Starter troubles

[Tleg93]

The other day I was fueling up my newly repaired turbo and after I was done I got in to start it and nothing. The headlights were on etc. but it wasn't turning. I know it's the starter so I open the hood and do the Fonzarelli thing (percussive blows to the starter housing) and it started right up.

Now, my question(s) are (I'm at work right now and I can't look up details about the starter) how is the starters on our cars constructed? Is it a solenoid type? Is there a mechanical actuator in there or was it just coincidence that it started after I struck it? These may be dumb questions and I apologize for my ignorance in advance.

[vrg3]

There's a solenoid that simultaneously moves the pinion gear out (so it meshes with the teeth on the flywheel or flex plate) and closes the high-current contacts to spin the motor.

Tapping a starter with a hammer is a well-proven way to make a dying starter work when it otherwise won't. If you think about most of the ways a starter can fail (tiny breaks in the solenoid or motor coil, worn solenoid contacts, worn motor brushes), it kind of makes sense that percussion could mask the problem.

[Tleg93]

I thought it was constructed the way you said, I just wanted to be sure that I what I was seeing was a dying starter, which seems to be the case. Thinking about it I guess there is only one type of starter...

[professor]

this also means that you can disassemble the starter, remove the solenoid contacts which will look rough and pitted, reface them with a dremel or hand file, and reinstall. That fixed mine for no investment at all.

[evolutionmovement]

Hybrids are different - combined with the alternator/flywheel. Citroen or somebody had also done the starter/alternator combo decades ago.

Steve

[Tleg93]

this also means that you can disassemble the starter, remove the solenoid contacts which will look rough and pitted, reface them with a dremel or hand file, and reinstall. That fixed mine for no investment at all.

Cool, just what I wanted to hear.

[vrg3]

Josh replaced his contacts too... I think I vaguely remember him making new ones out of some copper pipe or something. Try searching for "starter" with "legacy777" as the author maybe.

[Legacy777]

Look at the last thread. I added the link where to order the contacts.
http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic. ... sc&start=0

You could probably just give your local toyota dealer the following part # 28226-72010 and 28226-72080 and get them. Not sure what costs would be