I have a 2000 with about 120K on it. This morning before work I go to start it (about 20 degrees or so in the garage) and it seems like the power went to the starter (it kind of made a thunk noise, for lack of a better term), but it doesn't turn the engine at all. It did that twice, on the third try it started. The truck sits outside all day at work in minus 10 degree (F) cold. After work, it does the same thing, but it takes maybe 10 tries before it starts- on one of those tries, it did turn the engine, but slowly, maybe only because it's so cold out. My battery is about 1 month old. After I get home from work, as an experiment, I turn the truck off and try it again. It starts right up. I did this a couple times and it started right up both times- when the engine was warm. Does this sound like the starter/contacts?? If it was the starter, wouldn't it behave the same warm or cold? Any other ideas? Thanks, Dan.
Starter? Something else?
- Thread starter LCWannabe
- Start date
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You might also check your battery cable terminal ends to be sure they're clean, tight and making positive contact. Ditto for your ground.
Those are the symptoms that I had when my starter contacts went bad.
- Thread starter
- #5
Well, same thing again this morning. On second thought, the sound could also be described as a click (I tried starting it with the door open today to hear it better). I'm leaning heavily toward the starter contacts- just want to exhaust any easier solutions before I tear into that job (-12 here this morning). I'll definitely clean the battery cables first. The battery is new. Any other thoughts? Thanks, Dan.
Trunk Monkey
Moderator
If it's clicking it's probably not the starter. If it's the contacts the starter won't even click.
when you turn the key, does it click once or many times? It your hear a lot of rapid clicking, it's probably battery or other issues with it receiving enough power..
When my starter contacts went bad (145K) i would hear one click when I turned the key, and after a few turns the starter would engage and start right up. Also, when the starter did engage, it sounded completely normal and seemed to turn at the normal speed.
hope this helps,
-Arthur
When my starter contacts went bad (145K) i would hear one click when I turned the key, and after a few turns the starter would engage and start right up. Also, when the starter did engage, it sounded completely normal and seemed to turn at the normal speed.
hope this helps,
-Arthur
- Thread starter
- #8
OK, so the sound it makes is "kind of" a click or a "thunk'- but it only does it once per cycle-it doesn't "click click click" until I release the key. Freeheel- that sounds like what I'm getting. Coincidentally, my truck was manufactured in Mar of 2000 (according to CDan going off the VIN). That was the exact month they switched starters, so there is no way to know which starter I would need until it's all torn apart. I ordered both sets of contacts to get around that issue. One more question- is it consistent with contact issues that it starts right up when the engine is warm, but starting is very difficult when cold? Thanks for all the replies, Dan.
I would suggest you also order a new plunger. My plunger was very badly corroded when I changed my contacts last year.
Your symptoms sound EXACTLY like mine before I changed plunger/contacts.
I used the Toyota plunger, and contacts from Carquest (my toyota dealer was out and told me they would be the same thing, just more expensive from Toyota).
Hope this helps,
Arthur
Your symptoms sound EXACTLY like mine before I changed plunger/contacts.
I used the Toyota plunger, and contacts from Carquest (my toyota dealer was out and told me they would be the same thing, just more expensive from Toyota).
Hope this helps,
Arthur
Just changed my starter 3 months ago, after enduring for 1 year the same hard starting symptoms you have. It took me that long because I was trying to isolate if it was the battery or the starter since it was intermittent, sometimes it would be ok, then after a few weeks ( the longest was over a month), the hard starting issue will be back. Also, my DieHard battery is about 3 years old so it could be the culprit , took my battery to Sears for check-up, nothing wrong.
It got worse when I parked once in my inclined driveway. I saw somewhere in the forum that the position of the starter contacts may have something to do with it, even read somewhere to open the hood and close it to shake the vehicle then tried starting it again.
Concluded that it was my starter, and it was replaced by a mechanic who advised me to change the whole starter instead of fixing the starter contacts only because it is labor intensive, might as well be sure of the fix. It cost me $650 for everything (labor+Denso starter from the Toyota dealer), Toyota dealer was charging me $1,000. It was labor intensive due to the location of the starter, you can find details also in IH8mud thread.
Starting has since been one click, did not change my 3 year old Die Hard battery, problem resolved !
Hope this helps,
It got worse when I parked once in my inclined driveway. I saw somewhere in the forum that the position of the starter contacts may have something to do with it, even read somewhere to open the hood and close it to shake the vehicle then tried starting it again.
Concluded that it was my starter, and it was replaced by a mechanic who advised me to change the whole starter instead of fixing the starter contacts only because it is labor intensive, might as well be sure of the fix. It cost me $650 for everything (labor+Denso starter from the Toyota dealer), Toyota dealer was charging me $1,000. It was labor intensive due to the location of the starter, you can find details also in IH8mud thread.
Starting has since been one click, did not change my 3 year old Die Hard battery, problem resolved !
Hope this helps,
- Thread starter
- #12
I'm going to change the contacts/plunger after work (Guard Drill- ugh!) on Sunday. I know a mechanic who is going to let me help him. I probably would have just changed the whole starter too, but as stated earlier, I would have had to buy one of each version of the starter because of the build date of my truck. Oh well, contacts should fix the problem for quite a while. BTW, the local stealership quoted me $975 for new starter installed. I'll be spending about $40- 50 plus maybe $200 (or maybe less) for labor. Thanks to all for the help. As usual, MUD comes through- oh yes, I'll also be printing out the MUD write-ups for reference. Thanks, Dan.
Yes, changing the contacts and plunger fixed all my problems (at least where starting is concerned 
)
I think it's a smart use of funds to just replace the contacts/plunger as opposed to buying a new starter. I didn't think the job was all that bad, it just takes a while. (it's A LOT easier than the exhaust manifold repair I just finished) Like you, my dealer quoted me $960 to do it, and I did it for about $50.
Good Luck, and have fun.
) I think it's a smart use of funds to just replace the contacts/plunger as opposed to buying a new starter. I didn't think the job was all that bad, it just takes a while. (it's A LOT easier than the exhaust manifold repair I just finished) Like you, my dealer quoted me $960 to do it, and I did it for about $50.
Good Luck, and have fun.
