Signs of a Failing Starter?

Good afternoon all,

Just when everything feels nice and stable after weekends of random maintenance, another gremlin will pop up (* ￣︿￣)

Went to start my truck last night and I had it pause/stop midway through cranking. The starter stopped turning over the truck for about a second, then it resumed and started the truck. Since last night, every time I go to start it, it starts just fine. It had been sitting for 3 days prior to that start attempt.

Original starter with 205k on it. Going to be testing the battery, 2 years old, here in a bit once a tester arrives, will update with results of that. I'm trying to get ahead by learning some feedback in the case it may be the starter as there is a labor day sale for Toyota parts.

In the case it may be the starter, I have a question on the parts required while replacing. For the intake manifold gaskets, 17171-50030, do these come in a pair or do I need to order 2 units?

I also have the following parts needed:

28100-50101 -- Starter

$11 22271-50050 Toyota Gasket - 22271-50050

22271-50050 -- Throttle Body Gasket?
96761-24019 -- Coolant Pipe O-Ring
16341-50020 -- Coolant Crossover/Bypass Gaskets

I'm praying its some other random issue than the starter but I'm somewhat prepared to replace it eventually.

Please let me know if more information is needed and I will provide quickly. Thanks all!

 

I am actually in the process of replacing my starter (Probably original, closing in on 400K miles). Only things I am replacing are:

28100-50090 --Starter
28300-10020 --Start Relay
89615-52010 --Nock Sensor (brother broke the connector...)
17116-50010 --Manifold top to bottom gasket
17171-50020 --Manifold to head gaskets

My understanding is the starters last forever, but maybe replace the Starter Relay first to see.

I considered also replacing the head cover gaskets cause of how far I already was but my grandfather talked me out of it.

Came across this post trying to find info on oil in my exhaust manifold... lol

 

As to the 17171-50030 Gasket, looks like it generally is just one per.

Note to my above post: My truck is older so part numbers may vary

 

Note OP has a 2005, you're in a 2001. VVTi vs. non-VVTi, so likely some part# variation.

I'd be suspicious of the battery, and the cabling, before I ever suspected the starter. Even at 205k miles.

 

Curse Toyota for this ( ˘︹˘ ).

I'm hoping it is just the battery being funky. Batteries have gotten so junk nowadays. It has an Interstate battery and the only saving grace of these is you can just walk back into Costco and get another battery free.

The starter cranked at, what seemingly, was full power. It didn't slow down after the interrupt, just resumed cranking and it fired right up. Ill have an update soon once this tester arrives.

 

Our 2005-2006 trucks have the auto-start or instant-start or bump-start or whatever people call it. Where you only need to tap the key forward and it begins its starting sequence, and attempts to start for 3sec, I think? I forget the particulars, but it's quite different than the earlier years in nature.

 

Got done testing the battery. I'm assuming the regular Interstate batteries are standard Flooded batteries so I tested with that option. At 700 CCA, it stated the Health was 90% but the charge was 20%, eek. The charging test was good and the load test was good. After running the truck for a bit and retesting, the charge moved up to 30%.

Does the search for a parasitic drain begin? :/

 

Costco severely limited the replacement period on their interstate batteries in recent years. I believe it's down to one year and the remaining are prorated.

Sam's Club Duracells and Walmart Everstart Maxx's still have a 3 year free replacement.

 

Sam's club is looking more appealing everyday, that 3 year replacement is so nice.

Another update... After driving the truck around for a bit, the charge is back up to 80%+. If this was due to the battery being low charge, I wonder how it could have dipped so low during an extended weekend. Drain on the battery or just somewhat bad battery?

Hoping it was just caused by the battery, we'll see how the week plays out if it occurs again.

 

This was also on the 2003 and 2004 models.

 

Parasitic draw test is pretty easy to perform.

 

I have this...2004