I have a problem of starting the car after it.

Tiny
KISHORPATEL
  • MEMBER
  • 1976 TOYOTA COROLLA
  • 230,000 MILES
I have a problem of starting the car after it has been running for a while.
For example, in the morning, ( for example when you want to run an errand) the car will start up right away with one click of the key. The if you drive the car around for even a few minutes and you shut off the engine and try starting again, the car engine will not crank right way, even with few series of tries. The you wait about 40 to 60 minutes (of 'cooling" off), the car will start again. When it fails to start, you can hear the click of the relay and if you hold the key in start position, you can hear the fuel pump humm.
Wednesday, March 6th, 2013 AT 9:47 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,871 POSTS
If you're hearing a single rather loud clunk from the starter each time you turn the ignition switch to "crank", that is typical of worn contacts inside the starter solenoid. Most people just replace the entire starter, but the design looks identical to the Nippendenso starters used on Toyotas and Chryslers in the '90s. For those you can find repair kits in hardware stores and farm and home supply stores. They come with four contacts. You use the two that match those in your solenoid now. The secret is not in having to wait an hour for it to crank. It will crank eventually when you cycle the ignition switch enough times. The number of times you have to do that will increase as the contacts continue to wear away.
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Wednesday, March 6th, 2013 AT 10:21 PM
Tiny
KISHORPATEL
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Unfortunately, I do not hear any sound (such as the loud clunk) from the engine or the starter. When you turn the key, I hear just a click from the relay mounted on the inside on the front passenger side and the fuel pump humm. Absolutely nothing to indicate that the starter is starting to crank
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Wednesday, March 6th, 2013 AT 10:39 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,871 POSTS
Measure the voltage on the smaller wire on the starter. You should find 12 volts when a helper turns the ignition switch to "crank". If you do not find 12 volts, the relay has a bad contact or there's a break in the wire feeding it. Look at the color of that smaller starter wire, then find that same color wire at the relay and measure the voltage there.
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Thursday, March 7th, 2013 AT 6:51 AM

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