Hi,
Holidayed up in Norfolk last weekend and unintentionally ended up in about 9 inches of seawater on the way back from a carpark by the beach. Managed to drive through it but the starter motor has been troublesome since.
I have sprayed it and the sourrounding cables liberally with WD40 and now it starts first time about 50 % of the time . Otherwise takes two or three innefective "clicks" then starts ( before the WD40 it was much worse :-( )
I am planning to take the starter off this weekend, and clean (?) it. Does anyone have any tips?
Thanks Steve
- (#10867) Steve, 13 May 04 11:23
Steve. Have you got the engine manual code RMO25E ? If you have, there is a very detailed section on the starter. If you have not got the manual, it is still available from Toyota dealers at less than a tenner.
Toyota do not show the dismantling of the "magnetic switch", ie, the solenoid, and suggest that it is replaced if faulty but, it is easy to take this apart and clean/replace the contacts. If you do take the solenoid/gear assembly apart, do watch out that you do not lose the steel ball inside the hollow main shaft.
- (#10867) John Davis (Leics), 13 May 04 13:44
hi
i have a hiace super custom 2.8 diesel which develped the same problem and mine was due to the contacts in the solenoid that have to carry the heavy starter motor current burning down over time.
there are 2 fixes
1/(dirty fix)
take off the starter motor and open the solenoid and grind about 5mm off the end of the shaft that is the main body of the solenoid - this gives an instant fix cause the contacts usually have lots of life left but the solenoid shaft stops before making good contact .
2/ order new start contacts - need the vin and model numbers off the chassis .
toyota parts is mail order from wight motors ltd (isle of wight, uk, toyota dealer) telephone: 01983-405551
- (#10867) DoItNow, 14 May 04 06:15
I was able to buy fresh contacts easily from a local auto electrical place. If you can't I think a temporary fix is to put some packing under the contacts to raise them slightly, instead of shortening the shaft. The fixing holes are already slotted - if not they can be - to allow the contacts to sit a bit higher. Once you get new contacts you'll find the starter much easier to get off the second time!
- (#10867) Dave (Sussex), 14 May 04 07:53
dear all have just got the van back from the garage after haveing one of my shock absorbers replaced, only to find that on this beautiful sunny morning the blimin starter motor has bust, RAC man whacked it with the hammer to confirm my suspicions and off he merry went to attend other poor motorists.
So having no real maintianence knowledge I'm gonna have to take van to garage tommorrow morning, but am super skint after planning all summer voyages, and really want to come to Brean on the weekend so need it going by then...is there any cheap way of going about this problem..help..I live in bristol and we have another vehicle so can pick up spares if anyone knows where they are available...also phone and internet currently out of action so on the lend at my friends place, will check board later before I leave here and post my contact number. Hope there is a solution, please help
thanks
Claire
- (#10867) claire, 16 May 04 07:37
Thanks for the advice. I have placed an order for the manual, and am putting the job off till it comes.
- (#10867) Steve, 18 May 04 14:48
If you can get to brean we should be able to sort it there, am bringing a few tools along to do various bits and bobs. the starter moter comes out real easy, you dont even need to jack it up. the problem is the contacts wear down and dont make very good contact, or it could be the volt drop problem. either way it would be poss to sort at brean....hope you can get there....
- (#10867) neil (torbay), 18 May 04 15:14
also, if it is auto, check switch on o/s of gearbox, this would have also been underwater if starter was. this switch prevents engine starting if not in P or N.
a drop of wd40 in this may help. there is a tiny amount of adjustment on this if needed.
- (#10867) eddie arrowsmith, 20 May 04 06:31
Eddie,
That idea sounds likely as I now realise I get the same " clicks" if I leave the car in drive.
Can you point me nearer to that switch?
- (#10867) Steve, 20 May 04 14:42