Weak start

for a while now i've had an issue with weak starting.... or slow starting. The battery is 7 mo old and the alternator was changed just over a year ago. Both were changed because of the weak starting but did not help. its even worse on cold days.. barely starts (i live in Tampa so there aren't many of those) I recently did a tune up on my own that included: plugs, coil packs, PCV, air filter, all 3 belts. still have the same issue (although i now have a noticeable boost is power). Last week i cleaned the battery terminals that were covered with corrosion.... but that didn't help.

what else can i do to fix this issue?

2004 prerunner 4cyl 189k mi

 

New cables, and possibly a new starter.

 

When was your starter last replaced?

 

Starter

 

i'll have to get you the exact date... but it was replaced earlier this year because it failed completely... came out one morning and would not start. got a pipe and gave the starter a few taps and started right up. replaced it a few days later.

 

Are you saying it sounds like it's cranking slower than normal?

Does the battery voltage drop below 10-10.5 volts during cranking, if yes the battery is weak

YouTube some videos on how to perform voltage drop tests across the battery cables (including ground cables) between battery/starter/frame/etc. This will identify a poor connection at the frame or block

Sounds like the starter is fairly new, but sometimes they can bind up internally. Electrically fine but the bushings/shaft won't want to spin, like a lack of grease or mechanical issue

 

Was it aftermarket or OEM starter?

 

cranking slower than normal... yes. aftermarket starter... from Advanced Auto parts.
i'll do the voltage drop tests later today. Sounds like a kewl thing to learn.

 

Id still suspect starter but could be any if the three, starter, alternator or battery

 

Quality is so hit or miss on remanufactured Electrical Parts . I have far to many that failed out of the box

Local Auto Electrical shop or Denso Reman from a Toyota Parts vendor.

Past time to upgrade the battery cables.

Good Luck!

 

tested the battery using method i saw on youtube. with truck off... i get 12.68A (after leaving headlights on for 2 min). left leads connected and stared the truck... i get 14.63. seems to be good. I removed the terminals and cleaned them with a terminal cleaner that has wire bristles. They're making excellent contact now. But im still getting a slow crank. looks like next step is to test the alternator or starter.

 

My 97 4 cyl is the same way, I’ve replaced everything but the cables themselves, and even bought the “cold climate” starter which supposedly has more torque and it still sounds like it struggles to crank over. Even during the warmer months.

 

You left out ignition switch.........
nothing lasts forever......

pretty much only thing in ignition/coil branch you havnt replaced.....

I think a bad/weak coil (non-oem one) caused mine to give up the ghost......

I even keep a $20 generic Beck/Arnley one in my glovebox now......just in case.....

that switch plugs right into the harness of a ton toyota models.......its the mounting holes that give the different part #'s........you could steal any toy.....in less than 30 sec........the power of just one plug.......

 

Also figured on my 26yr old truck.....

It was a good ideal to run a braided ground direct from neg post to intake plenum (computer mount) for more reliable ground to fuel both the 30a AM2 branch firing the coils.....and the 40a AM1 branch (injectors) running pretty much everything else....

Relying on a 25yr old body ground seemed crazy to me.....