So did my starter motor just go out?

1996 MT 3.4L 4WD

After a long drive (6.5 hours) today, I turned off the truck and then went to restart it and nothing happened when I turned the key. I have full dash lights through the key turn and 12.6V on the brand new battery. I replaced both the battery and alternator just 10 days ago. I hear no big clicking sound when I turn the key, just maybe a slight click and a hum.

I did smell a burning smell the past week or so, which apparently is a symptom of a failing started. Thoughts? Sure wish this closer to home, but at least I can pop-start it.

 

You can check your ground wires for loose or dirty connections.

 

See if the 7.5A STA Fuse has power when CRANKING.
This will tell us if we have power OUT of the Relay. Easy enough. Super simple.

If you have power,

Grab a test light or meter and go to the starter.
See if the big Black wire has power at all times.
And see if the smaller Black/White wire has power when CRANKING.

Nothing to loose by doing the "Tappy, tap, tap" on the starter either.
Take wooden end of a hammer and smack the starter a few times.

Let us know what you find.

 

I was able to start the truck a few minutes ago after tapping the side of the starter motor with a hammer.

 

Sounds like the starter.....
Still wouldn't hurt to make sure the wires are not loose or corroded on the starter. (just because you can)

 

Yup, I think so I assume I can only do this trick a few times more to keep it running before it leaves me stranded, right? I ask because home is 100s of miles away.

I'll check the SM wires too, thanks.

 

Maybe be able to do 20 more times.
Maybe no more times.

You never know.

So I can't answer that question......

 

If it's a manual worst case you can push or pull start it if you have someone to give you a push/tug or park on a hill

 

Sounds like the starter solenoid contacts are worn out. Happened to me at 60K miles. I replaced them to solve the problem. Then I replaced them again at 120K miles just to be on the safe side as I go out to the boonies a few times each year.

The symptoms were that when I turned the key, absolutely nothing happened. No click, no nuttin'. Then, as if by magic, turning the key would engage the solenoid. That problem gradually became worse until I replaced those contacts. I bought a kit that contained both the contacts and the starter plunger for somewhere around $30 earlier this year.

I have a 1998 V6, your engine may be slightly different.

 

If stranded
This ‘trick’ might work once or twice zero chance of a third time

get tire iron out of cab and give a good wallop to the starter

 

Very cool! Were you able to test the fix before you re-installed the starter? I'd wanna verify it so as to pull/install the starter exactly once! Thanks.

 

My '95 V6 5SP 4WD's starter went out earlier this year. Right after the one in my 80 series went out.
Not a terrible job, but definitely more work than the Cruiser.
I rebuilt the 80's and got a refurb'd from Toyota for the Taco.

 

Hi all, decided to go the route of pulling the starter and replacing the solenoid contacts with

$19 Victory Lap ND-34SOL Solenoid Repair Kit

this kit. I'll let you know how it goes. Already dreading accessing that top starter bolt

 

Yep, had just recommended someone to do exactly this as pulling the starter and replacing said parts is really easy.

If you've got a manual, it's super simple. Even on an automatic it's pretty easy, just need a bunch of extensions. Apparently people have trouble uninstalling/installing on a 4x4 auto but I didn't see any issues.

 

Atta boy! And you bought the parts from the same place that I bought mine.

You can access the top starter bolt if you have a long-handled (18" or so) 3/8" drive ratchet wrench, the appropriate length extension, and a dedicated swivel socket on the end of the extension. Using both a swivel and a socket together won't cut it because that combination is too long. I know, because I watched as a mechanic crawled underneath my truck (without jacking it up) and broke both mounting bolts loose. Took him 1 or 2 minutes at the most!

I wasn't about to buy either the dedicated swivel socket or the long-handled ratchet wrench so I had to oink it out the hard way.