I am having the infamous starter problem on my 85 toyota pickup. It started out of the blue the other day. I got gas before work, and when I went to leave it hesitated for a second by then fired up as normal. I didn't pay it any mind. Just thought I didn't have my foot completely on the clutch before starting. Well when I left work the same day I thought my battery was dead. It was cranking REALLY slow so I thought I needed a jump. I FINALLY got it to start thinking it needed a jump, but what puzzled me was all my lights/radio/horn etc. worked as they should with no dimmness or other problems. I got home and tried to start it, but it did the same thing. It then got to the point where it would just click. Every once in awhile it would start as normal if you left the key forward for four or five seconds. As of now it just clicks when you engage the key.

I've read alot between here and PBB about the contacts in the selinoid going bad along with installing a relay from the bendix, but I would like to know if it may be the ignition switch going bad. It does have a tendency to stick when you pull the key out and keeps buzzing until you lightly tap the cylinder and it snaps in place and the buzzing stops. Just trying eliminate the simple stuff before tearing the starter out.

 

the contacts/solenoid have nothing to do with the amount of power to accessories in the truck. The reason why it has a hard time cranking over has nothing to do with the power available in the battery. It has to do with how much resistance that is across the contacts and solenoid. This is a cheap fix by getting the parts at any local starter rebuild place or auto electrical place. It's easy to do as well. I doubt it's the ign switch.

 

It could be the ignition connection, but I think that the solenoids would go out before that. I would check to see what your battery voltage is just for fun (and to be sure). I don't think the starter would be clicking if it was the ignition, that's indicating a low battery or a bad connection. Maybe try wiggling the key around in there and see if it starts any better to eliminate the ignition as a problem.

 

On a side note if it were the ign switch it would either try to start or not do anything as the switch only trips the relay under the hood. doesn't need a whole lot of voltage to do that.

 

I agree its most likely the contacts in the starter, but a low battery would cause low resistance to pass through the contacts and solenoid. It doesn't make sense that it is the battery though because he said it starts sometimes.

 

Waiting for the rain to let up. Hopefully that happens before the sun goes down. With my recent luck I doubt it.

 

Well, everything in regards to the batt/alt is fine. I'm going to yank the starter out tomorrow. I'll let you know how I make out.

 

Well, I got it done last night, and it definitely was the starter. I had a $95 store credit at NAPA so I opted to get a reman'd one instead of changing out the brass contacts inside the selinoid which had a nice groove in them.

I would definitely recommend changing the contacts before replacing it with a reman'd one. I only replaced it because it would have taken three days to get the contacts in, NAPA had the starter on the shelf, and I had the store credit.

Oh yeah, if you've never done a starter on one before your hands are going to get one hell of a workout. I twisted my arms and hands in positions I never knew I could.

 

lol yeah thats true...happened to me changing the fuel filter on a 22re wich is just above the starter