Toyota Starter

You put in the key and tried firing up the engine, but nothing happened. You may instantly blame it on a dead battery, and it could probably be the culprit. But in some instances, the problem could be something else. You may have a busted Toyota starter. There are clues that can tell you if this is indeed the case. Here are some symptoms that could warn you that it's already on the fritz and probably need to be replaced:

No-start situation/starting difficulties

If all you hear is a click after you turned the key to start the vehicle, chances are, the starter is causing you trouble. This can be a similar effect of a dead battery. So to be sure, you can turn on the headlights and interior lights first. If they still work, the troublemaker isn't the car battery but a bad starter. Take a look at it and have this fixed, so you can get back on the road in no time. Another way to tell if you have a bad starter is when it takes a while for the car to crank. Again, you have to check the battery and see if it's charged or working to figure out the problem.

Grinding/freewheeling

A worn-out starter drive gear or a gear that's not engaging will create that grinding noise as your fire up the engine. If you constantly ignore this grinding when starting, this can lead to a damaged engine flywheel. Freewheeling is another sign of starter trouble. As you switch on the vehicle and crank the engine, the starter may whine. You hear a whining sound even if the engine isn't cranking. The starter gear fails to engage with the flywheel. You need to check the starter to see what the problem is. Have this replaced to fix the vehicle problem right away.

Busted solenoid

The solenoid is the one sending electrical current to the starter motor from the battery. This pushes the starter drive into the flywheel for cranking. If the solenoid is malfunctioning, the starter won't work. As you turn the key and turn on the engine, the engine won't come to life. A more thorough inspection will reveal the real starter problem.

Oil soak

The starter may get soaked in engine oil or drivetrain fluid. When this happens, you can't count on the starter to work properly or last longer. It'll only be a matter of time before this will fail. What you should do here is trace the source of the oil or fluid leak. Fix it and have the starter replaced as well, so it won't create bigger troubles for the vehicle anymore.

Smoke/burning smell

Smoke is bad news even for the starter or starting circuit. Smoke could mean that that too much power is drawn to the starter. This could indicate a shorted starter or a connection problem. Along with the smoke, it may smell like something's burning, and it's never a good thing. The vehicle should be serviced right away.