Bad starter?

Tiny
SIENNAWISE
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 TOYOTA SIENNA
  • 3.0L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 190,000 MILES
Yesterday I discovered I had left my lights on the night before on the vehicle listed above and when I turned the key the battery was dead and there was a single click sound. I hooked up my jumper box with 12.6 volts on it and it wouldn't jump. I did not know where my voltmeter was so I didn't know what was on the battery since I couldn't find my voltmeter, I tried to jump off my running RV battery nothing. The starter says Toyota on it so it's no doubt OEM, but I don't know if it's the original, chances are it is. I decided to put the battery on a charger and the battery at the time was around 12.6 or so charged it for a couple hours still wouldn't start. Tapped on the starter lightly a few times still wouldn't start. Hooked up the jumper pack after giving it a few more taps it started.

My theory is that despite the starter not having any kind of symptoms about to go out no whirring sounds or not cranking and turning over trying to start it with the dead battery is what did in an old starter but my mechanical brain isn't accepting that lol l Had to go to Walmart left it running for about 15 to 20 minutes. Came back out didn't sound like it was running very quiet so in order to conserve the battery I turned off the ignition that was probably not the best decision it seems that it was running I went to start it again wouldn't start and so that's where it's at now and all my parking lot. I tested for voltage to the starter and it is getting the same as battery. I know it could be the starter, but could it also be the relay or something simpler? If I can start it myself, I'm going to have it towed back to RV park in staying at and fix it myself.
Thursday, June 13th, 2024 AT 10:21 AM

6 Replies

Tiny
AL514
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,781 POSTS
Hello, what happens to the battery voltage level when trying to crank is over? Does it drop below 10volts? You need to see what the voltage levels are at both starter wires when attempting to crank, another test you can do with a multimeter is go from battery positive to the starter wire from the ignition switch and watch when cranking, that's measuring voltage drop on the positive side of the starter circuit, that will tell you if any voltage is being lost from B+, threw the relay, ignition switch and to the starter solenoid. I'll pull up the starter wiring diagrams for you. Power for the Starter relay comes through the Park/Neutral switch as well. But the starter circuit is pretty simple on this model.
Is your battery light or check engine light on as well?
See if it starts in Neutral with your foot on the brake.
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Thursday, June 13th, 2024 AT 1:05 PM
Tiny
AL514
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Here are the aftermarket Starter wiring diagrams, top and bottom.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-load-test
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Thursday, June 13th, 2024 AT 1:14 PM
Tiny
AL514
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Service info also shows a Fusible Link coming off the battery, it's in both the OEM wiring (below) and the aftermarket diagrams, So I would check for voltage drop from battery + to both starter wires when cranking, check them one at a time, if there's excessive voltage loss on either circuit, you'll know where to focus your attention on. But you may find the battery voltage just drops off when attempting to crank. Low voltage will affect the entire system, not just the starter motor.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-fuse

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-a-starter-and-solenoid-works
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Thursday, June 13th, 2024 AT 1:27 PM
Tiny
AL514
  • MECHANIC
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Here is how to do a voltage drop test.
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Thursday, June 13th, 2024 AT 3:09 PM
Tiny
SIENNAWISE
  • MEMBER
  • 69 POSTS
Thanks for all the info but it turns out it was a loose accessory connection on + side.
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Thursday, June 13th, 2024 AT 5:57 PM
Tiny
AL514
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,781 POSTS
Okay, cool, glad you found the issue, that's the important part.
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Thursday, June 13th, 2024 AT 6:28 PM

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