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So, if a car just clicks and clicks, then upon smacking the starter, it starts, chances are it's the solenoid right?

My wife's sienna (2000) is acting up. a starter (oem) is in the 200 dollar range, whereas the solenoid (again, oem) is about 66 bucks. She's nervous about buying the solenoid, and it not being the issue.

What say ye more mechanically enclined/learned folks?

mine did that when my battery was low

I'm pretty frugal. OK, cheap. Especially when it comes to my stuff with things like that when I can just replace a part, rather than an assembly. But... it's 11 years old now, it's probably got 150K on it, it may only be the solenoid, but it's probably a bitch to R and R and it may be at the 90% mark even if it is only the solenoid. I think I'd bite the bullet and get the assembly, especially with it being the wife's car. I know this is a car forum, not marriage counseling, but if you know what I mean...

cddallara wrote:So, if a car just clicks and clicks, then upon smacking the starter, it starts, chances are it's the solenoid right?

My wife's sienna (2000) is acting up. a starter (oem) is in the 200 dollar range, whereas the solenoid (again, oem) is about 66 bucks. She's nervous about buying the solenoid, and it not being the issue.

What say ye more mechanically enclined/learned folks?

Does it do it if you use one of the portable jump pack batteries connected to the original battery? Is the battery in the Sienna the original?

Probably just the motor contacts in the solenoid itself. I don't know about Toyota but some designs use a replaceable contact set in the solenoid. You pull the solenoid off, replace $10 worth of copper stuff, put it back together and it's like new. Probably can only get these from a starter/alternator rebuild shop but an easy job. I would pull the complete starter and solenoid to have a look before going the distance on the parts. Call a couple places and make sure they have what you need first. A good starter/alternator shop could probably tell you without looking it up. Unless you buy new(not a rebuild) you'll be getting a used part with a few new pieces of copper in it anyway.

I vote for a new starter...it will look good on the maintenance's list if the van up for sale within 3 years.

tn535i wrote:Probably just the motor contacts in the solenoid itself. I don't know about Toyota but some designs use a replaceable contact set in the solenoid. You pull the solenoid off, replace $10 worth of copper stuff, put it back together and it's like new. Probably can only get these from a starter/alternator rebuild shop but an easy job. I would pull the complete starter and solenoid to have a look before going the distance on the parts. Call a couple places and make sure they have what you need first. A good starter/alternator shop could probably tell you without looking it up. Unless you buy new(not a rebuild) you'll be getting a used part with a few new pieces of copper in it anyway.

This is what I'm going to do.

twin55 wrote:I vote for a new starter...it will look good on the maintenance's list if the van up for sale within 3 years.

Hahaha. It's only got 70k on it, we've had our 4Runner for 8+ years, and my wife is super frugal. The van'll get driven in to the ground and scrapped (at least 10 more years) before she'll let me get her another 10 year old one

Her father has had the same '73 mazda for 25 years, after he got it from one of her brothers. They don't do 'new'

I spoke to a friend of mine at church this morning. He is a Toyota mechanic and says they rebuild the solenoids all the time with new contacts, sometimes a new solenoid push rod.

tn535i wrote:I spoke to a friend of mine at church this morning. He is a Toyota mechanic and says they rebuild the solenoids all the time with new contacts, sometimes a new solenoid push rod.

good to know, thanks!

FWIW - I repaired the starter solenoid in my wife's 200,000 mile Previa with 2 contacts lifted out of a motorcycle starter with a bum sprag clutch. Total cost - $0.

You might also get away with cleaning up the contact faces on the solenoid washer and tabs with a piece of crocus cloth (or sandpaper in a pinch). This is a really easy fix - not worth the $200 new or even $66 solenoid without spending 15 minutes trying the free stuff first.

Yes-- from my MB days you can simply flip the contacts over. Done.

nnarth212 wrote:Yes-- from my MB days you can simply flip the contacts over. Done.

So, in this diagram, what am I 'flipping over' - something around number 4? Or something in 3 that 'm not seeing?

http://www.toyotapartsales.com/partloca ... atalogid=0

Brush and solenoid r/r kit git r dun.

The items in question are in the #3 breakout...and you can't reverse them I'm afraid. The two "L" shaped contacts are connected via a washer on the plunger section. Again - a bit of surface clean-up may be all you need. Barring that, one of the two L pieces may be worn (arc'd) away and need to be replaced. Your local starter rebuilder should have them for under $5.

Canuck YYC wrote:The items in question are in the #3 breakout...and you can't reverse them I'm afraid. The two "L" shaped contacts are connected via a washer on the plunger section. Again - a bit of surface clean-up may be all you need. Barring that, one of the two L pieces may be worn (arc'd) away and need to be replaced. Your local starter rebuilder should have them for under $5.

Thanks, I just discovered the same thing I cleaned them, didn't do much. One side was really worn, the other only a little. Now I know what to do, and how to do it, just gotta get some contacts...

Thanks all who had suggestions/advice!!

Some can flip but not the Toyota. My friend said the plunger also wears down and then the contacts come up short. If I went to all the trouble to pull it apart I wouldn't shy from new parts to get it right rather than questionable.

New parts...
$10-20
Telling your wife you replaced the worn out thingy and still saved $300...
priceless

tn535i wrote:Some can flip but not the Toyota. My friend said the plunger also wears down and then the contacts come up short. If I went to all the trouble to pull it apart I wouldn't shy from new parts to get it right rather than questionable.

New parts...
$10-20
Telling your wife you replaced the worn out thingy and still saved $300...
priceless

I'm gonna get new parts, she's gotta have the van in the meantime

200 is wrong for the starter. So if you need one go to your usual BMW parts source that has other makes and models listed. AZAH has the starter for 130, 142 and 179 with free shipping. good to look around for parts.

Hope the repair works for you.

Blue Shadow wrote:200 is wrong for the starter. So if you need one go to your usual BMW parts source that has other makes and models listed. AZAH has the starter for 130, 142 and 179 with free shipping. good to look around for parts.

Hope the repair works for you.

Haha, my usual BMW parts source is ebay.uk...

Found contacts, that was the hardest part. Swapped em out, still squeals a bit, but at least she's not stranded at home anymore.

Whats AZAH?

cddallara wrote:Whats AZAH?

AutohausAZ

1st 5er wrote:

cddallara wrote:Whats AZAH?

AutohausAZ

thanks!