Hey there....lately, every so often, I turn the key and the lights go on, but the engine doesn't start, or even budge (the starter isn't moving). After a random number of repetitions turning the key, the car starts (it's always less than 10 tries).

Everything else is perfectly fine.

What gives?

Sounds like a bad ground to me. Or, your starter is on it's way out. Check your grounds on the starter, block, frame, and neg battery post. Also, check all of your power leads as well. Sometimes that nut on the starter works its way off.

I think it has to do with the starter. Do I need to replace the entire starter or just some component?

>
I second the starter what happens is the windings get egg shaped(toasted)
0 and it starts only when in the right place. The battery could be the culprit but a bad starter will
request extra power to start even if the battery is good it can seem bad, hope that makes some sense.

Hi,

do the starter start fine evertime the engine is warmed up?

it sound to me that the starter contact are worn, if your car uses a denso starter, is it just a simple replacing work fur just
a few dollars

greetz

Theese cars have fusible links on the positive battery cable. The next time it doesnt start on the first turn of the key, get out and roughly shake the positive cable abd then try again. Most likely u have a bad fusible link.

You need these: http://www.nationsautoelectric.com/densoparts.html

Toyota actually sells them also, starter/solenoid contact repair kit. local dealer had them in stock, really easy to replace. Just done the wife's Celica last month.

EDIT: The Toyota kit costs more, but comes with everything you could need instead of just the 2 contacts, seals o-rings, gasket and new copper terminal studs. Watch the video

EDIT EDIT: shouldn't need the plunger, just clean up the copper on the plunger

This post has been edited by 97GTinKC: Dec 6, 2011 - 2:10 PM

Ironically, My Harley also had a Denso starter and the exact same problems, on the good side, it's about all that ever goes wrong with these starters.


EDIT: FWIW, the ones in the video are not all that worn, my wife's were bad enough they were about a 3rd as thick as the new ones. The Harley literally had no contact left, just about an eighth of an inch at 1 end of the battery side still making contact, and it was paper thin, the rest was gone. the plunger was bottoming out in both causing a poor to no connection across the solenoid, then the contacts tended to arc and burn up even faster. I did not use a new plunger in either, but maybe should have, at least in the bike.

Toyota also has the plunger kit separate

This post has been edited by 97GTinKC: Dec 6, 2011 - 3:39 PM

I have a starter for sale from my st if your interested, was only on the car for about 6 months before the swap, will let it go stupid cheap if your interested