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NEED HELP BAD Truck won’t start after replacing starter, battery AND starter relay !!! NEED HELP

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by B.rad31, Feb 17, 2020.

  1. Feb 17, 2020 at 5:40 PM
    #1
    B.rad31

    B.rad31 [OP] Member

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    I have a 2002 Tacoma 4x4 Manual
    My truck would give me problems in the past of not starting but nothing this long. I’m a USMC service member (2147) and my truck is back home (291miles away)so it’s really hard for me to make time to work on it. I need to get this thing up and running I’ve done the obvious I have cleaned out the terminals, a new battery , a new starter, a new starter relay and I’ve ran out of ideas to get this thing to crank over ! All the lights turn on just fine in my truck like the HUD and headlights but when I try to crank it I just hear a zap in the wire that connects to the starter with a nut......... any advice or help works
     
  2. Feb 17, 2020 at 5:46 PM
    #2
    ForestRunnerFrank99

    ForestRunnerFrank99 Well-Known Member

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    So the starter doesn't turn?
     
  3. Feb 17, 2020 at 5:47 PM
    #3
    B.rad31

    B.rad31 [OP] Member

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    Nope just hear a zap coming from it
     
  4. Feb 17, 2020 at 5:48 PM
    #4
    Bishop84

    Bishop84 Well-Known Member

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    Could be a bad starter out of box.

    My next step with your truck would be to remove it and bench test it.

    Could be resistance due to poor grounding, burnt wire, weak new battery etc.. but bench testing a starter goes a long way.
     
    TnShooter and B.rad31[OP] like this.
  5. Feb 17, 2020 at 5:48 PM
    #5
    ForestRunnerFrank99

    ForestRunnerFrank99 Well-Known Member

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    Do you have the terminals on the starter crossed? Is the clutch switch working properly? Will it start in neutral with the clutch cancel button?

    Also what @Bishop84 said
     
    B.rad31[OP] likes this.
  6. Feb 17, 2020 at 5:50 PM
    #6
    Black DOG Lila

    Black DOG Lila Well-Known Member

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    Bad wire, replace it, they corrode inside the shielding.
     
  7. Feb 17, 2020 at 5:59 PM
    #7
    B.rad31

    B.rad31 [OP] Member

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    Thanks guys
    @Bishop84 I’ll try a bench test but how do I “bench test”? just touch the negative a positive terminals with a wire to the starter form the battery and just see if it rips ?

    @Black DOG Lila the wire that has the nut tightening the wire to the starter looks good and un corroded tho
     
  8. Feb 17, 2020 at 6:03 PM
    #8
    Bishop84

    Bishop84 Well-Known Member

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    use jumper cables from a battery, ground to the starter case, and the positive to the B terminal on the solenoid.

    Then use a wire from the B terminal to the S terminal to simulate the ignition.

    It should spin, and push out.
     
  9. Feb 17, 2020 at 6:10 PM
    #9
    B.rad31

    B.rad31 [OP] Member

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    Is there anywhere specific where I should look or just follow the wires all the way up until I make my way back to the battery ?

    @Bishop84 thanks man !
     
  10. Feb 17, 2020 at 6:11 PM
    #10
    B.rad31

    B.rad31 [OP] Member

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    Terminals on the starter crossed ? I don’t know how I would do that or know if I did that ? And everything works but the started ..... the starter just won’t work
     
  11. Feb 17, 2020 at 6:12 PM
    #11
    Taco Roofer

    Taco Roofer Well-Known Member

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    Take a small hammer and tap the starter and solenoid. Try also a tap on what would be the end cap or face of the solenoid.

    I dealt with this for almost a year on my 4Runner... as luck would have when the original burnt out, the two new replacements were bad but bench tested good! Once I got to new starter #3 I finally got a good one and problem solved.

    Not sure how I get so lucky sometimes hahaha!
     
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  12. Feb 17, 2020 at 6:22 PM
    #12
    B.rad31

    B.rad31 [OP] Member

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    Are you fucking kidding me man ? Hahahaha but I tried that I banged the shit out of the old one and the new one .... is there any way I can skip buying two other starters before getting it to work ?
     
    Taco Roofer[QUOTED] likes this.
  13. Feb 17, 2020 at 6:24 PM
    #13
    Taco Roofer

    Taco Roofer Well-Known Member

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    Hahaha! I'm a lucky muthaf'er sometimes!
    Well, you tried that trick sooo... sorry man that's all i got.
     
  14. Feb 17, 2020 at 6:39 PM
    #14
    TacoTaco02

    TacoTaco02 Well-Known Member

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    What kind of starter?

    Starters and alternators are notorious for being bad out of the box from parts stores.
    I'd stick with new for these parts and only use Denso, Bosch, or some other oem supplier.
     
  15. Feb 17, 2020 at 7:19 PM
    #15
    B.rad31

    B.rad31 [OP] Member

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    Tanks man
     

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