Is it my Starter?

A

aldaman

Junior Member
Hello All,

I have a '96 Runner with the V6 engine and auto trans. The battery is fully charged and the Runner won't start. When attempting to start it, it just clicks. Does that mean I have to replace my starter. What else can I check?

Thanks in advance

https://youtu.be/zgPodlVTi8w

zgPodlVTi8w
 
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Are you sure you're battery is good? Have you had it checked at an auto parts store that can load test it? If you're sure that your battery is good and your connections are clean and tight, it's most likely your starter solenoid. There is copper contacts and a plunger you can renew inside your OEM starter to get it working again. Do not. I repeat, DO NOT replace your OEM starter until you've tried the contact and plunger replacement first. Most of the time this will fix your starter. Any starter you buy through an auto parts store is not going to be the same quality as you OEM Denso starter. The auto parts store will ask you for your starter as a core charge and then you'll lose it forever.

Here's a video that can help you out. In the video, I use an expensive OEM contacts and plunger kit I bought through Toyota. I've since found a much more affordable option on Ebay and I share a link to this Ebay seller in the video description. Good luck! If you have any questions, just ask.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WV1t5-wcoOI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
I don't know about Hawaii but AdvanceAuto has remanufactured Denso (OEM) units for decent prices. I replaced mine a few weeks back as the PO had already swapped to aftermarket and I couldn't rebuild.

Dont forget coupon codes for Advance!
 
Clark27 said:
I don't know about Hawaii but AdvanceAuto has remanufactured Denso (OEM) units for decent prices. I replaced mine a few weeks back as the PO had already swapped to aftermarket and I couldn't rebuild.

Dont forget coupon codes for Advance!
Click to expand...

Good to know. These must be the OEM Denso starters they got from customers who didn't realize they could have fixed their starter by replacing the solenoid contacts and plunger. I guess you just have to make sure you're getting a Denso and not some other crappy brand. This is why these auto parts stores always ask for a core because they know 9 times out of 10 they can very affordably fix the starter with a new set of contacts and a plunger and resell it for a very healthy profit.
 
Check and see if your interior accessories are working. In particular, check the door locks. If they do not work, but your emergency flashers do, it is more than likely the 100A fuse in fuse box under the hood. Its not super easy to replace, but its doable in about an hour if it's your first time ever pulling that box apart. If all of your electrical is working, then just as they said, try the contacts. In my experience, the starters in the 6cyl Tacoma/4runner/Camry/whatever all have plunger/contacts issues. Good luck!
 
I replaced the starter on the Tacoma. Little did I know there was a cheap rebuild kit. I can try to find it...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
kolelt said:
I used this
https://m.ebay.com/itm/STARTER-REPA...%3A9247ec9c15e0abc6637a3462ffe9f170%7Ciid%3A1

To rebuild my starter. Works perfect. Except one of the copper tabs are wrong angle. So had to carefully bent it to the right orientation. But it's good. My old one, one of the cooper tabs were badly worn out. Saved me money on a "so called OEM rebuild".
Click to expand...

The kit you provide a link to looks the same as one [MENTION=102606]infamousRNR[/MENTION] and I used to rebuild his starter solenoid. The link we provide in the video description is to a different Ebay seller but the kit looks identical. And, it worked perfectly. No alteration of the contacts needed. Do you have a manual or an automatic? There's a kilowatt difference between the starter for the manual model and the automatic model unless the manual came with the cold weather package. The manuals came with a 1.4kw starter and the automatics came with a 1.8kw starter. The link we provide in our video description definitely works for the 1.8kw starter.
 
Last edited:
I had the same problem. turns out my starter was in fact bad... i had it replaced and that was the end of that.
Best of luck.
 
mtbtim said:
The kit you provide a link to looks the same as one [MENTION=102606]infamousRNR[/MENTION] and I used to rebuild his starter solenoid. The link we provide in the video description is to a different Ebay seller but the kit looks identical. And, it worked perfectly. No alteration of the contacts needed. Do you have a manual or an automatic? There's a kilowatt difference between the starter for the manual model and the automatic model unless the manual came with the cold weather package. The manuals came with a 1.4kw starter and the automatics came with a 1.8kw starter. The link we provide in our video description definitely works for the 1.8kw starter.
Click to expand...

Well, originally my truck was auto. Then I did a manual swap. But I did keep my auto starter.

Mostt like my starter started to take a dump from water crossings and mud play. It didn't die on me. But I noticed few times where the truck wouldn't start. I had to cycle the key.

I have photos of the old parts. I'll upload it tomorrow.
 
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mtbtim said:
Good to know. These must be the OEM Denso starters they got from customers who didn't realize they could have fixed their starter by replacing the solenoid contacts and plunger. I guess you just have to make sure you're getting a Denso and not some other crappy brand. This is why these auto parts stores always ask for a core because they know 9 times out of 10 they can very affordably fix the starter with a new set of contacts and a plunger and resell it for a very healthy profit.
Click to expand...

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p...-280-0166/20840116-P?searchTerm=denso+starter

Used a 30% off coupon plus a perks coupon so it ended up being 111 shipped I believe, I plan to try and send the core to Denso anyways and see if they refund the core chard.

Had to ship which was a pain but the unit looks brand spanking new and is a Denso OEM so I have no complaints at all.
 
Update..

I replaced the contacts and that didn't solve my clicking issue.

1) Had the starter tested after the rebuild at Oreillys and the person said it passed twice

2) Tested starter relay by using one from a working vehicle but that didn't help.

3) used a different battery from another working vehicle and that didn't help.

Could it be my starter switch? Thanks.
 

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Thank you all for the advice / help. Found the culprit. It was a bad connection from the positive battery cable. It was all corroded by the terminal connection. Previously my son changed the terminal post and I never bothered to check the wires connected to it. I assumed he cleaned up all that area thoroughly. After inspecting it and cleaning the wires of all the corrosion, the Runner started right up with one turn of the key.
thanks....
 
aldaman said:
Thank you all for the advice / help. Found the culprit. It was a bad connection from the positive battery cable. It was all corroded by the terminal connection. Previously my son changed the terminal post and I never bothered to check the wires connected to it. I assumed he cleaned up all that area thoroughly. After inspecting it and cleaning the wires of all the corrosion, the Runner started right up with one turn of the key.
thanks....
Click to expand...
Wish I would have seen your post sooner, I would have told you it wasn't the starter or the ignition switch.. sorry!

Sent from my FRD-L04 using Tapatalk
 
TravThePro said:
Wish I would have seen your post sooner, I would have told you it wasn't the starter or the ignition switch.. sorry!

Sent from my FRD-L04 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

No worries, after replacing the starter contacts and verifying that they were still good, I was tempted to buy the ignition switch. But glad I checked the wires / connection. Saved me $$$$.
Thanks...

~~~~~..
 
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