starter about to go bad?

i got an 05 V6 and everyone once in a while maybe once everyday ill try and start the truck and it wont turn over but then as soon as i turn the key again it kicks right over only alot faster than it normally would.

it goes *turns key* ta ta ta ta ta ta ta ta ta ta ta ta ta ta

*turns key again* ta ta vroooom

(excuse my brillant impersination of my truck starting noises)


does this mean that my starter is starting to go bad? or is there something else i should look at?

 

so it DOES turn over on the first try...it just doesn't fire up and run? mine does the same thing sometimes....turns over for what seems to be longer than normal but does not fire. I'll stop...try again, it turns over and fires up. Not sure what the issue is, but I'd be interested to find out if others have the same issue.

 

yup thats pretty much it. just a lil wierd to me that it doesnt fire up right away. just started doing it recently. battery and alternator are both fine

 

If the starter were going bad it wouldn't try to turn over. Sounds like a fuel delivery, spark, or battery issue to me.

 

hmm this sounds like a job for....CHRIS4X2

 

yeah, my battery and starter are fine...i agree w/ the fuel delivery or spark issue.

my guess has always been fuel pump...almost like it doesn't start pumping soon enough on startup.

i always mean to try turning the key to the run position and wait a sec before engaging the starter (perhaps giving the fuel pump a head start), but i always forget.

 

yeah, looks like me and the OP are both past the warranty.

Chris, Do you recall what all was involved w/ the TSB? What was the cause, and what was the fix?

And, I do not know if any codes are being thrown, but I'd guess if there were, the maintenance light would be coming on? If that's the case, I personally do not have any codes being thrown, as my maintenance light isn't coming on.

 

Yeah I'm out of the TSB range. Havnt checked for codes I'll go to autozone or something tomorrow. Do you remember what the TSB involved doing?

 

shouldn't be that expensive to get it flashed. I'm sure it'd be a little bit. WAG, 200 bucks, unless they wanted to do a diagnosis first.

 

mine does that sometimes when i just jump in and hit the starter.

I usually try to turn the key "on" for a few seconds before trying to crank, letting the fuel filter run for a second. Ive never had it not crank when doing that. its only when im in a hurry that i forget to do this and sometimes it wont start

 

Are you sure the engine is rotating the first time? Low voltage to the starter will cause the solenoid to chatter. I'd check battery and connections first if that's what's happening. Have someone watch and see if the engine is actually rotating.

 

I think the TSB Chris is talking about is for rotating engine, but no spark, fuel,etc. Turn key off, then back on and to start and it fires right up. Mine's done this once (on vacation in the middle of nowhere), never again since. If I remember right the TSB applies during the emission warranty. You may still have coverage. But make sure the engine is actually turning over. Your description makes me wonder.

 

Yeah it will start fine on the 2nd key turn. And also starts alot faster than normal on the second key turn

 

Check your warranty info. The TSB should be covered under emissions. I know mine is seven years, but I'm in California and we have longer emissions warranty.
I was going to have mine done, but it only happened once and I hate to have Toyota F--- with it while it's running correctly

 

True... state laws and warranty. YMMV

If its not turning the first time. That's a bad wire or terminal. If its as it sounds it's described. Many many reasons for that. First I would check is tank lock. Take off the gas cap when I park it, leave it loose over night, see if it happens the next morning. Clogged vent can cause a vacuum in the tank and draw back gas, cause fuel pump strain.

 

Yeah Im not a fan of letting Toyota mess with it either. And I really don't want them messin with the ecu and all there stupid reflashes b/c of the non nonexistent sticking accelerator

 

well you're in luck they don't do that.