Starter contacts back from the dead ?

[secallahan]

I have 2000 Tundra with 135 K on it and about 1 month ago after starting problems ( turn key sometimes nothing, sometimes click and then start) figured it was the starter contacts after reading this forum and confirming what I suspected. While I was contemplating doing this myself or taking it in, I went ahead and replaced my battery as it was over 3 years old and reading right at 12 V as opposed to 12.6 or so when new. I really cleanded all the cables too. Imediatly after installing the battery, the number of no starts decreased and then completely stopped for almost 3 weeks. WTF ?

I still think I have some dead spots on the starter due to corrosion of the contacts but didn't think I would go nearly 3 weeks without 1 no start. Just wondering if anyone else has experienced what I have.

[duffyatkinson]

Just goes to show how much of an impact a weak battery has on engine function/stability. We see this time and time again here. If your battery voltage tests were accurate, look what kind of havoc a drop from 12.6v to 12.0v can cause.

[tundrunk]

hey duffy, although im pretty good with car stereos i never learned a lot about batteries/voltage. my question is does your battery rise above 12v when your motor is running? because of the alternator charging it? just curious because the capacitor that my amp feeds off reads 14v when i start up and usually 13.6v when im driving. this is with the stereo off so there is little or no power being used from it. i know capacitors store charge but i didnt think they could store more than the voltage supplied by the battery.

[secallahan]

Right on - people mistake alot of problems for something more complicated when a fresh battery will take care of it. I checked it mulitple times and it was 12 .0/12.1 volts. I guess with fresh battery, even if starter contacts have some corrosion , I have enough volts to crank past dead spots. Only cost me another $30 form the pro-rated warranty so why not eliminate that first I always think. I did expect a few no starts here and there but 3 weeks and counting and doing fine.

[00ardnut]

I too went the route of thinking a fresh battery was my fix. And it was...for about 3 days. Finally gave up and tackled replacing the starter. It was more work than i imagined - but do-able. I agree though, might as well eliminate all possibilities from easiest to hardest. Good luck.

[single]

Originally Posted by tundrunk

hey duffy, although im pretty good with car stereos i never learned a lot about batteries/voltage. my question is does your battery rise above 12v when your motor is running? because of the alternator charging it? just curious because the capacitor that my amp feeds off reads 14v when i start up and usually 13.6v when im driving. this is with the stereo off so there is little or no power being used from it. i know capacitors store charge but i didnt think they could store more than the voltage supplied by the battery.

I'm not Duffy, but a good battery will read 12.5 volts. When you start your vehicle, the battery drains and the alternator charges at a higher voltage to restore the charge in the battery. As the battery returns to it's normal charged state, the voltage regulator in the alternator will decrease it's output voltage.

For the battery to charge, the alternator has to put out higher voltage than the battery is.

[CJM_T100]

Coulda been a bad cell in the battery, it will mimic a bad starter in many ways. Kinda almost like a loose or bad connection.

[2000LtdKen]

I did the same thing and replaced the battery. Worked fine for three weeks or so and starting problem is back. Taking a look at some of the pictures of the starters, I think the plunger rotates ever so slowly and you are on a good section right now. Wait for a while and see if it comes back.

Ken