4th gen has intermittent crank - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Electech · 03-12-2006, 02:07 PM

Hi guys,
I have an 88 gt that I drive every day. For some time now it cranks on whatever turn of the iginition that it feels like, it may be one or it might take turning the key thirty times. Does not seem to have any relationship to hot/cold/wet/dry etc. I have chased down the grounds and all seem good. I have looked into this for several years and it seems to be just a matter of higher resistance somewhere, but I can't find it. I have replaced the ignition harness behind the iginiton key. the starter, most of the grounds, the battery cables, etc. Any help will be appreciated.

Dailydriver

bashattitude · 03-12-2006, 02:14 PM

Did you replace the solenoid with the starter? When it doesn't engage, do you hear the solenoid click? If you do, I would venture to say that the contacts are worn and unless both contacts are made at the same time the starter will not turn over.

Electech · 03-12-2006, 07:49 PM

It was quite awhile ago that I replaced the starter. Seems like it came with the solenoid, but don't remember for sure. Yes, you can really hear the solenoid engage. Most of the time it will start if I just turn the key enough, but about once or twice a year it leaves me high and dry. When it does, it will start when I return later, or if someone is around, it will start with an assist from another battery. Sweet car otherwise. Thanks for the reply

bashattitude · 03-13-2006, 07:27 AM

Ok now it is sounding like something is not shutting off when you shut the car off... something like a fuel pump, lighter socket, etc. something that doesn't draw power when the ignition is shut off. I imagine you have a pretty good battery in the car. Here is an instance. You come home from work, shut off the car but the ignition didn't turn off an accessory, next morning car won't start, you turn the ignition off, and when you do it turns off the accessory draining the battery, you go out a couple hours later the battery has recovered from being drained, you turn the key and it starts up like nothing was wrong.

Is this the behavior you are getting?

Or, you go out to the car turn the key and the solenoid "clicks" you then try again and get a click... you do this several times and then it starts?

wiccanferret · 03-13-2006, 12:17 PM

If not for the fact that you replaced the starter, it sounds like a very typical case of a dead starter. If it were me, if it had been awhile, I would replace the starter again just in case. Maybe you're replacement was also bad?

Electech · 03-13-2006, 07:05 PM

The last one. I go out to the car and just get the solenoid clicks. Could turn the key and start on the first try or it could be any try thereafter. I could have just left the car 5 minutes ago, or I could have left it over the weekend. Battery is getting old, but it is still strong and this problem has been going on for a couple of batteries now. I thought I had found it when I found high resistance readings on the ignition harness and I replaced it, but no such luck. It seemed to help some for a little while, but I am back in the same mess now.

bashattitude · 03-13-2006, 08:19 PM

I tend to agree with wiccanferret for the most part. Was it a NEW starter or a rebuild? If the contacts in the solenoid are worn or burned you won't get a good contact when the plunger presses the washer against the contacts. You will get the audible click but it won't make contact with both contacts at the same time which in turn won't kick in the starter motor. You can change the contacts yourself or get another starter. I worked on a Dakota for a guy that had this very problem and the problem was cured by simply changing the solenoid contacts.

Electech · 03-13-2006, 08:25 PM

It was a new factory starter. It sounds as if the solenoids are the problem though. I will try to get to them this weekend and replace. Thanks for the help guys.