BAD STARTERS OR???

[suprabad]

I haven't written for a while (mostly lurk as of late), unfortunately my time has all been invested in staying alive lately.

I had something come up and wondered if anyone had experienced anything similar. I replaced my starter with a Bosch brand rebuild from Pep Boys... (I know what you're thinking, but it was the weekend and Toyota was closed and I needed a starter...flame suit on go ahead!) Any way the thing gave me crap from day one. I had to tap on it with a tire iron to get it to turn the engine over virtually every start.

Having realized I was a bonehead,I went to Toyota to purchase a new starter...guess what Toyota does not make new starters for 88 Supras and I had to purchase a Toyota rebuilt starter. It worked fine...for about a week and continues to be ok most of the time. Here's the problem. Once about every 20 starts or so I have to get out and tap the starter motor casing with a tire iron or something. I don't have to do it hard and it's not everytime but it still happens.
I cannot figure it. Could it be another bad starter? Two in a row? My car is immaculate and the charging system is all in top shape and I checked all my connections and replaced the starter relay....and yet I continue to have this problem every 20 starts or so.

Am I missing something simple. Duhhhhhh!!!

 

[starscream5000]

How are your grounds looking?

 

[slacker]

yep ... sounds like a ground problem to me ..

 

[he lives]

glad to here you took the bosch out. I heped a friend of mine put one in his celica and 3 days later it caught on fire and burned the entire car. Sent it back to them and they said it was rebuilt incorrectly causing it to stick in the on position and run at all times.

Your problem seems liek it is either bad ground or faulty starter.

 

[MDCmotorsports]

Grounds or bad signal wire connection. The later would explain why it starts after you tap on it as you are jaring the connection.

 

[upgradedsupra]

Grounds or bad signal wire connection as someone stated. Until you fix it, you don't/shouldn't need to get out and tap the starter. If you turn the key ahead and proceed to start it and keep doing this, it will start. Tom's car (on board here) and my brother's car both need to do this. (they have bad contacts). I assume it just goes click and nothing else correct? If so, you can do what I said without getting out of the car. It might take 5,10 maybe just 2 times to get it to fire up but it will work. Again this is of course if you have it just click. (sounds like it)

HTH some
Duane

 

[suprabad]

Grounds or bad signal wire connection. The later would explain why it starts after you tap on it as you are jaring the connection.

The signal wire is the one that plugs in and has the little rectangular plastic shroud around the female connection right?

As far as grounds goes doesn't the engine block act as the ground to the starter where the starter and the block meet?

 

[MDCmotorsports]

The signal wire is the one that plugs in and has the little rectangular plastic shroud around the female connection right?

As far as grounds goes doesn't the engine block act as the ground to the starter where the starter and the block meet?

Yes its the little 14 gauge wire with a clip into the back of the starter.

In theory, the starter gets ground from the bolts, and mounting to the engine block/bell housing.

 

[onefstsupra89]

i know i might be wrong but this happend to me in another car come to find out it was the safety clutch started switch... again i might be wrong but is worth a shot......

 

[MDCmotorsports]

i know i might be wrong but this happend to me in another car come to find out it was the safety clutch started switch... again i might be wrong but is worth a shot......

No no, thats a great educated observation.

:biglaugh:

 

[onefstsupra89]

thank you i did disconnected the switch and the car NEVER acted stupid again.....lol and i believe is a good idea to bypass the switch in a way it minimizes the stress on the main bearings specially no oil in them when starting. IMO