Starter Issues

Hi everyone, My 2009 Taco (TRD Sport V6) has been giving me issues recently. Two weeks ago I had the famous 'CLICK' sound when trying to start. Rattle/Tapping with a small hammer while a neighbor held the key got it started and back in the garage a couple of weeks ago. I then replaced the starter/solenoid combo with a reman'd one and all was good last weekend.

Today the same problem returned and left me stranded at work so a friend had to drive me home. Sucks too because work is 45 minutes away from home. The rattle/tap hammer trick didn't work tonight like it did back home a couple of weeks ago, but it was night time and really couldn't see anything.

- New battery installed 3 weeks ago (6 years old, it was time)
- Replaced starter installed last weekend

What now? This really is a bummer for me because my second vehicle (Hellcat) is not a wise decision to drive in Colorado's snow, and it's that time of year, so I have to take vacation days to avoid a snow drive in.

Thanks for any help/ideas. Not a nice way to start Christmas, sigh.....

 

Where did you get the starter from ? I know that sometimes autozone and advance sell some that are bad .

 

Advanced, I read Carquest starters were pretty good, but heard to stay away from the Duracrap's at AZ.

 

This same scenario happened to me a few years ago with a Hummer H2 I had. Click, no start, replaced starter, good for a week and then problem returned. Turned out it was a $20 relay in the engine compartment.

 

Did you get the click sound this time?
Do you have an automatic or manual transmission?

 

I’ve used Car Quest starters. No problem, but that was when Car Quest was CQ. Advance bought them, so who knows which way the quality went.
Both the battery/starter will need to be checked by the provider.

 

Yes, loud single click....automatic tranny. Battery is good per volt meter....definitely not any dimming going on.

 

Different engine same principles. Have a look at this thread.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/new-battery-new-starter-and-still-wont-start.649539/

 

Assuming your new battery and remanufactured starter are good. I would next look at both battery cables. Tight connections at battery terminals no corrosion at terminals on starter end or ground on engine and good cable condition.

 

Id say bad starter still

 

Remanufactured parts are always a crap shoot. New costs more. But the old saying “you get what you pay for” is true.
Even if the seller replaces the part you’ve now done the job twice. What’s your time and effort worth?

 

just change out the solenoid contacts on the old OEM starter, brah
https://picclick.com/TOYOTA-Starter-Repair-KIT-SOLENOID-CONTACTS-PLUNGER-201532245369.html

 

This. Went through the same thing on an old Camaro some years ago. A simple and free check at least to rule out, and with the age of your truck it's not unreasonable to believe. Do a voltage check as well after a visual.

 

You need to check for power with a test light connected to the engine block on both the main battery stud and the solenoid stud on the starter while you get someone to hold the key in the crank position, if you have power on both and starter is not cranking you have a bad starter or seized engine, if your missing either you will have to trace it out from there.

 

Needs sufficient power. I ran into a similar issue with my stereo amplifers, a simple test light showed power but a multimeter showed me nowhere near what it should have been, which led me to a broken power wire.

 

That's why I said test it with the key in the crank position so the circuit would be loaded, if the light's bright on both and it's not cranking then either the starter is junk or the motor is locked up. A voltage test is useless unless the circuit is loaded.

 

Thanks guys....I will work on her this weekend, luckily I have another starter combo I ordered earlier this month (when this began) and got 'lost' in the amazing USPS service for over 2 weeks and finally appeared on my doorstep earlier this week.

 

Check the engine ground wire also.
The starter grounds through the engine.

 

Hey guys, just wanted to give you all an update. Worked on it off and on all day today at the base where it was (45 minute commute from house) - replaced the second starter in the parking lot, took only 2 hours with plenty of light available from the sun, but no luck...still same issue, click. Checked the ground at the transmission, actually removed it to get the starter out, no corrosion, looked good. Also found a video on youtube that identified the fuses involved with this, AN1 and AM2 I believe, replaced them and no luck either. Also swapped the horn relay for the starter relay, no luck either....and horn worked with the starter relay plug.

Also just for grins, attempted to jump the truck from a running F-350 diesel, no luck either, click.

A friend of mine done me a huge favor and was able to winch the truck on his trailer and get it off the base, so we will be dropping it off at the dealership tomorrow or Tuesday....especially since all of my recent troubles began 3 days after they replaced the battery. Too much of a coincidence to me since this is the first problem I have ever had with the truck in the 12 years I have owned it. Whatever is wrong with it is way beyond my skill level at this point. Thanks to all who pitched ideas anyway, I appreciate it

 

It was the starter.....two bad ones in a row, two diff manufacturers. Lessons learned with this ordeal - only get a Denso for a Toyota, period.