Possible starter replacement in Tundra

[slag]

Wife drove my truck around town yesterday, came home, parked it in the drive, and when she went out later to leave, it just clicked. I came home, checked the battery, it was fine. You turn the key, the relay clicks, but nothing else happens. Everything inside works fine. I did swap out the battery with a known good one and got the same response.

I cleaned the terminals, but think I am going to replace the ends with a heavier duty terminal. The starter acts like its not even getting a signal -- no clicking, no nothing. The only click comes from the starter relay. It was cold yesterday and won't be in the 50s until Friday/Saturday, so, I'll take a look at it then.

If I do have to replace the starter, its a several hour ordeal, removing the exhaust manifold, dip stick assembly, etc. There is a cheater way of doing it by jacking up the side of the engine, but first thing first, I need to somehow get it in my garage and it's parked on a steep incline which is my driveway. I certainly hope its just a wiring issue, but everything, to the eye, looks good. I do know, however, that wire corrosion and rot can be hidden by the wire sheathing

 

[JEDIYoda]

sounds like it`s definitely a starter problem. Good Luck!

 

[RLGL]

sounds like it`s definitely a starter problem. Good Luck!

Is there a slave solenoid or a starter relay on the system???

 

[ra1nman]

I had a 2000 V8 Tundra and had a similar experience. After doing some basic troubleshooting then having a friend come by days later he agreed it was the starter. I'm not the most inclined to replace the starter given it's location....the same friend replaced it for me being an ex-ASE guy. He called me over to look at some rubber gaskets that rotted and asked if I'd like them replaced. Looking over all the parts he had laid out, I mentioned if he had to do any "rigging" to get at anything out and his answer was simply no.

In my case, the starter did fix the problem. One thing I did notice that the problem was intermittent. As the truck did start on random occasions when I talked to it really really nicely lol.

 

[slag]

Is there a slave solenoid or a starter relay on the system???

There is a relay in the electrical box and I can hear it clicking when I turn the key, but there is absolutely no sound coming from the starter itself. I'm going to whack on it a bit in the hopes that something will jar loose enough to get it into the garage this weekend. Otherwise, I'm going to rig up something to put behind the rear wheels so I can lift the front right and get to work. With any luck, and my 15 yr old helping who is really good with tools, we won't be out there all weekend. Air tools will help also.

 

[pcgeek11]

It is probably the starter solenoid that is piggybacked on the starter motor getting hung. Give it a good rapping with a hammer and it may free it up.

The solenoid can be disassembled and cleaned far cheaper than a new starter.

 

[slag]

It is probably the starter solenoid that is piggybacked on the starter motor getting hung. Give it a good rapping with a hammer and it may free it up.

The solenoid can be disassembled and cleaned far cheaper than a new starter.

Going to give it a good smack or 20 tonight. Already bought a new starter which I can return if need be. Normally I'd just clean everything up and put it back together, but its such a PITA to replace the starter on this truck and I really don't want to have to do this again in a year or two, so I'm probably going to go with the one I purchased.

I would have thought I would at least hear a click or hum if the solenoid was hung up but I'm getting nothing at all from the starter.

 

[RLGL]

DON'T HIT THE STARTER!! If it is still good you run a very good chance of ruining it.
The starters have permanent magnets in them, if one cracks it is all over except the crying. Troubleshoot the system according to the book.

 

[boomerang]

Even though the relay clicks, if there is another identical relay in the electrical box I would swap them. Just because it clicks doesn't mean it is actually passing current through it. Do it for no other reason than to rule it out.

 

[Vdubchaos]

I would try to jump it first.

Check the fuses and solenoids. My car had 2 and one of them was broke once. Similar symptoms.

 

[slag]

Even though the relay clicks, if there is another identical relay in the electrical box I would swap them. Just because it clicks doesn't mean it is actually passing current through it. Do it for no other reason than to rule it out.

I did find a continuity test online for the relay and it also tests the relay function when applying a 9 volt battery. I will try that tonight. The relay is still $45 or so..

Smacking the starter.. i'm not going to bang on it hard, just enough to jar it. If it can take normal driving over rocks and stuff, it should stand up to a hammer hitting a board that is placed against it. It's not working right now so....

 

[pcgeek11]

The circuit is like this:

Starter relay energizes the solenoid coil that pulls in the contacts for the starter motor and extends the bendix gear into the flywheel.

Where you want to tap on the starter assembly is the smaller cylinder shaped unit ( solenoid ) that is piggybacked on the starter assembly. Not the body of the starter. What usually sticks is the internals of the solenoid so that it doesn't shift when voltage is applied. This is a fairly common issue with these Toyota starter solenoids.

If you have a volt meter check the small wire at the solenoid to see if you are getting ~ 12 VDC when trying to start the motor. If you do then the starter solenoid is stuck. If you don't then the relay or the wiring between the relay and the starter is defective.

 

[slag]

The circuit is like this:

Starter relay energizes the solenoid coil that pulls in the contacts for the starter motor and extends the bendix gear into the flywheel.

Where you want to tap on the starter assembly is the smaller cylinder shaped unit ( solenoid ) that is piggybacked on the starter assembly. Not the body of the starter. What usually sticks is the internals of the solenoid so that it doesn't shift when voltage is applied. This is a fairly common issue with these Toyota starter solenoids.

If you have a volt meter check the small wire at the solenoid to see if you are getting ~ 12 VDC when trying to start the motor. If you do then the starter solenoid is stuck. If you don't then the relay or the wiring between the relay and the starter is defective.

I know how a starter works and what a solenoid is. The issue is getting to it. I have to take off 2 or 3 heat shields just to get to the starter.. ugh. I went out again last night and the starter is clicking, so the solenoid is probably the culprit. Not looking forward to changing this out in 50 degree weather, but it could be worse. I'm going to try to first take the heat shields off, then see if I can't bang enough on the old starter to get the truck to start and move it to the garage where I can jack it up on a level surface

 

[slag]

Went to HF at lunch and bought some heavy duty wheel chocks. I'm going to pull the explorer into the garage, hook the chains and come along up to it and pull the truck up the drive a bit more so its closer to the garage and hopefully get the front tires on level ground. I'm going to leave the comealong and chain hooked up while I pull the front tire off also just as an extra measure of safety while it is on the jack stand. I only need the right front tire off.

Will update tomorrow.

 

[slag]

Got it done. Took a long time outside in the cold, but the starter was toast. New one sounds the same and starts the truck up perfectly.