only the contacts replaced, and the plunger inspected. The guys told me they never had anyone ask, and it was wise 'cause it saved some $$.

 

[tabraha]

What exactly happened when it took 3 or 4 times to start? Would it crank slowly? Not crank at all, followed by normal crank & start when tried again? Not engage the flywheel at first? Make odd noises?

It would just click like the battery was dead. Kept trying and eventually it turned over. Took it up to the store and had the battery checked. Everything with the battery came up roses. Truck started fine for a week did it again. Really took alot of tries to crank that time and then when it finally did it went straight home to my garage and CDan sent out contacts and a plunger the next day. I installed them that weekend and haven't had a problem since.

 

[calamaridog]

Yea, it will click then eventually will turn over if you keep trying.

I let mine go for several months from when I first noticed. At some point I was wondering if it would ever quit but it was getting worse.

Finally, I went ahead and replaced the whole starter with a new one.

 

[e9999]

snip
Holy Fmoly! What sort of quick disconnect did you install?

any number of cheap battery switch at HF or WM should do. I got a discreet one so it serves also as antitheft device.
Sure beats having to find a wrench and trying to unbolt the the connector on the side of the freeway while the starter is burning from getting stuck on.

 

[donco]

I neglected mine for almost a year before replacing the contacts. At first, it would act up every few weeks & take 3-4 tries to catch. Toward the end it would act up almost every day & take a dozen or more tries & a few times it wouldn't even click. I since learned from a friend with an 80-Series, that besides getting stuck running, they can also fry the alternator, so if you're getting indications it needs new contacts, tend to it right away. Mine started going out at around 70k miles which is typical from what I gather.

Replace the contacts AND the plunger. Mine were very badly worn at approx. 98k miles, it's amazing it would start at all.

There's an Ebay source for the contact & plunger set for less than 50% of the dealer price, same quality as far as I could tell:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/STARTER-REPAIR-KIT-2000-TOYOTA-TUNDRA-4-7L-TSK-6LX-L-K_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33576QQihZ019QQitemZ8072516581

 

[mscott]

Mine died at about 94K...

 

[100 TD]

Not sure if anyone does this, but I would be ckecking/replacing the brushes as well, while you have it apart.

 

[Bongani]

Mine gave me about a two week warning. It started off by just clicking when turning on the ignition. By the second week it would take 4-5 turns (click click click click) before the Cruiser would start. Replaced the contacts and cleaned the plunger. (milage is a low 141 000km but with the first 80 000km doing town driving only)