Starting issues

[cruizer]

Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this, but here goes.
I have a 86 landcruiser hardtop with a 3b engine. Sometimes when I go to start it, it just clicks. The engine wont even rotate. It has a new starter(about 8 months old). Most of the time it does start, but like I said, the engine just clicks sometimes. The solonoids click, but the engine doesn't rotate. Does anyone have any idea of what this could be? Thanks for any info.

 

[landtank]

Doe sit work if you jump the battery?

 

[cruizer]

I haven't tried that yet...But i'm pretty sure its not the battery

 

[Safado]

I'd be really suspicious of the starter. Did it start after it was replaced?

Welcome to the Forum! I don't know where you belong either...but feel at home here...this is where the cool crowd hangs out.

 

[cruizer]

The starter worked fine after it was replaced. Its just recently that the truck decides if it wants to start or not. I'm thinking its a bad connection, but I can't find one.

 

[landtank]

It doesn't have to be a bad battery, just one not fully charged by a bad alternator. But go right ahead and rule out possible problems without verifying their state. Just plan for a long haul on diagnosing the problem.

 

[cruizer]

It can't be the battery, because even without charging it, it will start fine. It never starts slowely or anything when it does start, just sometimes there a click, not even an attempt to move by the starter.

 

[mabrodis]

You want to verify a few things. You said you didn't think it was the battery, but do you know forsure, meaning if you put in a stronger battery does it start EVERY time, or is it still flaky? Also, while you're having someone turn the key, put a volt meter on the battery, see what the voltage is before and while they are trying to start the engine. Also do the same test but have your volt meter down on the actual wire on the starter, since that is measuring what voltage is actually making it to the starter.

If the numbers look good (over I'd say 10.5 volts at the starter) and the starter is still not kicking in, then it's the starter motor or the contacts. I would guess contacts if that happens since they can just not draw enough current to kick in the motor. If the actual motor was bad I would expect it to draw too much current, which would likely drop your voltage numbers.

This problem sounds exactly like the common starter contacts problem in the 80-series. Your's is a different model with a different engine but still has to have a starter contact setup in there somewhere.

Good Luck,
Mark Brodis