1996 T100 starting problem

Solidworkingman · 11-06-2004, 08:21 PM

1996 T100 starting problem.. I've read the posts talking about starter & alternator brushes & contacts but my problem doesn't seem to fall into this catagory. I just get a clicking sound when I try to start the truck, but usually if I turn the steering wheel to a different position it will start. Sometimes it does take several attempts of moving the wheel but so far it has always eventually started. I've pulled the covers from around the steering column and check for loose wires & shorts. I've even sprayed a pretty heavy dose of contact cleaner all in this area. This seems to help for a while but eventually the problem comes back again. The truck does have over 200,000 miles on it and as far as I know the starter or alternator have never had any work done on them. What do you guys think?

jobe1492 · 11-07-2004, 02:02 PM

Hey Solidworkingman, why don't you try hammering the starter slightly? It worked for me. I just hammered in my old subaru legacy. The problem was that the contacts are loose. only when turning all the way to the right i would start it.

yield2s · 11-07-2004, 03:32 PM

it's probably the key cylinder.

deekay140 · 11-07-2004, 05:00 PM

needs a new starter

Greasygreg · 11-07-2004, 08:56 PM

Wow, lots of diffrent fixes here,i wonder who is correct? For my own two cents,is assume that if turning the wheel changes things,and not touching the starter with a hammer,your problem is inside the truck, not the starter,I once saw a t-truck dude who had so many keys on his ring,that the cylender fell out of the ignition due to thw weight. possibly address this first, before busting out the big iron.hahahah

deekay140 · 11-07-2004, 10:52 PM

I am a 15 yr toyota master tech.... it needs a starter

reb · 11-08-2004, 12:03 PM

I vote for the starter. The steering wheel thing is probably just coincidence. The clicking sound tells you that the switch is working.

CraigW · 11-08-2004, 12:47 PM

Leave the wheel in one position and continue to try, It will start. My $$ is on the starter.

apbstyle · 11-08-2004, 04:31 PM

change the contacts their cheap $12 bucks each. we always change them at my dealership.

Solidworkingman · 11-08-2004, 05:03 PM

Hey guys thanks for all the advice. The moving the steering wheel to get the truck to start was just coincidence. So I am convinced that it is the starter. I've found a local alternator, starter repair outfit that will rebuild the starter for $30 plus parts if I bring them the starter. Does this sound like a good deal? I figure with 225000 miles there might be more than parts needing attention other than just the contacts. What do ya'll think?

Thanks
Jeff

deekay140 · 11-08-2004, 05:10 PM

its just the contacts,, go for it.

TomThomas · 12-06-2007, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solidworkingman

1996 T100 starting problem.. I've read the posts talking about starter & alternator brushes & contacts but my problem doesn't seem to fall into this catagory. I just get a clicking sound when I try to start the truck, but usually if I turn the steering wheel to a different position it will start. Sometimes it does take several attempts of moving the wheel but so far it has always eventually started. I've pulled the covers from around the steering column and check for loose wires & shorts. I've even sprayed a pretty heavy dose of contact cleaner all in this area. This seems to help for a while but eventually the problem comes back again. The truck does have over 200,000 miles on it and as far as I know the starter or alternator have never had any work done on them. What do you guys think?

TomThomas · 12-06-2007, 06:48 PM

Nutral safety switch? Put the truck in Nutural and see if that will fix the problem.

toy100 · 12-06-2007, 08:48 PM

yelp i have a 97 t-100 4x4 sr5 and i just changed contacs and plunger for around $20 problem solved

JKP · 05-21-2008, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solidworkingman

1996 T100 starting problem.. I've read the posts talking about starter & alternator brushes & contacts but my problem doesn't seem to fall into this catagory. I just get a clicking sound when I try to start the truck, but usually if I turn the steering wheel to a different position it will start. Sometimes it does take several attempts of moving the wheel but so far it has always eventually started. I've pulled the covers from around the steering column and check for loose wires & shorts. I've even sprayed a pretty heavy dose of contact cleaner all in this area. This seems to help for a while but eventually the problem comes back again. The truck does have over 200,000 miles on it and as far as I know the starter or alternator have never had any work done on them. What do you guys think?

From this old thread it seems the consensus fix is to replace the starter or the starter contacts/solenoid ? Does anyone have any experience with the latter option....replacing contacts and or solenoid....this seems like it should be pretty easy.
JKP
97 SR5 81K