starting with bad starter contacts?

[bigskyguy]

I'm pretty sure from other posts that my 99 series starter /contacts have failed me. The dash will light, I have 12 volts, and it sounds as if the starter is spinning but not engaging the ring gear. I have a good reasonable mechanic but I live 42 miles away (Montana). Has anyone been able to jumper across the contacts to try and get the starter to engage fully. Fortunately the rig is in my garage and not some random parking lot. I'm pretty sure I could do the job myself but would prefer "my guy" do it. If I can get it running I wont shut it off until I get to his shop. Any help is much obliged.

 

[1loudLX]

The problem is the starters location, its in the "V" of the engine, and apparently not easily accessible however I personally havent attempted in reaching it.

 

[raydouble]

Typically when the contacts are bad, you'll get a click and then nothing....it sounds like the pinion gear on the starter isn't kicking out at all.

 

[Liam]

I'm pretty sure from other posts that my 99 series starter /contacts have failed me. The dash will light, I have 12 volts, and it sounds as if the starter is spinning but not engaging the ring gear. I have a good reasonable mechanic but I live 42 miles away (Montana). Has anyone been able to jumper across the contacts to try and get the starter to engage fully. Fortunately the rig is in my garage and not some random parking lot. I'm pretty sure I could do the job myself but would prefer "my guy" do it. If I can get it running I wont shut it off until I get to his shop. Any help is much obliged.

keep trying to turn it over...it will eventually catch. Also try closing the hood down to give it a little jolt.....

when the truck warms up you wont really have an issue with it until the next morning or if it cools off.

it sucks, i've replaced two of them. The only good thing about doing it yourself is the savings of $400 in labor and you get to clean everything while you take it apart...

 

[parnoren]

Just a thought. Is it possible the battery is getting old and it doesn't have the full capacity to make it engage? Maybe hook up another car with jumper cables to see if this works.

 

[ginericLC]

Due to location you can't just jump the posts. It isn't that bad of a job. When mine went I didn't even get a click sound. I'd turn the key and nothing. Your description sounds like a partially stuck plunger or even worn teeth on the flex plate or starter because you say it is spinning. The slamming the hood isn't a bad idea. I've tapped on 80 series starters with a hammer to get them to turn over when they went bad. Just a little tap sometimes will change the position enough to make it catch and start. You might also try rocking the truck back and forth a little. Don't go crazy though. Just a slight rock might make it work long enough to get it started.

 

[Liam]

Just a thought. Is it possible the battery is getting old and it doesn't have the full capacity to make it engage? Maybe hook up another car with jumper cables to see if this works.

this is a chronic issue with 98-00 land cruisers. 99.99% of the time it is the starter contacts...

 

[raydouble]

this is a chronic issue with 98-00 land cruisers. 99.99% of the time it is the starter contacts...

It's not just them, it's the common wear point on all Denso starters.

If the starter is spinning the contacts have made contact......

 

[NMuzj100]

This sounds more like a starter solenoid problem. A sticking solenoid may respond to tapping ect.. but the starter being in the center of the block makes that more difficult.

There was a time when I carried a rubber mallet at all times to get my Chevy Blazer started. One of the many reasons I drive Toyota now.

I think charging the battery or hooking up a second car to ensure full power are good ideas as well. A little extra juice could unstick the key part.

 

[raydouble]

Clean your battery terminals and connections and the engine ground (since you can't get to the postive connection at the starter)

 

[ginericLC]

Yep, all Denso starters. Even the ones they put on the Cummins. The good thing is you can do contacts many times without replacing the entire starter. And they are cheap and it is 1 banana job once you get the starter out. The Denso starters have a ton of applications. Even my neighbor's John Deere tractors use them. And amazingly the contacts are nearly identical to the 100s. I think I might have actually used JD contacts mine or maybe Cummins. I bought Toyota ones but when I did it I was at my friend's shop and we had them all lined up and I still have the Toyota ones in a baggy.

 

[TXLX470]

When my starter when out I just heard the clicks...nothing else

Could this be the alarm system acting up...if I understand correctly your starter is spinning but the truck won't starts...

 

[NMuzj100]

Could this be the alarm system acting up...if I understand correctly your starter is spinning but the truck won't starts...

One thing to check is to remove all other keys from your key ring and try and start the truck. Multiple transponders can interfere with each other.

also try using a back up/secondary key to start.

 

[whereditgo]

Check here:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/100-series...cing-100-series-98-up-starter-contacts-9.html