Need help diagnose start issue - maybe battery

Get the cheapest one you can find or a Amazon counterfeit so you can go through the trouble to get the starter out, take it apart, install the kit, put it back in, have it fail again. Or get a good one that’s known to be proven good, do it right once.

https://www.nationsstarteralternator.com/

 

I agree. Nations they provide a new plunger where a many kits do not.

 

Amazon went back on it's promise to deliver it on the 3rd. Now it's saying I'll get it on Tuesday. Here is the link to the part I ordered:

$13 X AUTOHAUX Car Solenoid Rebuild Repair Kit Contact Plunger Set for Chevrolet Corvette 1988-1996

https://www.amazon.com/AUTOHAUX-Starter-Solenoid-Rebuild-Contact/dp/B07ZQ7732W ...if you read down in the reviews, it worked well on a 2007 Tacoma so I figured I'd give it a try. Once it comes in and I get it all put together I'll give you an update.

 

I got it on Monday, and installed it that afternoon. Unfortunately it still didn't start. I had purchased a voltage meter and ran a test from the battery to the starter and discovered that it wasn't getting enough juice to the starter. I found almost 3 inches of corrosion under the insulation on the negative wire. Cleaning the terminals was the first thing that I did, but didn't notice the swelling in the cable wire until I started tracing the wire toward the area where they are all wrapped together. After cutting the corroded piece of wire out (thankfully there was still just enough left to make it to the post), I got it all hooked up. It's starting like a champ now!

 

I waited a week to post. The X2Power battery cranks right up every day. So, the battery fixed the symptom. Perhaps the solenoid is making poor contact and the new battery provided the extra spark needed. Time will tell.

 

If the stronger battery "fixed" this for you, that's great news. However, I suspect you'll be back here again with the same issue.

One thing I want to clarify is the people suggesting putting new contacts into the starter, that will absolutely fix the problem. However, it's likely not needed and you can fix the issue with a piece of fine sand paper. I wrote a how to thread on this topic about 10 years ago. Basically, the copper contacts get corroded over time and don't make a solid electrical connection when the engagement pin drops onto them. This happened to me when I got stuck in deep water for a long time. All you need to do is take the starter apart, sand down the contacts till they're shiny again, reinstall, and you're good to go.
PS: I still run this exact same starter 10 years and probably 150k miles later.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-to-rebuild-the-tacoma-starter-motor.200964/

 

And thanks to everyone that commented - very helpful. If the starter must be rebuilt within a year I'll revisit and post.

 

And six weeks later...click click. Dead in the water in my driveway. Battery good. Replaced the starter and all is good. Thanks for all the help.