Starter or...

[AssBurns]

So the last couple days my 4R has had some trouble starting when cold. It's a 2000 Limited 3.4 V6. Haven't had any issues when it's warmed up. Not too sure if it is the starter or not. I know I have either a cracked head or head gasket is going out, because in the mornings it will burn off a little coolant until it warms up. So I'm wondering if it is getting hydrolocked from the leaking coolant into the cylinders. It has been starting after a few try's of the starter, so I'm assuming that I'm pushing the coolant out of the engine and clearing it up enough to start. I took a video of it so you can hear the sound it's making. Not the best video but it's good enough. I'll post another one tomorrow morning if I can get a better clip. Let me know your opinions on what you think it may be.

https://vimeo.com/184353945


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[gamefreakgc]

The only time I've heard that noise is when my battery was dying. It could be the starter... but normally the contacts wear down and you just get a "click" and that's it.

How do you know it's burning coolant? It's pretty normal for a lot of steam to come out in the morning and smell a little sweet, mine does that but definitely does not have a coolant leak.

 

[AssBurns]

If I let it sit a couple days it burns quite a bit of coolant and smokes a lot until it warms up. I just replaced the battery a couple weeks ago because mine was getting pretty jacked up from off-roading. I was having trouble starting before because my terminals were corroded from a leaky battery. Maybe I should try replacing the battery cables first before I spend money on anything big.


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[nissanh]

Looks like wornout starter gear or bad flex plate.

 

[thegipper]

Sounds like this^

 

[AssBurns]

So should I start with a whole new starter or just get a new gear? I'll replace my battery cables while I'm at it too.


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[thegipper]

I'd remove the starter and inspect the gear on it first. Then, inspect the flex plate and see if its damaged.

New battery cables will probably not do anything but make your wallet a little lighter but it wouldn't hurt.

Also, inspect all of your grounds while you are at it. The noise definitely sounds like a damaged gear.

Why it's burning coolant and running funny is a whole different issue....The starter could very well have been damaged because of hydrolocking in the cylinder(s).

 

[AssBurns]

I'll try to pull the starter this week if I can find the time. Hopefully the flex plate is not damaged. Also I will be going on vacation for a week so I'll try pulling the spark plugs and seeing how much fluid is in the cylinders after a week of sitting to see if that is one of the contributing factors on why the gears are jacked up. Thanks for the responses. Looks like I got some work to do


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[gamefreakgc]

I'll try to pull the starter this week if I can find the time. Hopefully the flex plate is not damaged. Also I will be going on vacation for a week so I'll try pulling the spark plugs and seeing how much fluid is in the cylinders after a week of sitting to see if that is one of the contributing factors on why the gears are jacked up. Thanks for the responses. Looks like I got some work to do


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Depending on what size starter you have, removing the the starter can be a very frustrating experience. I had absolutely no way to remove the starter so I had to rebuild mine inside the engine bay. Not fun.

 

[nissanh]

Certain 4runners let you take the starter out without removing major component, but mine never let me to get the starter completely out of the truck (see a video posted by one of our t4r member mtbtim: This video is a must to watch if you plan to deal with the starter)

The issue can be the starter drive gear OR the wheels inside the starter. The starter has gears inside to act more like a 1st gear. Those wheel can get bad too. So best it to take the starter out and inspect.

Don't use aftermarket starters. Try to find a good used Denso starter.

 

[D Farms]

the other day my starter died, I took it out and the output shaft bearing had grenaded. I replaced the starter, then my accelerator position sensor went.

 

[aguilaredwardo]

Starter contacts are notorious for them.