Cold starts

It seems once it gets colder out when i try and start my truck the starter or something acts really funny and makes a horribke noise when i turn the key for the first time. The second time i turn the key is when the engine starts up. Any ideas??

 

Could be the starter.

Or the flywheel.

Or the engine.

Or the fan.

Or belt squeal from the alternator, ac compressor, power steering, etc etc.

Gonna have to investigate a little more yourself.

Good luck.

 

my gut is telling me that the starter "system", system meaning the battery, the cables and the starter are marginal. Cold effects the battery and if the battery, cables and starter are marginal the cold will point it out.

I can remember my dad telling me that if they planed to go to town in the winter they would have to put the car in the barn the night before, NW Minnesota, so that there was enough heat so that they could crank the car over... now we are talking 70 years ago and 6 volt systems but for a few $ more you could put and 8v battery in, of course you would have to take it out of the tractor first.

 

If it sounds like something is just spinning, it's most likely the started that's on its way out. Get a video of the sounds for us to hear it.

 

I would think either starter or flywheel. I have a new battery. It's a 5 spd. I want to try and explain it better, maybe try and get a video of it. But literally i go to crank the engine over and the engine doesnt crank its just a loud ass noise that almost sounds like static. That's the closest I could compare. Truck strts 2nd try everytime when I get that problem the first time. Idk how a starter works to begin with. Best way I can explain is I try and start my truck and somewhere all the line the starter is spinning but not getting to the engine to start spinning the internals???

 

Hah! Just saw this when i posted reply. I can't remember it really ever doing this in the warmer months but it has happened the past 2 late fall/winters

 

My starter has been doing this forever. It's not engaging right away. I have a new flywheel as well. One of these days I'll fix it. Probably just rebuild the starter.

 

Sound similar to this? https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3moB8mAUS8Y

 

That's exactly what mine does every once in a while. Figured it's just worn in

 

Sounds to me like the starter motor and contacts in the video are good but the solenoid that pushes the starter gear into the flywheel is not working at all.

 

When you turn the key to the crank position an electromagnetic solinoid is pulled in, there are copper contacts that make a connection and the starter motor spins. As the solinoid is being drawn in there is a pivot with a fork on it that forces the small gear attached to the starter into the flywheel... in a perfect world the gear on the starter finds the gear on the flywheel every time... sometimes it hits tooth to tooth and hopefully the starter gear or the flywheel moves ever so slightly to allow the gears to engage. Like I stated above, if there isnt enough amperage to make everything work the solinoid doesnt have enough "hit" to force the gear into the flywheel past the tooth to tooth contact.

 

Define Cold ?

Here in the mild climate of Eastern Pa it seldom gets below zero F for days on end .

I would venture a bad starter drive just a guess .

Need to hear the sound

 

Yeah colder then what we have been having. I'm thinking it was around 37° when i posted this that morning. I've been recording when i start my truck every day since but it hasn't decided to do it again lol

 

You're right and I'm wrong here. I didn't think that one thru very well at all. So it sounds like something in the starter motor isn't pushing the starter gear into the flywheel.
Thanks for the correction!

 

The first try warms the starter and gets the battery woke up slightly,,the second try works because the starter and batt is now warm-ish and works like it should. The first try fails due to lack of voltage and too much resistance usually due to cold soak, worn starter arm and brushes, solenoid contacts eroded, bad connections, insufficient battery, or all of the above.

Double check ALL connections really close,,even the starter mounting bolts. I think someone mentioned this already. Do these first because they are the easiest and cheapest. Then move on to the mechanical's. Even if it is working again,,read up on how a starter works. Replacing the starter solenoid contacts is not hard at all, which is usually the next step after checking the above items. Lots of info about your problem in the 1st gen section, but your problem is not limited to just 1st gens or Toyota's. Most, if not all vehicles start a little harder when cold out no matter what kind of gear you purchase. It's the nature of the beast.