Trouble starting in the cold

I've been experiencing trouble starting my Tacoma when it gets really cold out. I'd say once it gets below freezing. What will happen is that I go to turn it on and it'll make and awful high pitched grinding sound. So I'll quit and then try it again and it starts up just fine. I'm wondering what I could do to make it so that I can just turn the key and not have to worry about it. IDK if new plugs are going to help elevate this problem or if there's something more I need to do. So let me know what you guys think is up.

 

i have the same problem man... i think chris said that it is a common problem in the first gen tacos

 

^^^ The battery is only a little over a year old. I'll take a look at the terminals tomorrow and see if I can't clean them up a bit. Sure hope its not the starter but who knows thanks for your input!

 

I'm glad I'm not alone on this one

 

Alright good to know I'll take a look at it tomorrow. Thanks for the help.

 

The cold might be causing the stater pinion not to engage the starter ring gear completely on the first shot. Could be that your starter's getting tired. Only other thing I could think of by what you're describing could be worn teeth either on the ring or pinion gears.

 

My truck has trouble starting when it's cold out too. There is this TSB about starting problems, but I have a feeling the problem is because of the starter instead of a ground.

 

Try getting a pipe warmer and putting it on your starter. See if keeping it warm helps out. You can get them at any hardware for $15.

 

Alright, I was out shopping earlier. Whenever I first started the truck, it sounded real weak and took about 5 seconds to start. After I got done shopping, I went out and started my truck pretty easily. Think it has something to to do with the engine temp?

 

Is the little window thing that is supposed to show battery health accurate at all?

 

I don't think it has to do with the battery. I went out to do some shopping today, and it started up fairly easily. Temps today were mid 40's, whereas whenever it was having trouble it was probably mid 20's. So I'm assuming that it has something to do with ambient temperature...

 

I bet it's the starter. My old blazer did that a couple times, both times turned out to be the starter going out... Make sure to carry a wrench around with you (to smack the starter when u get stranded)

just my .02

 

Before you shut your truck off try turning all accessories off, and let it idle for a minute or 2. See if that helps any.

 

I would say battery. I notices a "slugish" start on thanksgiving. That evening I used my truck to light my friends front yard for 5 minuted while he got firewood. My truck wouldnt start after that.