Starting a Car

[Super Kaioken]

My friend's gen 4 camry is having trouble starting. She says its the starter because whenever she hits it it'll start for her. she tries to crank but the starter doesn't even hear the usual err err errr sound. more like. er....stop. that's it. The battery is fine. All lights are go for the battery.

she even has a mini sledge hammer in her car to get it started. she taps it a couple times. tries to start it....and it works.? weird. what could be the problem and why does tapping it work?

[Dr Tweak]

Yeap, it's the starter. The brushes inside are worn or something like that...

[RedPhoenix]

starter, same problem on my friends taurus sho.

[Tercel GTS]

Yep, starter is fried, no rebuilding it either.

[ekim55121]

you can usually get a new starter from like auto zone or checker for like 208 might wanna try some place like www.rockauto.com

[Eye8Pussies]

^ woah....208?? you can get a rebuilt oem toyota one for that kind of price...

best place to get a starter is going to independent starter/alternator shops and picking up a rebuilt oem one

I got one for my gen3 v6 for 100CND

[Mike Gerber]

If she hits it with the hammer and it starts, it is definitely a bad starter, but it's the starter's internal contacts that are bad. There are instructions on this forum for removing the starter and taking it apart and replacing the starter contacts yourself. Do a search for "starter contacts". Read through the procedure and then decide if it's something you feel comfortable doing yourself.

Mike

[Dr Tweak]

Originally Posted by RedPhoenix

starter, same problem on my friends taurus sho.

Hey, check out my other website: http://www.shophoenixproject.com/

[Tercel GTS]

When a starter fries it makes a thick smoke that leaves a resin on everything inside. These starters have open bearings on the armature and this resin settles in thus making even more resistance. It also sticks to the brushes and glues them in place.
This is what I believe you will find if opened.

[Ranger X]

My starter went out a couple of months ago. Solenoid was stuck on...needless to say the whole thing was fried. Here's a pic:



Don't let that happen to your frined, replace it now! By the way a rebuilt starter from autozone was about $180, I think.

[Super Kaioken]

It was the contacts

[RedPhoenix]

Originally Posted by Dr Tweak

Hey, check out my other website: http://www.shophoenixproject.com/

Ill show him this

[Tercel GTS]

The shop I work at sells those starters rebuilt for $85 and outright for $125. Don't let a parts store sell you imported labor for more than this. Shop local rebuilders.

[Ranger X]

Man, I got ripped off then!