Starting Problem

The Problem:

I turn the key, everything turns off, nothing happens. repeat one or two times then the truck fires up. I don't hear it clicking. The battery is only a few months old. The starter did get submerged in water but it was doing it before that. I thought it was the loose positive terminal on the battery, but before it got wet I tightened it up. It only happens on a cold engine and not every time its cold.Anyone have any ideas?

04 3.4 V6 TRD with 60k

 

Bad ignition switch, starter, loose wire or possible bad cell in the battery. Any more info you could give?

 

This happened to me too. Ended up needing to get the starter rebuilt. Good luck!

 

Starter contacts.

 

here is a video:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0mp0sBVDwMXY1BObTYxNEpjQjA

 

For me, this issue was corrected by a new starter relay

 

Looks like the starter. Make sure there isn't any corrosion on the starter cable. Also I'd buy a toyota starter. They are a bit pricey but much better then the auto store rebuilds.

 

Starter contacts are an easy cheap fix ($10-20). Don't give up on your Denso starter, it will outlive you.

 

heres another video:
http://vid61.photobucket.com/albums/h59/dverschoor06/Video_zpstogwkkzs.mp4

 

Starter contacts. I just had to do them on a skid steer I own. Basically the same Denso starter that Toyota used. Turn the key several times in a row and it would eventually start, until that wouldn't work anymore. When the ignition is engaged, all other power is shunted, but your contacts are worn (grooved) and not making contact every time. I actually got away with just filing the contact plates smooth again. But I did buy a set of contacts and a plunger for the next time. While you have the starter out, its not a bad idea to disassemble it, clean it up and grease all the gears. There are a number of videos out there on how to do this. Hardest part is getting the starter in and out.

 

Where did you get the kit from?

 

my money is on the electrical portion of the keyed switch... The difficulty you have inserting the key, the "notchyness" turning the key tells me that the wafers/cylinder in the key are worn. To be blunt, you have too much weight hanging off of the key. * This weight pulls the key cylinder down and that in turn pushes the electricl portion of the switch up away from the contacts. Next time it is in teh crank position and it does not crank tap the plastic housing that surrounds the key and see if the vibration engages the starter.

* this is the reason for Chevrolets shutting off and it cost GM millions.

 

There are other cheaper aftermarket kits available, but if you like using genuine Toyota parts they are available. Go to www.toyotapartsdeal.com, enter your VIN, then look under Engine/Fuel/Tool > Starter for these parts:
Starter Kit, Battery Terminal
Starter Kit, Motor Terminal

You probably don't need this part, but some people replace it anyway:
Plunger, Magnet Switch

Toyota likes to have the electrical part of the switch as a separate part behind the key lock cylinder, so I don't think this theory is correct. If you can turn the key it will turn the electrical part. A worn key or lock will not affect the electrical parts.

 

I found the parts on eBay. I got the number off the starter, built buy Denso for kubota, and searched for the repair parts and made sure they covered my starter model.

I went the electrical route first, redoing all the battery connections, took out the instrument panel and the ignition switch and cleaned all the contacts, new battery, etc. All the time ignoring the starter.

The starter contacts are a known and well documented failure point. I could be 100% wrong that it's your problem, but your symptoms match up.

 

This just happened to me this morning… I was dropping my daughter off at grandmas and I parked kind of sideways on the sidewalk where one side of my truck body was stretched out... when I try to start it I heard nothing but a clicking noise… I checked The battery terminals first… Then checked the fuse… After about five minutes of the same thing happening I put the truck in neutral and roll backwards off the sidewalk to where my truck was level… I tried it again and it slowly started to crank the engine... after holding down the ignition for 4-6 seconds the truck finally started… idk what the heck happened when I got to work, I turn the truck off and turned it back on and it was fine

 

Before I bought my taco, my Mercedes did the same thing, it wouldn't start it would just click, but it only seemed to happen when it was cold, so the problem was just the starter being old, wouldn't spin the gear when it was cold, because there was too much friction. So you could just buy one, or you could tear into and grease it up and that would probably work( of its the same problem I had, which is what it sounds like)

 

Along these lines, the contacts see the heaviest actual wear(possibly the plunger, but you can usually just use some steel wool and clean it up). They are a serviceable part in our starters. They're designed that way so you don't throw away a high quality OEM starter for only needing the contacts replaced.

Edit: not directed at you chops, just happened to quote you for the applicable info in your post. You're obviously aware of what I posted.

 

I had the notchy switch. I took apart the ignition (really easy) and took out some of the rollers in the switch. I found a writeup somewhere on my google searches. What happens is it catches on the key and makes it a bear to turn. It eliminates some security of being able to "jimmy" the ignition if anyone tried to get into it. Where I live it's not a real problem. Plus having a 5 speed most millenials have no clue how to drive it. haha Fixed the sticky ignition. My starter contacts are old and worn to. Every once in a great while the starter will make a "spin" sound. Then it engages. Like it's not engaging at first. I will get around to replacing it some day. Seems I've slowly replaced every damn thing besides the engine and rear end on this pickup Love hate thing.

 

The concerning part of continuing driving around with worn starter contacts is that it's possible that the plunger sticks and the high current that goes through can arch and actually fuse to the contact. I've never seen it personally, but know a guy that had it happen. When that happens the starter stays in constant engagement and then burns up and can actually catch the wiring harness on fire. If the starter does stick and won't disengage, you'll quickly want to disconnect the battery terminal to stop it.

 

I pulled the starter and replaced the contacts. It's fires right up! Thanks everyone for the help!