will not start . . . . sometimes

[FlyingCow]

1989 4Runner V6 Auto

This little problem is getting annoying. Sometimes my rig won't start. Turn the key, lights come on, starter doesn't engage. Sometimes if I hold the key for a while it will start - sometimes it won't.

If it dosn't start I can walk away and come back, try it again and it will start. Might be my imagination but when it is cold this symptom appears more often.

Replaced the starter relay and that's about as far as I've got. Anyone had this happen to them?

 

[wazzuFreddo]

I remember back on the '86 I used to have there was a wire to the starter that could be knocked off easy during an oil change. Everything would come on but when I hit the starter, nothing. Perhaps the connection is starting to go bad.

I don't know how the v6 is set up though so YMMV

 

[004Gunner]

My first thought is a loose connection as well. The fact that your lights come on means that your battery connection should be good, just check the connections for the starter.

 

[JP4RNR]

I have had this happened on two 80's Toyota trucks

There is a voltage drop through the wire that sends the signal from the ignition to the starter to crank. This was remedied by wiring an external relay between the ignition and the starter

 

[4boer]

Colder temps means metal shrinks (shrinkage!). So something, a relay?, that usually has contact is now off by a fraction. I've got a buick whos horn won't blow in cold temps.

 

[1fast_e]

Could starter contacts being warn cause this?

 

[Ron Helmuth]

sounds like the worn contacts

Could starter contacts being warn cause this?

could very well be the starter contacts

see 4crawler.com for details

This is a common problem as the starters age-is not limited to any specific generation of Runners.

 

[BretSuAz]

Mine is doing the same thing. Will not start when cold, but if you turn the key a few times it will start. Once it warms up, starts every time. Dealer confirms it is the starter, but wants $550.00 ($300.00 parts) to fix it. Obviously, I am not going to pay that. I found a used one for $75.00 and was just getting ready to order it when I discovered that sometimes the contacts go bad and need to be replaced, as opposed to the whole starter.

Has anyone replaced just the contacts? If so, did that work?

Thansk, Bret

 

[Ron Helmuth]

not yet... but soon

Brett- I have not yet pulled my starter but if you can get a rebuilt one for $75 it is likely just as easy to swap in the starter itself.

Either way you will have to pull the starter -the parts should run you about $12-15 to do the contacts through 4crawler.com

I ordered my starter contacts from Roger Brown and he mentions that if you have a body lift already it makes the starter removal that much easier.

There are a variety of articles on pulling the starter and if you need help finding one let us know.

I'll get to this one of these days....

 

[BretSuAz]

I dropped it off at the independent shop I use on saturday with a laundry list of things I want done. He is going to look at it and let me know what he thinks.