re: 89 Camry V6 starter question...

[sfjen]

Aloha Folks-

Had the situation again were when the new Toyota Key was placed in the ignition to turn it on I could hear something but the starter motor did not turn over.

Now, it was a very wet foggy day so I am not sure if this had anything to do with it. The starter in there now is original from 22yrs ago. I tightened the connections to the battery and tapped with a small hammer on the starter then it started. Not sure if any of this helped out. It has not done this since, 5 days ago.

I went to a salvage yard and found what looked like a brand new Toyota Denso rebuilt starter out of a 1991 V6.

My question is: how hard is it to remove the old one and replace with this one I found? Do I need to remove anything like the exhaust pipe? When I got to this car in the yard, some things were removed so it made it a little easier for me to access.

Thanks for any advice and tips.
Mahalo!

[white90dx]

There shouldn't be anything special to remove to do the starter on your car. Keep your old one, as it can be easily rebuilt (errr... have new contacts put in it).

You may also find that it doesn't solve your problem. Extra resistance in the wires to the starter (from the ignition switch) might be the actual problem. There is a link to the 'starter relay' thread in the sticky at the top that explains the problem.

-Charlie

[sfjen]

Aloha Charlie-
Thank you for your advice. I will look into the starter relay that you are speaking about. I hope it is something that I can do! Thanks again.
Mahalo!

Originally Posted by white90dx

There shouldn't be anything special to remove to do the starter on your car. Keep your old one, as it can be easily rebuilt (errr... have new contacts put in it).

You may also find that it doesn't solve your problem. Extra resistance in the wires to the starter (from the ignition switch) might be the actual problem. There is a link to the 'starter relay' thread in the sticky at the top that explains the problem.

-Charlie

[sfjen]

Aloha Charlie-

Wanted to ask you something about that starter relay fix: When reading the article it was mentioned that this condition happens when the starter get hot and needs to cool down. The times I have had my situation were either beginning of the day or late and when it was wet and foggy morning or night.

So, I guess I am wondering if what is happening with my car is the connection to the starter or the starter itself?

Thanks again.
Mahalo!

Originally Posted by white90dx

There shouldn't be anything special to remove to do the starter on your car. Keep your old one, as it can be easily rebuilt (errr... have new contacts put in it).
You may also find that it doesn't solve your problem. Extra resistance in the wires to the starter (from the ignition switch) might be the actual problem. There is a link to the 'starter relay' thread in the sticky at the top that explains the problem.

-Charlie

[white90dx]

Originally Posted by sfjen

Aloha Charlie-

Wanted to ask you something about that starter relay fix: When reading the article it was mentioned that this condition happens when the starter get hot and needs to cool down. The times I have had my situation were either beginning of the day or late and when it was wet and foggy morning or night.

So, I guess I am wondering if what is happening with my car is the connection to the starter or the starter itself?

Thanks again.
Mahalo!

There are two things happening, all of which come back to the starter solenoid requiring a very good power source to engage the starter.

When cold: The battery puts out a lower voltage due to the chemistry of the battery, leaving the starter solenoid with insufficient power

When hot: The coil in the starter solenoid has higher resistance and needs more voltage/power to engage it.

You can clean/rebuild the starter contacts and add the extra starter relay, both of which should help the problem.

-Charlie

[sfjen]

Aloha Charlie!

Thank you for your reply.

I mentioned in another thread that I found what looked like an almost new rebuilt Toyota Denso starter off of a 1991 V6 at a salvage yard. The parts you speak of (Contacts), would I need to get those at Toyota?

And when you speak of the contacts I am assuming the ones on the starter itself, is there any special solvent or cleaner that you use?

Thank you very much, I will be doing both of these things!

Mahalo!

Originally Posted by white90dx

There are two things happening, all of which come back to the starter solenoid requiring a very good power source to engage the starter.

When cold: The battery puts out a lower voltage due to the chemistry of the battery, leaving the starter solenoid with insufficient power

When hot: The coil in the starter solenoid has higher resistance and needs more voltage/power to engage it.

You can clean/rebuild the starter contacts and add the extra starter relay, both of which should help the problem.

-Charlie

[white90dx]

Originally Posted by sfjen

Aloha Charlie!

Thank you for your reply.

I mentioned in another thread that I found what looked like an almost new rebuilt Toyota Denso starter off of a 1991 V6 at a salvage yard. The parts you speak of (Contacts), would I need to get those at Toyota?

And when you speak of the contacts I am assuming the ones on the starter itself, is there any special solvent or cleaner that you use?

Thank you very much, I will be doing both of these things!

Mahalo!

Check the link:

http://yotarepair.com/startercontacts.html

You can search google on this one, the Toyota Truck guys deal with similar problems all the time. I think there is a thread or two on here with pictures of the process also. I've been lucky with my starters are haven't had to deal with it yet...

-Charlie

[rsd123]

SFJEN,

I had a similar problem <' 89 V6/LE>, replaced the starter 3 times, turned out that you can use a Ford solenoid - between the battery and the starter. This fixed has lasted some 9 years.

--RSD213

[sfjen]

Aloha Charlie, Doctor J


Thank you so much for pointing me in a certain direction. I looked at the write-up that Doctor J had done almost 4yrs ago. I had been putting that relay off thinking I need to replace the starter motor, especially since I had picked up such a nice looking rebuilt by Denso for Toyota starter at the salvage yard.

Well, with this strange and nice warmer weather we are having in NorCal I thought what the heck let's go for it, that relay. I could not find it at O'Reilly's or Autozone in my area but a local Ace Hardware person told me to check out Radio-Shack. I had no expectations and when I got there, wa-la! They had both a 30amp 4 prong relay and a 40amp one. I was so surprised to see something not made in China that I purchased the 30amp one because it was made in the UK. I know that may not mean anything but again I was so surprised and it looked like good heavy duty quality. The ones that were at the auto parts stores looked cheap and flimsy but not this one. I also picked up their assorted pack of crimp ends (butt-joints, spades and rings) as they were a better price than the auto parts store and looked beefier (Made in Taiwan).

I followed Doctor J's direction with a small caveat, the wire I cut that connects to the solenoid I spliced on extra wire on both ends. Maybe it was that protective jacketing that was stiff-but I was a little concerned that the wire might be brittle so I used a butt-joint on that one too and spliced in a new piece of wire as well. So, all 4 leads going to my relay are new-wiring that is.

After saying a short prayer I decided to fire her up. I have to tell you, that starter moved so fast when I turned the key my fuel pump was probably caught off guard! I could not believe it. I am sure I will still need to change out the starter, solenoid or brushes at some point, but wow I am amazed at the result! God Bless you folks!

Mahalo

PS: rsd123-that is neat to hear how you used a Ford part on the original Denso starter. I may have to try that out. On some of our Ford trucks (mid 1990 diesel-powerstrokes) the original starter was a Denso made one. Who knows, maybe that part you purchased was originally from Japan with the Ford label on it?