Surf Starter Motor Problems

penetrator · Post by **penetrator** » Sat May 13, 2006 2:03 pm

Hey guys having some trouble getting the Surf going - its the 3.0lV6 petrol motor. Last weekend it just started having all the dash lights come on but the starter didnt engage or even make a clicking noise then after you turned the key a few times it would crank up as normal.

Now all the lights and other electrics still come on when you turn the key but the starter just doesent do anything at all no matter how many times you try turning the key. There doesent appear to be any lose wires on the starter or battery connections and all the fuses seem fine - can anyone suggest a possible fix or is this looking like a mechanic / auto electrician job?

WACKO · Post by **WACKO** » Sat May 13, 2006 3:12 pm

try hitting the starter with a hammer then try crank it. if it works dont turn it off as it may not wk again. sounds to me like you need a new starter mtr.

penetrator · Post by **penetrator** » Sat May 13, 2006 5:02 pm

Yeah tried giving it the old rough treatment like that but nothing at all happened then either - i was thinking id have to track down a second hand starter motor think i know a place i can get one from but looks like it will be a right prick of a job trying to pull the old one out and install the new one - not a lot of room down there :evil:

MATT4U · Post by **MATT4U** » Sat May 13, 2006 5:55 pm

Mine was doing the same, I just cleaned it out and got new contacts for it, all good now

1UZFJ40 · Post by **1UZFJ40** » Sat May 13, 2006 8:38 pm

the strarter circuit usually works like this:
key turn = activates starter relay
relay activates starter solinoid (on side of starter, throws out the starter gear to the fly wheel and powers up the starter at the same time.)

if you are getting a very quiet click, the ignition is working but not the relay.
if you get a louder click form the starter, the relay is working and the solinoid moving but the contacts in the solinoid are too eroded and the power is not getting to the motor itself

if you can find the main battery positive cable follow it to the starter solinoid, the other wire from the solinoid to the starter should get full battery voltage when you hit the key,

bit hard to check by yourself and without a circuit tester.

typically what happens is the starter will just click occasionally but start most of the time, eventually the contacts fry completely and you just get the click.
the good news is the little contacts are worth less than ten bucks and most sparkys will have them in stock.

just remember to take the earth strap off the battery before you take out the starter, or when you let go the positive wire from the starter it will weld itself to the side of the motor and cook the battery!

penetrator · Post by **penetrator** » Sun May 14, 2006 11:16 am

Hey cheers for the reply - there is a small click when the key is turned so hopefully the problem just lies with the starter relay - ill track one down on pay day and put her and see what happens with that and let you know.
Thanks again for the advice :wink:

Petemcc · Post by **Petemcc** » Mon May 15, 2006 1:48 pm

mmmm earth off the battery. good idea lol remeber what happend to my m8s truck b4 our trip in jan? welded to cluch line, made for an intersting 15seconds.

howd you get on with exhaust and stuff?
Pete

penetrator · Post by **penetrator** » Mon May 15, 2006 5:52 pm

Yeah certainly dont want to have the excitment you guys had thats for sure!!! The exhaust is going ok i havent had the rear section done yet but i have noticed some fuel economy savings on longer trips - round town and especially in queenstown with the hills it still eats gas pretty bad but did the trip up to chch for roughly 1 and 1/4 tanks each way which was better than the last time which was probabally closer to two tanks - although that was fully loaded with 2 cats a dog bikes on the roof racks and about half a tonne of gear in the back!!!

if i can get this starter problem sorted cheaply think i will look at getting some of those 50mm lift springs from steve and keep modding the old girl bit by bit! Hows your truck going no more dramas since the diff went?

Petemcc · Post by **Petemcc** » Tue May 16, 2006 12:46 pm

sounds good, would love abit more fuel economy lol almost up 2 about $30 pet 100km at the mo, what were those other things u fitted, hyclones or sumthing. how much were they and were did you get them? reckin its worth it? . im still not sure if its running perfect yet. am going to get round to taking it to an auto electrition m8 c if he can hook it up to a computer c what the go is. havnt really used the tuck much l8ly, still dont have a warrent as after 6 weeks the cert plate still hasnt come through tho trying to sort that out. had a wee bit of trubble with loss of steering due to body lift a coulple of weeks ago but got that sorted cheap enough, was just lucky i wasnt going fast at the time.

penetrator · Post by **penetrator** » Tue May 16, 2006 5:40 pm

yeah i put a hiclone in the air intake as well - was meant to give more fuel economy and better power / quieter running. Dindt notice any difference in fuel economy with it but it did seem to make the engine a bit quieter and it has a little bit more tourque so maybe its worth it maybe it isnt??? I paid $169 for it. Ill PM the address to you later if your keen to look at getting one too.

Let us know how it goes if your mate plugs the old girl up to check her as i got told that you cant "tune" a EFI vehicle by the toyota guys down here and wouldnt mind knowing if thats true or not.

Petemcc · Post by **Petemcc** » Tue May 16, 2006 8:19 pm

will do. i havnt spoken to the guy yet so not sure if you can or not. but should be able to get a reading to make sure all the sensors are behaving.