Starter had one job

If there are posts like this once a week then I’d like to know where they are all hiding because I searched for them. There are a few I found but not with the same symptoms/conditions that I had

 

It was one of these two bolts



Color is funky cuz I was using an LED flashlight, but you can see where they’re at

 

The exact same thing happened to me...

https://www.tundras.com/threads/wha...-gen-tundra-today.2558/page-1668#post-3277889

(The search function sucks, IMHO)

 

Will also work on a Kubota starter literally bought that same kit a couple months ago.

 

No way of getting a lock washer in there to help in the future?

 

@RUSTYNUTS - that’s an aftermarket battery terminal and some wonky wiring. I would get a crimper and some nice lugs and them use a marine style terminal

 

This ^^

 

Other than what I described, I don't know anything further. I bought a replacement at Autozone and replaced the entire unit.

 

you weren't kiddin. at least you found it before diggin too deep. I really wish I would've seen that a few days ago.
Your battery terminal looks just like mine. @bfunke you sure those aren't original?

 

This is an OEM FGT. Unmolested except for squirrel chewing on the cover

 

Oooh here's what my '06 looks like. I've been seriously contemplating getting rid of this wingnut for a standard nut. I hate wingnuts on important stuff for the exact reason @des2mtn mentioned somewhere around here. I don't think what I've got here on top is OEM.

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That + terminal is NOT @shifty` approved

 

I always knew that guy was an asshole!

 

Purchased these from Summit …….have worked very well so far

 

Holy shit, my battery terminal OCD just kicked in

 

I like those...

I just looked my shit up, the boot has never fit right on it. Now I see why. Original p/n is

$15 90982-05054 Positive Battery Terminal Connector Compatible Replacement for Toyota Lexus & Scion Vehicles - Camry Corolla Tacoma Sienna RAV4 Highlander 4Runner ES300 xB & xD - (1 Pack)

90982-05054

Looks nothing like mine. I never thought to question it, but always thought it looked out of place:

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I just had the same problem happen to me, yesterday. So, I followed your suggestion....only, now it just clicks a half-dozen times (instead of just one time) but does not kick over. '05 Tundra 4.7l, 100k mis.
Original bat. cable clamps seem to be in good shape. I also put a thin film of dielectric grease on the terminals. Maybe I didn't clean 'em as well as I thought. Any thoughts?

 

Have the battery tested at your local auto parts store. It's always the 1st step in cases like this.

With my high-dollar professional tester, I've seen two different batteries out of the half dozen I've tested show 13.4v+ but come back with less than 100 CCA, which isn't enough to turn over shit, and was causing the exact rapid-fire clicking condition you're describing.

 

Tested the battery at NAPA. 6yr. old battery was getting weak so I replaced it. Tested the relay, OK. Threw in the new bat. and plugged in the relay. Hit the key, and..... one, solid CLUNK.
Oil's clean and full, the trans fluid is red and full, no CEL warnings.....Sounding like the starter? Any other suggestions? CRAP!

 

Dunno. Did you try popping off the relay and shorting the hot line, to rule out the relay?

I would almost guarantee you, your starter is NOT shot at 100k miles. Not in these trucks.

Nothing else weird happened before turning it off? When was the timing belt last changed?

 

Had the relay checked when at NAPA. Said it was fine.

I did have something weird happen before turning it off the last time: I was approaching a fairly busy intersection in town and the truck started making a very strange noise. Kinda sounded like fan blades hitting the radiator, you know a constant metal on metal noise sorta like baseball cards in a bike's spokes, not real loud, sped up as you accelerate and slow the clanging down on deceleration. The truck also seemed to act like it was in a limp-home mode (very little power, very little response to the gas pedal). So, I managed to pull out of the intersection before it died and made it to the first street off the main drag. Would not start after that. Had it towed.
Just for the hell of it, when the truck was back home, I hooked up the ODBII reader, and it showed a code for the air induction pump (which may have explained the limp-home behavior) which I cleared. The air induction pump is a whole other issue and hopefully not related.
All that said, when I hit the key now after the new bat and I know the relay is OK (also verified the 5amp STA fuse in the interior fuse box), there is a BIG clunk, not the half-dozen loud clicking noises I had prior to the new bat. All dash lights come on, just will not start. FWIW, I have never heard of anyone having a starter crap out while on the road.........so, this is very perplexing.
Sheez.

 

I hope you didn't toss the timing belt

 

Had the timing belt replaced @ about 85k....tensioner, water pump, etc.

 

Man, I'm glad it was something easy. Like everyone else, sorry for not noticing this sooner.

This same thing would happen to me in the morning, before work. I'd get it going and it wouldn't happen again for months. Eventually, I realized it was the power terminal and had to cut it off. They sure don't leave you any room for error with the length of that cable.

 

@metalpete - if your large gauge wire is too short, you can repair with something like this

 

The classic starter click... Its fairly common problem across all older Toyotas especially when using those universal type terminals. On one of my 4runners it used to do that all the time except every time it would cut off all power to the cab too. When it would happen the short term solution was to take the terminal off the battery and put it back on, would start right up. After that I'd go home and clean up the terminals.

The only real long term solution we ever found was to replace the terminal when it started doing that a lot and start the cycle over again. Those terminals just suck! If you can find one made of brass instead of that pot metal they do a lot better. I have one on my Pickup and haven't had any issues in 3 years

 

Ahhh. I remember what it was like before add-ons.

 

You guys wanna hear somethin funny?
While in Arizona earlier this year for the Tundras to Sedona event, I won a few prizes. One of them, was this:



My good buddy Colton of Hotshot Offroad happened to mention wanting the same kit for R&D of his own new products, and I handed it right over. He ended up hooking me up huge in store credit and some of the highest quality slaps (stickers) I’ve ever seen in my life, shipped months later. No regrets on that but…. Oh the irony…