Help!! San Luis Obispo, CA

[diaz7412]

Hey guys I took a trip down here, and my car as always was doing amazing when suddenly it wouldn't start. I have a scangauge so I checked, no codes and the voltage was fine at 12v, I had someone help me Jumpstart the car and it did turn on making me think it was the battery. After driving to a friend's house, it would not start back on, the lights and gauge work just fine. The battery is not bad, but it only clicks, at first it was one click, then it clicked rapidly, now I turn the key, and it won't click. After checking and trying a few things. I believe it's the starter possibly alternator. Not sure how to check the starter, I don't have a volt gauge with me.

If anyone is in the area and is possibly willing to help tomorrow, I would appreciate it and would be willing to pay for service. Even if I could get it towed. [emoji17]

Any ideas? Let me know.

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[Mark_BC]

Have you checked the battery posts for corrosion? If the cables aren't clamped on there nice and tight you can get arcing which causes the electrical contact to the battery to be interrupted.

 

[HiluxSurf SSR-G]

try hitting the starter with a hammer 2-3 times. if it starts, it's the starter and you need to replace the contacts and/or the plunger.

 

[diaz7412]

Have you checked the battery posts for corrosion? If the cables aren't clamped on there nice and tight you can get arcing which causes the electrical contact to the battery to be interrupted.

They don't look too bad, I assumed they're fine I took the connections off a few times and tighted them up.

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[diaz7412]

try hitting the starter with a hammer 2-3 times. if it starts, it's the starter and you need to replace the contacts and/or the plunger.

I tried hitting it, but it's hard to get a good solid hit on it because of its awkward placement.

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[thecole1098]

I’m gonna bet on the starter, especially if it’s the original. You should still be able to hear the relay click though when turning the key to start. If it doesn’t click, try turning it over in neutral instead of park (assuming you have an auto). If it starts then the neutral safety switch is bad and either needs to be replaced or the contacts inside need to be cleaned.

 

[diaz7412]

I’m gonna bet on the starter, especially if it’s the original. You should still be able to hear the relay click though when turning the key to start. If it doesn’t click, try turning it over in neutral instead of park (assuming you have an auto). If it starts then the neutral safety switch is bad and either needs to be replaced or the contacts inside need to be cleaned.

Yeah, I'm going to try to replace the starter tomorrow, I didn't think it would go bad with only 170k miles, my last truck (Toyota Tacoma) lasted until 250k miles.

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[CalBlackSheep]

Have you tried jumping it again? If it starts you know it's the battery. If it was the alternator it would've died while you were driving. It sounds like a battery to me. At least take it out and get a ride to the auto parts store to have it checked. Starters aren't cheap or easy to change on 3rd gens from what I've heard, and your lights being on doesn't mean it's a good battery.

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[BrianSD_42]

it would not start back on, the lights and gauge work just fine. The battery is not bad, but it only clicks, at first it was one click, then it clicked rapidly, now I turn the key, and it won't click

What makes you know FOR SURE that the battery is not bad?

In threads like this it is usually battery or corroded terminals. The symptoms you describe could be a perfect match for bad/dead battery, one that just barely works but still can't start the car.

Costco sells batteries. I'd buy one way before replacing the starter. It only takes 2 mins to swap out the battery.

 

[mtbtim]

Yeah, I'm going to try to replace the starter tomorrow, I didn't think it would go bad with only 170k miles, my last truck (Toyota Tacoma) lasted until 250k miles.

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This might be too late but I hope you didn't end up trading in your OEM Denso starter to avoid the core charge when you bought one from an auto parts store.

If the starter was the culprit, a simple renewal of the contacts and plunger in the solenoid is usually the fix. At what mileage your starter fails has a lot to do how it was driven in the past. I think my rig saw a lot of around town driving and was started way more than a rig that saw mostly freeway miles. I had a problem with my starter at around 150k.

In case you haven't performed the work yet, here's a video that might help you out. Look at the video description for a much more affordable option to buy the contacts and plunger from an Ebay seller than the kit I bought from Toyota.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WV1t5-wcoOI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[jtnumberthree]

Pismo dunes!