Budget Crusty Toyota Rehab/Restore thread

Great to see you back at it.

I have used cheap starters on mowers but never on a vehicle.
At least you can push start it if it quits.

 

Try here to see if they have a starter: 1A Auto | Aftermarket Car Parts - Buy Quality Auto Parts Online
The parts can be hit or miss at times, but they will warranty things without issue.

Or try Rock Auto. You can often find amazing prices online from them for name brand parts. You may have already tried them, but just in case.

 

Looks like a few bucks more at Rock auto for the same no name brand + shipping, comes out to ~$92 for cheapest option

 

Bought a cheap one off eBay. We'll see how it goes, I find it hard to justify spending almost 2x that price for an equally dubious item, and a name brand one is $150.

 

Sounds legit...

Then again ??

 

my co-worker just did the same thing on his new body style camaro. the starter went out in early spring, dealer and most parts stores wanted almost $450. ebay wanted $110. so far, it's gotten him to work every day since.

 

Think mine is techincally a f*ckup truck

 

Old starter is out!

 

New starter is in!

 

Does it start now? No it does not

Same as before, it dings when I put the key in and the headlights works, but no clicking when I turn the key, no radio, no dash lights.

I'm thinking starter relay maybe? I've seen sometimes a bad clutch switch? The battery is brand new and so is the starter now.

 

Neither the clutch switch or the starter relay should take out the radio power and the bulb check (dash lighting up).

Just to be clear:
When you turn the key to the Start position the starter doesn't do anything and when you allow the key to spring back to the On/Run the dash and radio aren't powered?

 

Correct

 

The key switch handled a lot of functions on older vehicles - unfortunately I don't know much about newer ones like your 96.

If you can source a wiring diagram that would show you the circuits.
The first thing to check is for a blown blown fuse, might be under the dash or under the hood.
The owners manual usually is pretty good for fuse locations.

 

Check your ground wires. That would be my first step. Sometimes old ground wires can be quite corroded close to the end also. You can use a jumper to verify a good ground so you don't have to remove all the ground wires.

 

Could be a battery cable. This happened to my old Camaro long ago and I was all set to replace the starter until a friend told me to check the cables. Had er running in a minute once I moved the contact, so replaced both cables and called it good.

 

I just got this neat logic probe from HF, it lights red for power & green for ground.
Only $10 too.

 

Bought one. My battery cable is pretty cooked, that def could be the issue, will have to see if I can jerry rig it to work or just buy a new one.

 

ALso managed to create new headaches for myself in the form of breaking a rusted brake line while swapping the starter

 

Not ideal ever but I'd rather have a line go when the truck is stationary and especially when at home.

 

Any idea what this mystery wire is? Looks like it's zipties to the writing harness, not currently connected to anything, I don't see a likely place it should go to