Spinning Noise When Trying to Start

Hey Good Peoples

I returned from overseas aout 2 months ago, and tried to start my truck. Clicking noise, so I jumped it off with my other Tacoma after letting the battery charge for about 5 minutes.

I shut off the truck and took a shower to head down and buy another battery. When I tried to restart the truck it wouldn't start. I tried to jump the truck again, but no success. Took my other truck down and bought a new battery.

Installed new battery, and tried to crank. No success. Kept trying and there was a soft backfire, so I called a friend who used to be a Toyota Service Manager. He said it sounded like the fuel was bad (the truck had been sitting for a year).

Finished the call and tried to crank the truck again, and after a couple of attempts then there was a "spinning noise". So, I stopped that day, and tried the next day. Same result.

Now the truck only spins when I turn the ignition. Spoke with a Toyota mechanic, and he said it could be the timing belt. However, when discussing the issue on an auto parts forum a guy siad the timing belt is steel and should last for the life of a vehicle. (truck has less that 80K miles.)

So, this led me to research the web. Found examples of similar noises that indicated the starter may be bad. The starter was rebuilt about 8+/- years ago at a Toyota shop.

This truck has been sitting pretty much for the last 10 years. Would just drive it when I was on vacation from overseas.

So, anyone out there who reads this....Please help. I do not want to walk into a service shop without know more about what could be the possible problem. Many thanks, Don

 

Sounds like the Bendix is out on the starter. That is the part of the starter that pushes out the gear that turns the flywheel. Spinning means it is not making contact with the flywheel.

 

Sounds like the plunger on the starter went bad. The plunger is what pushes the gears on the starter forward and cranks the engine. Then it retracts back to the original position after the truck has started. If you're hearing spinning but the engine won't crank, I'm thinking the plunger is no longer doing its job and it's time for a new starter or a rebuild.

 

yep sounds like you need a new starter. sometimes you can tap on the starter with a hammer and the plunger will free itself.

 

+1 to thunderone. Sounds like a bad plunger (or solenoid) on a starter. Sometimes you can just buy that part so you don't have to replace the entire starter.