Starter contacts? or solenoid?

[Cow_doc.308]

Got a few questions for you guys.

Sometimes when I go to start my 97 it will just click. Sometimes it fires right up sometimes it sounds like my starter is just clicking once. A few turns of the key and it will (or has to this point) fire right up.

My mechanic friend said its the solenoid on the started based on the sound but I've read a little about the starter contacts.

Any thoughts?

The previous owner told me they had replaced the contacts within the last couple years.

 

[hopdup]

Sounds like you need a new starter.

 

[wshiverick]

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/class...x-intermittent-no-crank-22re.html#post1117438

Sounds like the same issue but i dunno if the fix applies to your rig. If it won't start and you're in a hurry stick a wire in the negative solenoid terminal and touch it to the positive battery terminal with the key switched to on. Always works for me.

 

[Kanger328]

I had this exact issue you described. Turned out to be contacts. I just removed the starter, opened it up, and took a wire brush to the contacts. There was also alot of gunk in there that I cleaned out. Haven't had a problem since.

 

[Socco]

Got a few questions for you guys.

Sometimes when I go to start my 97 it will just click. Sometimes it fires right up sometimes it sounds like my starter is just clicking once. A few turns of the key and it will (or has to this point) fire right up.

My mechanic friend said its the solenoid on the started based on the sound but I've read a little about the starter contacts.

Any thoughts?

The previous owner told me they had replaced the contacts within the last couple years.

This is most likely the classic symptom of worn out starter contacts. It's very common. Replacing the contacts is cheap and relatively easy to do. The starter itself is incredibly reliable, I wouldn't replace it with some house brand part. I replaced mine 8 years ago when I was experiencing and it's worked like a Jem ever since. Pull the starter and inspect the contacts. If they are worn down, replace them. There are several how-to threads on here.

I'd find you one, but the wife is giving me that "Are you gonna get off the computer soon?" look. :suspicious:

 

[4eigner]

Had the same issue you are describing. It turned out to be worn contacts in the solenoid. Get them replaced sooner rather than later otherwise the starter will fail to engage, or the plunger may weld itself in the engaged position and you won't be able to disengage the starter without disconnecting the battery (a bad situation that will leave you standed at the worst time.)

The repair bill can only go up on this inexpensive fix the longer you wait. You may also need to replace the plunger, but that won't break the bank either. Have one on hand if you're doing the work yourself.

 

[TheDurk]

Just to be clear, the starter contacts are the wear parts in the Denso starter's on-board solenoid. Regardless of when you changed them, the symptoms still say starter contacts. They may have been badly installed, become contaminated, wrong ones installed, or maybe the plunger needed to be changed and wasn't.

If it is a factory Denso, make every effort to save it, because remans and aftermarket starters are not in the same league when it comes to quality.

 

[Natural_Nativ]

Everything has already been said in this thread, but here is my experience. I was having the same issue as you. Took the starter apart, changed the contacts, also cleaned the plunger where it makes contact, put back together. A couple days later was having the same issue but it wouldn't start at all. Turns out I had tightened one of the contacts too much and wasn't allowing for a proper contact even though it was new and clean.
Could be this or that the plunger was not cleaned as well.