AW11 starter

[jayray]

Having trouble starting the car at the moment. When you turn the key the starter manages to turn it over probably just one compression stroke then stops. (That first second of cranking is very slow)

The dash voltmeter says alternator is good, and the battery is only several months old.

Does it sound like the starter motor itself is definitely at fault, and if so am I better to find another, or should it be an easy fix to the starter itself?

[thegreatestben]

What does the voltage drop to when you are cranking?
A multimeter is a simple and inexpensive tool that is very useful for diagnosing starter motor and starter circuit faults.

[jayray]

Voltmeter in dash drops to about 5V with key turned and starter having stopped cranking over.
Will get a multimeter soon, just wondered whether it was something someone could diagnose from these symptoms

[thegreatestben]

Dash doesn't actually have a scale so isn't really reliable to make assumptions.
If it is dropping that low it would suggest a problem with the battery, battery voltage when cranking shouldn't drop below 9/10v.

[Truenotch]

It's a normal thing to happen to older 4age starter motors. Normally happens with exhaust side starters after getting hot repeatedly.

Is it causing you any problems? My old mans AE86 has been doing this for years, but if you keep the key pinned it will start every time. If this is the case for you, don't worry about it.

[jayray]

Its no longer able to start the car at all.

The starter was pretty good before a recent trackday when it dropped the water pump belt and got a wee bit hot.

[mr30%jr]

could be something more sinister

[jayray]

Ok, looking for a new starter motor now. Its a 4agze, so I'm wondering which other models have a compatible starter?

There's an ae101 gtz one on TM, but different part no. according to toyodiy. I assume they have some tiny, insignificant difference and will bolt in and work fine?

[jondee86]

Starter motors can be serviced. It might just need new brushes and a
cleanup. Talk to an auto electrician or motor rewinder.

Cheers... jondee86

[Bling]

You tried a different battery? Or that battery in another car? Just to eliminate battery as most of my starting issues are battery related. Only once had to get a reconditioned starter.

[matt dunn]

Are the early AW11 GZE's gear reduction at all,
or are they the same starter as the others of that era?

[jayray]

Yep tried different battery. The first time I had trouble was going out again a minute or two after getting home from 15 min drive. Tried again five mins later and it turned over (just enough to start) with some reluctance but hasn't since then.

I don't know if they are gear reduction or not. How would I tell?

Part no. is 28100-16010

[whynot]

I have one in my box O bits, they are not a reduction on the 1987 gze I got it out of and they are a different size hole to the later 4age's

[jayray]

How much do you want for your one, with shipping to christchurch?

[allencr]

I don't know if they are gear reduction or not. How would I tell?

Is the drive gear in line with the motor? If so, then it isn't a gear reduction type. If it's offset, then it's because of the gears between the motor and the gear that engages the flywheel.

[matt dunn]

they are not a reduction on the 1987 gze I got it out of and they are a different size hole to the later 4age's

From what I can tell from the part number in our system you are correct.
They are the same as the early 4AGE starters, but with a different nose cone.

[whynot]

Sorry can't sell my one, that would bugger me up when it comes to using the gearbox it came off. I would just get it rebuilt. any good auto sparky should be able to do it in a day with the right spares.

[NZ_AE86]

I don't know if they are gear reduction or not. How would I tell?

Is the drive gear in line with the motor? If so, then it isn't a gear reduction type. If it's offset, then it's because of the gears between the motor and the gear that engages the flywheel.

This depends on the type of reduction drive used.

Why not just send it Matt (Timaru?) or Myself(Wellington) and get it fixed. Very little chance of it being unrepairable. It would be overnight each way so you'd get it back in a few days?

[mr30%jr]

4agze has a different bolt patern to 4age on aw11.... im dam sure of that.

[jayray]

I thought I'd sorted this, we took the starter apart and cleaned it up, did all the tests the bgb called for and it worked fine back in the car.

Its never cranked fast, it always feels like its really struggling but has generally managed to turn it over though.

Seems even more hesitant when everything's warm. ie at the last trackday it was a real lottery for whether it would fire up, but five mins later it could be fine.

I took it for a decent run the other day (and apart from noticing the dash voltmeter moving about a bit at idle) it ran fine.

The next day it wouldn't start at all, you can hear it engaging but it simply doesn't have enough power to turn the engine over (even with the spark plugs out).

I've tried two different batteries, have had each of them on charge for a couple of hours before trying to crank it over and have tried using jump leads to crank it from both batteries at once.

Have tested the voltage, was 13.4, dropped to 11.4 with the key turned.

I'm guessing it could be the relay getting old (do they wear out?) but being an aw11 its a pita to get the multimeter on the starter terminals to check the voltage there

tl;DR version: its stopped working again

Does this sound like it?
Matt's solution?