Starter intermittant: no crank/no click/eventual start ..also.. no crank/click/ start

[witwarp]

Hi, I have read two dozen posts and many videos and have never come across

1. a situation with no crank with no click and finally starts after many times turning the ignition off and on...
2. and other times it does click once every time i turn the ignition on and the car eventually starts.

...and the problem is getting worse over time.


I feel strongly towards buying a contact kit and plunger. But I have no experience here. Does anyone know when its a no click situation that contacts are ruled out?



I read if its no click, it might be the magnetic switch (which costs as much as an oem new starter), or it could be bad electrical connections.


I only read about one condition or the other, click or no click- but not both so i wonder which set of solutions are likely.


I have noticed its worse when its cold outside and my engine is cold (like many described with contact problems). It was no crank no click for a very long time with few incidents beginning 5 weeks ago, but now its mostly no crank with click and it now takes 6-30 trys before it starts. (it is possible it was clicked earlier and did not hear it, but it was mostly no click). Also, i was in an accident 6 moths ago... maybe so-meting came loose?



I thought it was my battery and replaced it, like so many other people i read about.


The first thing I will try is testing the ignition wire at the starter check the wires and the always hot post, but i feel its the starter.



I want to buy the contact kit on ebay, but it would suck to do all the work and still have a bad starter. I wonder if i should not gamble and but a new one. But money is very tight.


Thanx for any replies.

[Bitter]

If starter contact's don't fix it, check the power and ground cables at the battery for issues like rotten cabling, or corroded connections.

[pdq]

Your symptoms are classic of a worn starter solenoid. Buy replacement starter solenoid contacts (I bought Dorman 02349 for mine). You likely don't need a new plunger. Get some fine sandpaper and clean/lightly sand any wear marks on the existing plunger, and ensure it has smooth action.

[speedy25]

It can be either or both!

Start with disassembly of the solenoid. If the contacts are eroded away you can tell easily. After that the brushes in the starter motor may be worn. Next to go is the commutator.

Of course it can be as simple as dirty or loose battery terminals or bad battery cables too.

Get to work!

-SP

[witwarp]

Thanx for the replies- I feel more confident about repairing the starter instead of buying a new one. It clicks every time now (I wonder if it always clicked, that I didn't hear it in the beginning?)

I tested the battery and its connections and they were all good. I checked the always hot lead on the starter- good.

I wanted to test the ignition lead on the starter but it was IMPOSSIBLE to even get a hand on it. I have no clue how to reach it. Some say remove the air filter housing and the passenger wheel and the plastic in the wheel well
. But, I dont see how that will help.

I will pull the air cleaner housing tomorrow and test the ignition lead. if its good every time I turn the key, then I will buy a contact kit- without plunger. Ebay is $42 for a kit with plunger. Thats too much money.

Anyone know an inexpensive place to buy contacts?

[witwarp]

Thanks PDQ, I just bought a Dorman 02349 on amazon for $18.

[pdq]

Good luck. The only tricky part is getting the starter out from under the manifold. Refurbishing the starter is quick.

[witwarp]

I have done more research: it loks like the pre 97 corollas have the starter under the aircleaner.

Myne is under the intake mifold. I read i hace to remove the axle to get it out.

Is this true? That seems extreme, yet I have not heard a better way? Anyone know if i need to remove the passenger axle?

[speedy25]

I have NEVER had to remove an axle to take out a starter. You just need a few more tools in the box to make things easier.

Every 4 cylinder engine has the starter under the intake manifold.

-SP

[Bitter]

you can reach it from under the car or from ontop reaching under the manifold.