Problems after Refurb Engine Install

Greetings,
Not a mechanic. Two weeks ago had refurb engine put in my 2000 Tacoma. Was fine for a week then one morning truck would not start; no clicking or motor movement. Only heard faint buzzing sound like something electrical was trying to do its job. All lights worked. Shop covered cost of having it towed to them; truck then started when it arrived at shop. They looked through everything and found no issues and it continued to start regularly. It never had this problem for the 11 years I've owned it prior to this engine install.
So now the truck has a problem that could reappear tomorrow or never; I'm sure you see the issue.
How would you deal with this?
Much thanks.

 

Sometimes the starter motors get a bad spot on them where they won’t start if they land in certain positions. Or perhaps a bad starter solenoid. Did the refurb engine include a rebuilt starter?

 

Yes, they put in a reman starter when they put the engine in.
Thanks

 

I’d say it was a bad starter. Was it a Jasper motor?

 

It was from Napa

 

I was fucking around with a Jasper motor on my dad‘s old land cruiser and we had a problem with the starter out of the box. It never went tits up after a successful install like yours did, but I would probably start there.

 

Sorry, I misread your question. The engine was a refurb from S&J Engines in Spokane,WA. The starter was a reman from Napa.

 

something I ran into on mine is a bad clutch switch - it works but it's somewhat finicky about what position the clutch is in when it starts. The buzzing you heard could have been the fuel pump.

The starter being bad isn't a bad assumption of course it's just maybe the simplest explanation is the best one.

 

Check battery cables really good.

 

I’d say start with the simple stuff first like check all your grounds etc

 

Sounds like a bad ground(s). There are 3 grounds on first gen tacomas. From the battery negative post to the engine, from the negative post to the inner D/S fender and off the back of the head to the fire wall. They all need to be there. A wiggle test is the first check, follow the cables and wiggle them, if loose, tighten them. The second test is to have someone crank the starter and you have your hand on the negative cable in a safe position. There is a possibility that it can get very hot very fast, if it does, the cable is no good. Repeat this test for the positive lead that goes to the starter. The third test is the hammer test, while someone is trying to crank the starter, tap it with a hammer, if it cranks there is an issue internal to the starter.

 

Any swelling in the outside of the cable insulation is another sign of acid intrusion and corossion inside of the wire.

 

You in Spokane, I can lend a hand if so

 

Very much thanks. I'm actually in Wenatchee though. Spokane was the nearest place we could find an engine.