Conleyfry

So im having issues with my 4runner. Recently my distributor bearing seized up. Replaced it with a friends he wasnt using and it was running. Everything was on time. I drove 100 miles fine. Then went to autozone got bran new distributor. After installing it started right up. Everything was fine. Killed it and tried to start it up again and now it wont even crank. No clicks batterys good. Bran new alternator plugs and wires. Also tried to check my check engine code but ots blinking constantly which means nothing is telling the computer that there is something wrong. Idk where to start. Helppp

MudHippy

I'd start with the starter. Pardon the pun. They tend to pick and choose when they want to work or not. They'll just up and quit whenever they feel like it. It doesn't have to be related to anything specific.

Give it a couple "love taps" with a hammer. Then try starting it again. If it starts, don't be too surprised(you just learned a "secret" trick that's going to save your ass some day when your stuck 100 miles from nowhere). If it doesn't, repeat the exercise several times. Then pull the thing and inspect it.

Conleyfry

Im a noobie with this stuff. So how would i know if a starter is bad. Its strange that its not triggering the check engine light.

Conleyfry

Dude it started right up !! Why does banging on it do anything ?

jgrant721

Yeah, starters have a bunch of electro-mechanical parts inside that are lubricated with grease at the factory. After 25 years of varying levels of abuse, the grease and associated gears, levers and bearings that have to move in sync to engage the starter and rotate your flywheel just get tired and sticky! If you are lucky, rapping it with a wench or hammer will temporarily solve the problem.

To prevent this from happening again (at the most inconvenient time) you need to rebuild or replace the starter. I haven't done a Toyota starter but I recently rebuilt a Bosch unit. Take it apart and inspect it. If there's nothing obviously worn out, clean it up, replace the solenoid, coat the moving bits with some new grease and put it back together. Probably good for another 50k. If you're not comfortable with that just spring for a new or rebuilt one.

Good luck!

Jim G.

MudHippy

Well...I've had to bang on every Toyota starter I've ever owned...on occasion.

I'm not entirely sure why it works. But I have to do it less often with starters that have their solenoid contacts in good condition. So I think it has something to do with them.

I don't remember who taught me that trick. It's saved me too many times to count. I owe whoever it was a beer...or 12.