98 Tacoma 4x4 starter issue??

I replaced my battery recently because I was having problems starting. When
I turned the key I either got a click sound or it would start to turn over
but quit before it fired up the engine (like the starter loses power
prematurely), so I'd have to go back and forth with the key keep trying
until it started.

Now it started to do this again. Anyone know what might be the problem? Is
it the starter or solenoid, or even an alternator??
Seems to happen more often if my truck has been sitting for a little while.

Thanks

98 Tacoma
V-6
Xtra cab

"fred" <anon@omous.com> wrote in message news:Owc2g.3$Te.0@trndny04...[color=blue]
>I replaced my battery recently because I was having problems starting. When
>I turned the key I either got a click sound or it would start to turn over
>but quit before it fired up the engine (like the starter loses power
>prematurely), so I'd have to go back and forth with the key keep trying
>until it started.
>
> Now it started to do this again. Anyone know what might be the problem? Is
> it the starter or solenoid, or even an alternator??
> Seems to happen more often if my truck has been sitting for a little
> while.
>
> Thanks
>
> 98 Tacoma
> V-6
> Xtra cab
>[/color]

The only way to determine the cause with any certainty is to check power
when the hard start condition occurs. Check to make sure that the battery
cables are tight at the battery, starter, and ground.

Toyotas have been known to have bad contacts in the starter relay - the
contacts are easily replaced.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

"fred" <anon@omous.com> wrote in message news:Owc2g.3$Te.0@trndny04...[color=blue]
>I replaced my battery recently because I was having problems starting. When
>I turned the key I either got a click sound or it would start to turn over
>but quit before it fired up the engine (like the starter loses power
>prematurely), so I'd have to go back and forth with the key keep trying
>until it started.
>
> Now it started to do this again. Anyone know what might be the problem? Is
> it the starter or solenoid, or even an alternator??
> Seems to happen more often if my truck has been sitting for a little
> while.
>
> Thanks
>
> 98 Tacoma
> V-6
> Xtra cab
>[/color]

Probably the starter contacts. A common problem on Toyota starters. My
daughters 98 Corolla would just "click" when she tried to start it. She had
to turn the key sometimes 3 or more times before it would start. Finally it
wouldn't even click. I took the starter off and replaced the contacts. It
has started fine ever since. That was about 2 years ago. I believe the
contacts for it were about $20 at the dealer. If you have a
starter/alternator rebuild place nearby, you can get a set cheaper than
that. Here is a site that tells how to replace the contacts.
[url]http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenance/starter/[/url]



bbtaco

> The only way to determine the cause with any certainty is to check power[color=blue]
> when the hard start condition occurs. Check to make sure that the battery
> cables are tight at the battery, starter, and ground.
>
> Toyotas have been known to have bad contacts in the starter relay - the
> contacts are easily replaced.
> --
>
> Ray O
> (correct punctuation to reply)[/color]

Thanks for the info bbtaco and Ray O....
It's funny you mentioned ground, I found a ground wire going from the
chassis to the negative battery clamp broken and seperated at the clamp. I
taped it back where it belonged but it didn't stop the problem. Although I'm
not exactly sure what that ground wire's purpose is, it doesn't look like
it's for starting the vehicle.
I will probably just go right to the starter contacts since the more I
search the net, the more I'm seeing as you said, this is a common issue for
these trucks.

Thanks again ;)

"fred" <anon@omous.com> wrote in message news:csi2g.34$ud.7@trndny03...[color=blue][color=green]
>> The only way to determine the cause with any certainty is to check power
>> when the hard start condition occurs. Check to make sure that the
>> battery cables are tight at the battery, starter, and ground.
>>
>> Toyotas have been known to have bad contacts in the starter relay - the
>> contacts are easily replaced.
>> --
>>
>> Ray O
>> (correct punctuation to reply)[/color]
>
> Thanks for the info bbtaco and Ray O....
> It's funny you mentioned ground, I found a ground wire going from the
> chassis to the negative battery clamp broken and seperated at the clamp. I
> taped it back where it belonged but it didn't stop the problem. Although
> I'm not exactly sure what that ground wire's purpose is, it doesn't look
> like it's for starting the vehicle.
> I will probably just go right to the starter contacts since the more I
> search the net, the more I'm seeing as you said, this is a common issue
> for these trucks.
>
> Thanks again ;)[/color]

You're welcome and good luck!
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)