Is it the Starter?

My 98 RAV4, 4 wheel drive 4 door, has trouble starting.
It is not the battery. [Fully charged, 2 years old, with car off the
headlights stay on full for a long long time]

First it just clicks when you turn the key. Sometimes it starts to crank
very very slow, and sometimes, during this slow crank, it starts. Usually
starts up again but is slow cranking.

Is it a bad wire connector powering the starter or the starter itself? I
guess it could be either.

How hard is it to change out this starter?

Thanks and have a good new year.

Richard.

Richard, Try starting with the headlights on and have someone watch the
headlights. If they go off then the battery is bad or discharged. If
they stay on but the starter still clicks then there is likely a poor
connection somewhere to the starter.


---MIKE---[color=blue][color=green]
>>In the White Mountains of New Hampshire
>> (44° 15' N - Elevation 1580')[/color][/color]

"Richard" <rfeirste@nycap.rr.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>My 98 RAV4, 4 wheel drive 4 door, has trouble starting.
>It is not the battery. [Fully charged, 2 years old, with car off the
>headlights stay on full for a long long time]
>
>First it just clicks when you turn the key. Sometimes it starts to crank
>very very slow, and sometimes, during this slow crank, it starts. Usually
>starts up again but is slow cranking.
>
>Is it a bad wire connector powering the starter or the starter itself? I
>guess it could be either.
>
>How hard is it to change out this starter?
>
>Thanks and have a good new year.
>
>Richard.
>[/color]
Might still be the battery...try getting a boost from a good
battery...try cleaning all the heavy wire connections, both at
the battery posts, the ground point for the negative lead and the
positive lead connection to the starter (or to the starter
solenoid).

If none of these help then it must be that the armature is
dragging (I've only ever seen one case like this - mind you I've
never worked in car repair (many years in aircraft repair though)

Most starters aren't difficult to change, usually two nuts or
studs, couple of electrical connections.

Good luck.
--

-Gord.
(use gordon in email)

On Fri, 30 Dec 2005 11:34:20 -0500, "Richard" <rfeirste@nycap.rr.com>
wrote:
[color=blue]
>My 98 RAV4, 4 wheel drive 4 door, has trouble starting.
>It is not the battery. [Fully charged, 2 years old, with car off the
>headlights stay on full for a long long time]
>
>First it just clicks when you turn the key. Sometimes it starts to crank
>very very slow, and sometimes, during this slow crank, it starts. Usually
>starts up again but is slow cranking.
>
>Is it a bad wire connector powering the starter or the starter itself? I
>guess it could be either.
>
>How hard is it to change out this starter?
>
>Thanks and have a good new year.
>[/color]
DO NOT assume it's not the battery. Do NOT rely on places like
CarQuest or Autozone to TEST your battery. Even if the headlights
work, it could still be the battery.

Take your car to a reputable repair shop, better yet, one that
specifically works with automotive electrical systems and have them
test your car. They can tell you if it's the battery or the starter
or something else. (like oil too thick for the weather)

--
gburnore at DataBasix dot Com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
How you look depends on where you go.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gary L. Burnore | ÝÛ³ºÝ³Þ³ºÝ³³Ýۺݳ޳ºÝ³Ý³Þ³ºÝ³ÝÝÛ³
| ÝÛ³ºÝ³Þ³ºÝ³³Ýۺݳ޳ºÝ³Ý³Þ³ºÝ³ÝÝÛ³
Official .sig, Accept no substitutes. | ÝÛ³ºÝ³Þ³ºÝ³³Ýۺݳ޳ºÝ³Ý³Þ³ºÝ³ÝÝÛ³
| ÝÛ 0 1 7 2 3 / Ý³Þ 3 7 4 9 3 0 Û³
Black Helicopter Repair Services, Ltd.| Official Proof of Purchase
===========================================================================

DO NOT assume it's not the battery. Do NOT rely on places like[color=blue]
> CarQuest or Autozone to TEST your battery. Even if the headlights
> work, it could still be the battery.
>
> Take your car to a reputable repair shop, better yet, one that
> specifically works with automotive electrical systems and have them
> test your car. They can tell you if it's the battery or the starter
> or something else. (like oil too thick for the weather)
>
> --
> gburnore at DataBasix dot Com
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> How you look depends on where you go.
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Gary L. Burnore | ÝÛ³ºÝ³Þ³ºÝ³³Ýۺݳ޳ºÝ³Ý³Þ³ºÝ³ÝÝÛ³
> | ÝÛ³ºÝ³Þ³ºÝ³³Ýۺݳ޳ºÝ³Ý³Þ³ºÝ³ÝÝÛ³
> Official .sig, Accept no substitutes. | ÝÛ³ºÝ³Þ³ºÝ³³Ýۺݳ޳ºÝ³Ý³Þ³ºÝ³ÝÝÛ³
> | ÝÛ 0 1 7 2 3 / Ý³Þ 3 7 4 9 3 0 Û³
> Black Helicopter Repair Services, Ltd.| Official Proof of Purchase
> ===========================================================================[/color]
Yep, it was the battery. I charged it up and then ran it for a while.
Voltage was 10.8. Voltage at starter was also 10.8. I went to NAPA and put
in their best group 35 battery and it now starts like a champ. Must have
been a bad cell. Thanks.

Richard.