Dicky Starter Motor?

[kiwihaggis]

Morning all,
Do we have any professional starter motor mechanics in the room?
I have been having a few probs with my Surf. It all started with it not wanting to start one morning, turn the key and it just clicked once. So my father-in-law played around and pulled out the starter motor, replaced the contacts which were very worn, replaced the plunger just for good measures, and checked everything else in it, bushes were fine and everything else looked fine. Truck started well, drove around for three days, all was well. Went to start it this morning and all I get is a click again, however the click is slightly louder, sounds like the contacts are being contacted and nothing wants to turn?
Anyone know whether Hilux starter motors are prone to jamming? Or do I have a different problem altogether? Have put a meter on the batteries which are only six months old and they are fine @ 14V. The alternator seems to be working fine and recharging everything?
Look forward to hearing from anyone! Help!

[Dog_Book]

Solenoid???? mine did the same until i had it serviced like yours.

[paulh]

Check and clean the earths to the chassis on both batteries, it has been known for them to be ok untill a large current is drawn (i.e. starting ) and then break down to cause the problem you are experiencing.

[kiwihaggis]

Will have to try the solenoid.

How many earths do they have? I have found one on the external body and one just under the alternator. Cleaned them up and it is still playing up?

[kiwihaggis]

Not quite the Starter Motor!

Have taken the truck in to be checked out at a diesel specialist and I have got down to the jist of it all!

EITHER A BLOWN HEAD GASKET OR A CRACKED HEAD!! $3451 plus GST later!

So it wasn't the starter motor, however the contacts were badly worn and needed replaced anyway, it wasn't the solenoid, it wasn't the ****** glowplugs. But the head, and when I bought the truck...... everyone told me that Hilux Surfs are notorious for cracking heads. I should have listened! So if you ever have problems starting your Surf and it puffs our white steam, not smoke, (and you are not mechanically minded like me) take it straight in and get it checked out. Don't ask all your mechanic mates because they are just blowing smoke out their bums. As I have now spent a pretty penny not fixing the problem. I guess the truck will run very well now once I get the head replaced!!

[Phil her up]

Sorry to hear your news mate.
Were you aware of the truck overheating at all before this problem developed - or anything else unusual for that matter?

[kiwihaggis]

It overheated last Xmas where the top of the radiator blew it's panties off, not sure if this started the chain reaction but we got a new radiator put in. It went fine all year. Took it for a run up the West Coast of NZ this Xmas (1800km trip) and got home and had problems with it starting. On turning the key the truck would just click. So we pulled the starter motor out and reconditioned it. But the problem still was there. Smoke, or steam would puff out of the exhaust on startup and it would fart into life with a violent shake and rattle. I presume water was getting sucked in through the crack or gasket and getting into the combustion chamber. Hence the steam getting puffed out on ignition. Everyone I spoke to said that it sounds like the glow plugs so I replaced them and it made not an ounce of difference. Then we went water skiing last weekend and I was towing our boat back to the batch and the temp guage started flicking from normal to hot and back again. So I pulled over and let it cool down, with the heater on full blast on hot. Not pleasant on a 25 deg C day. So I dropped it into a diesel specialist, (where I should have taken it long ago!) and they picked it straight away! So it is in there as we speak getting some TLC. Touch wood!