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starting hesitation

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by w/chunter, Jun 24, 2011.

  1. Jun 24, 2011 at 10:21 AM
    #1
    w/chunter

    w/chunter [OP] Well-Known Member

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    We had a major flood in our area on Monday morning and my son drove my truck, '04 dbl cab 4x4, through some standing water that he said came up to the top of the wheels which are AT2's 265 70R16. On Tuesday I noticed a slight hesitation in the starting. It is making a click before the starter engages. It was so noticeable this morning that I thought my battery was dead. Does this ring familiar to anyone? maybe the solenoid got wet or something? Thanks
     
  2. Jun 24, 2011 at 10:57 AM
    #2
    beefsteak

    beefsteak Active Member

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    Grey Wire mod, Eibach and bilstein 5100s all around, Alcan leafsprings, tundra brake swap with steel lines, loose steering column weld mod, keyless/alarm mod
    Yeah, that click sound seems like the starter is going. When my starter died, it would click like that, and catch and start at first, but eventually it just died. Maybe it is wet and needs to dry out or the flood caused it to rust or something and there's not good contact with the brushes anymore. Hopefully it'll clear up, but otherwise it may be the beginning of the end for your starter.
     
  3. Jun 24, 2011 at 11:44 AM
    #3
    trded

    trded Active Member

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    i would run a battery load test first. cold start hesitation might also be a clogged idle air control valve that you can clean out with carb. cleaner from the local auto parts store.
     
  4. Jun 25, 2011 at 5:50 AM
    #4
    w/chunter

    w/chunter [OP] Well-Known Member

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    That's what I was thinking. I'll give it another week and if it doesn't clear up, I'll pull the starter and check it out. May have to see what it'll cost to have it clean and rebuilt.
     
  5. Jun 25, 2011 at 7:23 AM
    #5
    Yamaha Dave

    Yamaha Dave Well-Known Member

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    Take it to Auto Zone or Advance Auto and they can check the entire ignition system including the starter and battery for FREE. I'm all about using free engine diagnostic tools and resources so...
     
  6. Jun 25, 2011 at 10:42 AM
    #6
    w/chunter

    w/chunter [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thanks Dave, I hadn't thought about that.
     
  7. Jun 25, 2011 at 11:58 AM
    #7
    67tone67

    67tone67 Well-Known Member

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    Check ground cable too........ Alot of time.... Its the culprit.....
     
  8. Jun 27, 2011 at 9:57 AM
    #8
    w/chunter

    w/chunter [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Nothing now but a click. Engine will not turn over. I read on another forum where these solenoids are notorious for contacts to wear out. Guess I'll be pulling the starter and it looks like a tough task. Dang it!!!!!
     
  9. Jun 27, 2011 at 11:26 AM
    #9
    skytower

    skytower Well-Known Member

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    Hitch and wiring, aux back-up light, rear strobe lights, radio and underseat sub.
    Have the charging system tested. Dying or undercharged batteries make it go Click, so do bad solenoids.

    Hesitations are normally spark or fuel injector related.
     
  10. Jun 30, 2011 at 8:41 AM
    #10
    beefsteak

    beefsteak Active Member

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    Is it an automatic or stick? if it's a manual tranny, you could roll start the truck by putting it in neutral, and letting it roll from momentum from being on a hill or having someone push the truck for like 10 to 20 feet and you popping the clutch. This bypasses the starter but cranks the engine. In an automatic, you can crank the engine, while someone taps on the starter, this sometimes gets the metal brushes/contacts to jiggle enough to make the starter work for that time. The popping the clutch is easy and can buy you lots of time to figure out how to afford to fix the starter, the automatic tranny method is kind of a pain in the butt.
     

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