I have a bad starter in my 87 runner. Whenever I go to start it the starter just clicks. The wierd part is if I keep turning the key to start (sometimes it does just starts), when it finally does start it pumps out black smoke and runs rough for a few seconds the smooths out and doesn't smoke at all. The more I keep turning the key the more smoke there is. Why is it flooding like this? I thought the injectors didn't fire till it was running. Are my injectors the cause? They do have 250,000 miles on'em and are getting replaced soon anyway.

 

You have a bad silinoid, replace your starter, run some injector clearner through and see if that fixes it. Hiriden

 

I know starter is bad and it won't smoke once it's fixed but I'm wondering why the injectors are dumping fuel before it's even running.

 

I had the same problem with my 88. You need fuel to start the engine. The injectors fire once as long as the main relay pulls. You will get a pulse to the injectors when the main pulls in or everytime you get a click. This is why it is flooding.

 

Ah, thanks. It's just a different setup than my other car, the injectors fire when it turns over.

 

climb under and tap the starter with a hammer before you try and crank it. Sometimes that gives it a quick fix and it will start quicker.

 

Haha, I've been doing that for the last 2 years. It used to only do it when it was really cold outside and I only drove it like once a week. Now it does it all the time. I am replacing the starter this weekend as I don't want to be stuck in snow, it's hard to bump start on ice

 

Easy to repair the starter solenoid, if that is the problem:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks/Starter.shtml

 

Reman starters are cheap to replace. I suggest you use some RVT if you plan on wheeling once you replace it. I had a bunch of dirt in mine. They almost didn't want to replace it.

 

I'm replacing it today. They are cheap, the dealer wants 109 or I can get one for about 80 from a quality rebuild shop here.

 

You can replace the worn copper contacts in the solenoid for about $10 in the same time it takes to swap in a rebuilt unit. Plus you keep the reliable stock starter instead of taking a chance of getting a poor quality rebuilt starter.

 

probably could have, but my first one had a broken tooth also.....