Starter or alternator is bad

Just found out that either my starter or alternator is bad on my truck. Hate to see my Tunny completely down for the first time ever with over 241k miles. First time I had to get it towed (pretty scary feeling). The battery tested good and is 4 years old OEM battery. Truck drove and started good all day yesterday and wouldn’t start late last night when I was leaving. It was a crank no start at first, now it clicks as I attempt to turn it over.

Before I get into the hassle of calling the dealership tomorrow, what price range could I expect to pay for an alternator or starter? I know it’s a pretty involved job.

 

It cranked but didn't start until it just clicked? Sounds like now you have a dead battery. However that doesn't resolve the crank no start which doesn't sound like a alt or starter.

 

I’m with @Trident - seems like neither to me. A bad alternator typically won’t keep a vehicle from running if that battery is charged and a bad starter typically won’t turn the motor over.

Regarding price - neither is going to be cheap - both require a bit of labor. I’d guess $1,000 for alternator and probably $1,700 for starter.

 

How about if it has a whining noise when I try to start it? If those two things aren’t it then I don’t know what else could be it. I also had my friend check for codes with his OBD scanner and it was P0335 crankshaft position sensor

 

My guess - whatever is causing the crankshaft code is preventing it from firing. The extended cranking likely killed a weak battery. Need to ID the cause of the code.

 

Starter. 100% I got that same code when mine went.. I would get some whinning, but that was the fuel pump working. I also had mine towed for the 1st time 1/4 of a mile. Longest ride ever. lol

 

I think I posted my post progress on here somewhere. I did alot of troubleshooting since I was in denial including warranty exchange on an optima.

 

Did you fix it yourself or had someone else? Unfortunately, I’ll have to spend the $$$$ at the dealer or independent shop.

 

I did it myself. It will take you about a day. Basic hand tools tbh. Bought impacts after the fact. Will need some extensions for the starter itself that goes out to the cats. Didn't remove the exhaust and didn't lift the engine either. Passenger wheel has to come out and placed on jack stands.

 

Relatively straight forward the inner heatshield will be a bitch at the starter. I rounded that bolt so I snipped it off that corner with some hedge clippers, worked just fine, I later bought some tin snips just in case, lol. I snagged my starter off of rockauto. Denso

 

When you say the battery tested good what does that mean?

it’s not just voltage that is an issue but the amperage, there are a lot of computer systems in a modern vehicle and they all rely on a battery in good working order. You would be surprised what issues can come up with a weak battery

 

https://youtu.be/jZbc2zXB6dM?si=Wgduzp4xDgxKEC-D

Try this 1st

What I've done differently is placed the key in the on position and jumped it this way, got a click no start. I've jumped my 02 Celica this way, started every time, but thats another issue. Didn't hit the starter at all

 

By the voltage. The battery was taken out and we took it to auto zone for them to test it and according to them and what they showed us it was good. Jumping it didn’t work so we figured it had to be something else outside of the battery.

 

Does Denso make most of the OE parts for Toyota?

 

Many of the electrical parts. Hitachi makes the MAAF sensors. AISIN makes many of the mechanical parts

 

Do you remember what the amperage tested at? I will replace if the tested amperage is below 40% of the rated CCAs

 

In addition the power steering pressure sensor is made by a company called Wells Vehicle Electronics. I recently changed mine out and discovered after researching

 

Update: it’s my starter.

had it towed to the dealership this morning. Pricey $$$$

 

An independent shop will be cheaper than the dealer

 

Just got my truck back this morning. It seems to start up a little different. Like the crank sound is slightly different but it does fire up like it should now.

 

how much was it?

 

It was $1267. The exhaust pipe gaskets were also replaced

 

I'm shocked a dealer doesn't employ the "jack the engine up" strategy.

 

Was it replaced with a Denso?

 

Apparently they did it the traditional way. Disconnect

Yes

 

-ing the exhaust?

Yeah I'd assume so with the use of new gaskets. And mine sounded different too after I installed the new one.

 

Yep removed the exhaust. Did yours sound like this? This how it idled during cold start.

https://m.youtube.com/shorts/nJtDiFcJRI0

 

Well see, your starter only works for a very small amount of time during the cranking of an engine. After that, it just sits there so in your video is just the engine idling. Nothing sounds out of whack to me. My Tundra kind of aggressively revs when it's first started and lots of folks think they sound like a diesel engine at idle.

 

Yea mine used to idle with a few revs along the way but now it hasn’t.

 

You want steady at idle so that's good. Like I said, nothing sounds weird or anything in your video.