My '99 has always cranked 4-5 times before catching on the first start of the day...but starts quickly when warm. Most of the time. Anyway, yesterday it turned over, and then acted like it died. I hit the key again, it turned over, played dead, and then groaned over one more time and started. I figured my starter contacts were getting bad. No big deal, $15 and an hour of my time.

However, today when I started it to move it out of the driveway.....the starter stayed engaged after the engine was running! Sounded horrid. I shut it down, and pulled the key out....only to hear the starter still cranking away. It was a weird sensation. Ran into the garage and grabbed a 10mm for the battery, but by the time I got to the truck it had stopped itself. I haven't tried to start it since.



Could this issue still be resolved with some contacts and maybe a new plunger? I don't have much free time to work on it...if it was only going to take an hour (just for the contacts...leaving the starter on the truck), I was going to make time to do it. But I'm wondering now if I should have my local toyota mechanic go ahead and replace the starter with a refurbished OEM. He said it would be $190 (parts and labor). I don't have to skin my knuckles or fart around with it at all.

Opinions?

 

I would gamble that contacts and plunger would fix it - and you already knew they were going bad, this is just the final death throws.

$190 for a reman installed seems like a pretty good deal though. If it were me, right now, dealing with -20 temperatures outside, I'd spend the $190. In the summer, with some extra time on my hands - I'd take it apart just to find out for sure then either do the contacts or put in the reman myself.

 

This happened to me as well, but mine didn't stop until I pulled the battery cable. Your starter contacts are very worn, and welded themselves together. New contacts and a plunger will fix this problem. I went the refurbished DENSO route just for kicks.

I've heard of cars burning to the ground from this issue - don't try and start it again...

-Dan

 

I think I'm going to tow it to my mechanic tomorrow, let him do the job. I hate spending money when I know I could do it...but I just don't have the time. And he does awesome work. All he does is Toyota's, and he's been running his shop for almost 20 years. Might have him throw on my new fuel filter that's been sitting around too.....

 

sounds like contacts and plunger will solve the problem. ~24bucks on ebay for the kit. the hard part might be taking off the starter.

 

I went ahead and took it to the mechanic today. My dad and I were prepared to tow it (with dad's 4.7L Jeep), but figured we should try to start it. He stood by the battery with a wrench in hand while I keyed it on. It started right up, not even a hint of a problem...funny how inconsistent this problem can be. Dropped it off, and when I get it back it'll have a refurbished OEM starter, a new fuel filter, and the ebrake bell cranks will be de-rustified and lubed real good.

 

i went to the dealership to get the contacts and plunger, got the contacts but the guy said i would have to pull the starter to see what plunger i needed. he said something about 2 different sizes of starters, and it depended on what size i had. anyone happen to know what the 2 plunger magnet parts#'s are, i cant find them anywhere online. thanks

 

Hah!

My 3.4 starter has seized a few times. Other times the plunger just clicks, no startey. Rebuild kit it is.

Meantime, just whack the starter body with a hammer or a crowbar and it'll start starting if it's stopped, and stop starting if it won't stop. It's a 40-year old GM design, and it has the same problems and solutions.

STICK