Starter Shrieks - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

zutty · 03-15-2010, 10:33 AM

I've just gotten a 1988 Camry Wagon with only 42000 miles on it. It's been well-maintained and I bought it from one of my mechanic's customers, the proverbial old lady, who got ill and had to sell.. It was garaged and well maintained until a couple of months before I got it when it just sat in the garage. All is well in the car except for when I start it it sometimes gives a shrieking sound, not every time... After a turn or 2 it will start normally. Sometimes there's no problem at all. My mechanic of 25 years has put in 2 starters...I just brought it in and he's going to put in yet another starter..He also says the flywheel looks ok...no chips at all...Is this something I can live with? I need to take a long trip shortly and am afraid I'll get stuck.......I paid 2800 for this car and another 400 to get the starter work done...I'm at wits end...Please help...Thanks!

Doctor J · 03-15-2010, 12:26 PM

The car looks handsome
The shierk during starting can be produced not onl by the starter but by glazed drive belt/ or sticking timing belt roller bearing sa well. The starter on Camry made before April 89 tend produce grinding noise without cranking the engine. The old starter with that defect usually shows damage on the pinion gear.
the stater replacement on Camry should cost less then $400 unless it came from dealership.

zutty · 03-15-2010, 01:38 PM

Thanks for your reply. I'll relay your info to my mechanic...Unfortunately, I am not able to do any work myself and need to rely on this guy.The 400 total was also for other minor work as well...The charge was 200 for the starter plus labor, and totaled about 275. In New York City, that's about the average fee. Again, thanks for the info and I'll see what he says..btw...is this something I can live with, or is it dangerous to do so if not resolved?

Doctor J · 03-15-2010, 02:56 PM

If it is a fan belt most likely the tension needed to be adjusted; if it is timing belt roller, then it is more complicated(belt and roller change $350). However you need to do 2 things:
1)take a look on the old starter and make a picture of its gear if possible;
2)have someone listen to the engine when it makes this noise in order to pinpoint exact location (driver side=starter; paasenger side = belts.) If starter "grinds" the engine will not rotate right, but will rather jerk few times.

zutty · 03-15-2010, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doctor J

If it is a fan belt most likely the tension needed to be adjusted; if it is timing belt roller, then it is more complicated(belt and roller change $350). However you need to do 2 things:
1)take a look on the old starter and make a picture of its gear if possible;
2)have someone listen to the engine when it makes this noise in order to pinpoint exact location (driver side=starter; paasenger side = belts.) If starter "grinds" the engine will not rotate right, but will rather jerk few times.

Thanks for your reply..Let me clarify a little. I'm pretty sure it's not a belt issue, as this only happens when the starter is engaging, or trying to and only intermittently. After the car does start, it runs like a charm. No noises whatsoever. I brought the car in again today, and a third starter was installed and so far so good. Hopefully the issue is resolved, fingers crossed. Thanks again for your input.

66conv6 · 03-18-2010, 08:17 PM

"Make a picture of its gear?" I've had this same problem since near new and also heard of replacing the starter but it happens again. Someone said that Toyota factory rebuilt starters have a redesigned gear that doesn't grind. Is this true?

zutty · 03-18-2010, 08:27 PM

Well so far the second replacement starter has been fine, although I haven't driven it too much...Tomorrow I need to make a trip to Maine and back...About 675 miles, so that'll surely be the acid test......Fingers crossed!!

Doctor J · 03-19-2010, 08:19 AM

Toyota redesigned BOTH flexplate and the stater pinion gear; it has different bevel of the teeth then on original design. The teeth on the new gear look "fatter" then on the original one. Even the aftermaket starters are getting that desing.

fredk · 03-19-2010, 12:29 PM

My white one does this too, but im not going to replace the flywheel so when the starter finally grinds the teeth off the flywheel ill just junk the car

zutty · 03-19-2010, 03:53 PM

Well I've just driven on a 650 mile trip to Maine, and the starter is fine. Looks like 3 is a charm. It hasn't shrieked once...neither hot or cold. The car was a pleasure to drive on this trip. I'm now very happy with this 42000 (now 43000) mile 1988 Camry Wagon. It runs like a new car! Not bad for a car that was originally purchased in November of 1987! I even have the owners manual. I'm the 3rd owner. The woman I got it from bought in from the 1st owner in 1994 with 24000 on it. Happy camper here!

Doctor J · 03-20-2010, 10:17 AM

Hopefully the first owner have not "adjusted" the mileage.
The car still may have original t-belt and water pump as well as rear brakes.

zutty · 03-20-2010, 11:12 AM

No, The milage was surely not "adjusted". If you could see this car, you'd see that everything about it looks like it has not been driven more than the milage indicates. From the interior which looks totally unworn, to the engine which is clean, but not "too" clean... to the hatch and spare tire area which looks totally untouched. It looks totally legit. Believe me, I thought of that too, and I was born at night, but not Last night.....And after having just driven it almost 700 miles in one day....damn am I tired...I'm convinced it is what it appears to be. I hope to use this car for a good long while...And my milage was well over 35 MPG too! That's a good sign too as well.Even the cruise control works perfectly..The t-belt has been changed...And if I do need brakes...no biggie, but they were checked before the trip and are fine.,And this mechanic who referred this elderly woman who has been bringing this car in for decades, and I know this guy since 1982...are pulling a scam...well..So be it.....My instincts tell me not.......Hopefully this car will do me well. I'm out of dough and can't afford anything if this one dies.

AnimatedMechanic · 03-20-2010, 02:44 PM

When I changed my 89's starter to one from an 88, it started producing these exact noises. I think it may be a defect from that year. When it does that, I usually "crank" the gear selector and then the problem goes away.

zutty · 03-20-2010, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnimatedMechanic

When I changed my 89's starter to one from an 88, it started producing these exact noises. I think it may be a defect from that year. When it does that, I usually "crank" the gear selector and then the problem goes away.

Hi, Thanks for the tip. I'm not sure what you mean by "cranking" the gear selector. I'm not really any kind of mechanic at all so please pardon my ignorance. But after this long trip I took, and I stopped numerous times with no starting issues, the problem is hopefully resolved...Thanks again!

zutty · 03-21-2010, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zutty

Hi, Thanks for the tip. I'm not sure what you mean by "cranking" the gear selector. I'm not really any kind of mechanic at all so please pardon my ignorance. But after this long trip I took, and I stopped numerous times with no starting issues, the problem is hopefully resolved...Thanks again!

Well...The issue is Back! After that long trip where the starter was perfect.....I just took her out locally and the starter did it again a couple of times.....Same as before.....At this point I just hope it's something I can live with, and not get stuck on the road with...Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.