Clicking Starter

Hey all,

It's been a while since I've been here but I've always had good luck getting help and that is rare when you drive a Tacoma!

I've got a 1995 with a V6, automatic/2WD with almost 320,000 miles on it. Recently, when I go to start it it will click a instead of starting. If I rotate the key a few times it finally "grabs" and starts. This happens intermittently- sometimes it fires right off. I had the battery checked and the starter checked at Autozone and they say they are both fine. The connections to the battery are clean. I'm thinking it may be the solenoid on the starter. Any of you guys have an idea what may be happening here?

Thanks.

 

sounds like the starter is going bad, or the connections with the battery are worn and loose. Don't trust autozone with the starter testing, they were wrong about my corolla starter being good.

 

need better info. What is "clicking" you speak of? If the starter and battery are strong, then you have worn out teeth on the ring gear of your flywheel. Usually it makes a grinding noise.That will suck to repair. They wear in one of four general locations on the ring gear. It starts fine when you are NOT in one of those positions.
This all depends on what "clicking " means and that the starter and battery are in fact, fine. Good luck.

 

No, it's not a grinding sound. It's clicking from the starter like when the battery is going bad.

I'm agreeing with you guys on the AZ battery/starter check. I'm a bit suspicious of their "starter" check especially. When I get the time I'm going to change the battery cables- they are 17 years old.

 

more then likely your starter needs to be replaced. i had the same problem on my 02 taco w/ 290k on it. replaced it all is well, should be good for another 10 yrs i hope.

 

I would start with the solenoid. Long time for those contactors be working.

 

The auto zone checkers are worthless. I had mine checked and they said it was good, then took it to a real shop where they isolated it and checked it and found out it was toast. Your problem sounds just like a failing starter. Take it to a real mechanic shop and have em test it to be sure, but I'm pretty positive you will be buying a new starter pretty soon.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZYHtMaMuMg

 

Very common problem and fix with our Toyotas.
I've just replaced the contacts, thats what came in
the 'rebuild kit' ( about $20 ), where a starter is in the hundreds.

 

Yeah, I had the click thing happen. Your starter contacts are wearing out. Get one of these starter contact rebuild kits and go from there.

 

Thanks for your help. I'll hope it gets me to work until next weekend when I get time to fix it. The cables look okay after I inspected them.

I'm hoping for 500,000 before having to buy a new Tacoma. I still have my service schedule book and completed my 75th oil change a couple of weeks back. No finer truck has ever been made.

 

Probably starter related, but would not hurt to double check the ground from the engine to the chassis. Make sure it is clean metal and tight. Also, if you have oil leaks that are getting down to the starter that can cause you an issue as you could add resistance to the ground. I'd also double check the wire connection to the solenoid itself. Just coming from my experience, but on my v6, someone removing the starter nicely broke the retaining clip on the solenoid wire plug. Had a loose connection there that I had to fix.
Just quick things to look at. As previously posted it does sound like a starter issue, but being as cheap as I am I always look for zero cost fixes first lol.

 

Yeah man, go down the starter contact trail. Try Googling 'Toyota Tacoma starter contact problem'... There's threads all over describing your exact issue...

I'm researching the same thing now as I'm having the same problem on my 1998 2.7L. Been researching off and on for several weeks now. Starter contacts is the most accurate diagnosis for this... Don't bother with the stripped flywheel... That's a bogus diagnosis based off your description. And, in agreement with the other posters, a whole starter is more $$$ than trying the contacts.

Finally purchasing contacts today as my truck will no longer crank.... Only click after click.

 

I agree. My dad had the truck before I did and the contacts have been changed once (about 150,000 miles ago). I thought I could get by for a while but the problem is getting bad so I ordered the kit from Ebay today (Saturday). I'm hoping it gets here by next weekend so I can tear off into the truck. The kit I ordered comes with replacement boots, gaskets, etc. When it arrives I'll let you all know if it was a good buy. Cost 32 bucks shipped.