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intermittent starting problems - where to find starter rebuild kit?

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by pretzel, Feb 8, 2016.

  1. Feb 8, 2016 at 4:14 PM
    #1
    pretzel

    pretzel [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Hi all...i think i need a new starter or a rebuild kit. I searched and saw the link for Nations Starter & Alternator, but I was wondering if anyone had a source to find the rebuild kit locally? I tried the dealer, Advance, Autozone, etc. but apparently toyota/denso doesn't supply the kit anymore.

    2010 Tacoma
    Battery is only few months old
    12.8 volts resting
    ~14 V running
    battery cables, ground all seem good

    1st try turning key this morning, engine would turn over but slowly and didn't start, 2nd time was still sluggish but started. Multiple starts since this morning with no issue at all. Had a similar symptom last fall before I replaced the battery.

    so, are the starter contacts/plunger replaceable or do I need new starter? If replaceable is Nations the only source? Any other ideas?

    Thanks!
     
  2. Feb 8, 2016 at 4:24 PM
    #2
    maineah

    maineah Well-Known Member

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    The common issues are with the contacts generally it will just click and nothing more sounds like you have a different issue check your grounds.
     
  3. Feb 8, 2016 at 8:23 PM
    #3
    pretzel

    pretzel [OP] Well-Known Member

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    the negative battery cable is grounded to the frame and there is another ground to the engine down by the starter....maybe a dumb question, but are there any other grounds to check?

    the alternator, battery, and starter checked out OK...Advance parts guy thought maybe a bad starter relay could cause intermittent problem...maybe it's just me that has a screw loose :crazy:
     
  4. Feb 8, 2016 at 10:15 PM
    #4
    Jimmyh

    Jimmyh Well-Known Member

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    Your starter is grounded through the mounting of the starter to the engine block. There are two wires going to the starter solenoid small one is for the solenoid coil the large one is for power to the starter motor.

    This being said, if it turns over but is slow it sounds like a high resistance connection somewhere. This is normally at the battery. It could also be a worn/burned area on the starter solenoid contact disk ( inside the solenoid ) which can be disassembled and cleaned.
     
    Last edited: Feb 8, 2016
  5. Feb 9, 2016 at 4:40 AM
    #5
    maineah

    maineah Well-Known Member

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    Got access to a clamp on amp meter? You might try feeling connections after you starter does it's thing if any thing is warm that will be a bad connection.
     
  6. Feb 9, 2016 at 7:51 PM
    #6
    Lester Lugnut

    Lester Lugnut Well-Known Member

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    As stated in post #2, the common issue is the contacts. Pull the starter and take it to a local rebuilder.
     
  7. Feb 10, 2016 at 8:52 AM
    #7
    pretzel

    pretzel [OP] Well-Known Member

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    post #2 stated that the symptom of corroded contacts is "clicking" starter...my issue is more of a very occasional hard start. at any rate I'll check grounds, connections again and look for warm spots this weekend and maybe pull starter to check solenoid. i've got a rebuild kit coming from Nations Autoelectric, too, just in case...their customer service was great and able to confirm that a kit does exist for the 2010 even though toyota no longer sell the part...ordered last night and shipped first thing this morning!

    thanks for all the suggestions!
     
  8. Feb 10, 2016 at 10:55 AM
    #8
    tgear.shead

    tgear.shead Well-Known Member

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    I know you say that your battery is fairly new, but try a different battery anyway. If the battery is massively low on electrolyte, it will show the same voltage, but generate way less current. You could also do a voltage test WHILE cranking.

    Starter failure typically means not cranking AT ALL.
     
    Lester Lugnut likes this.
  9. Feb 10, 2016 at 4:18 PM
    #9
    maineah

    maineah Well-Known Member

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    Yeah I also said that normally it chicks and nothing happens. but your issue is a weak cranking All though it is possible that the contacts are burned enough to cause that but unlikely they have to close before any thing else happens. I did not see the age or mileage of your truck but every Toyota starter will some day require the contacts. The disk is not fixed it does turn so it will be burned all the way around however the fixed contacts will be pretty much shot. The starters generally outlast the contacts at least 2 to one so a starter with 200,000 plus miles on it is not at all unusual. I hope the contacts will cure your problem so it's worth a try they are pretty cheap and easy to replace. Before the contacts became available I made they out of a piece of flattened copper pipe!
     

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