Is it my starter? '99 V6 5 speed

[jmt147]

This morning the third try was a charm. The first 2 attempts to start to the car I cold hear the starter spin, but the engine did not start? I want to believe this means that the starter is working, but what other parts do I check? I am the original owner, only 116K Thanks for the help!

[Down2TheC]

So starter was spinning without the engine turning? Unless that becomes a frequent occurrence, I wouldn't sweat it. Depending on this starter's design, there's probably a clutch that kicks it in with inertia/centrifugal force. It can get sticky with time or just occasionally need a bit extra to catch. See the slidey toothy bit in the vid for a visual of what goes on. Of course that starter has nothing to do with ours I'm guessing. That thing is huge.



For more technically accurate info, try here...
http://www.hallvw.clara.net/starter.htm
toward the bottom is your issue. (pinion or flywheel... a bit better than "slidey toothy bit")

[ACProductions]

Agreed ^^^^^

The starter has a solenoid that pushes the starter gear out to, which when fully extended, interlocks with the ring gear that is on the circumference of the flywheel and presto, you have engine rotation.

This part is often the first part to go on starters of every kind of car. If it does this again, and refuses to grab, have someone crank the starter while you lightly love tap it with a hammer or fat wrench. This is, of course, if you can't replace the starter immediately.

[jmt147]

Thanks for the responses. If I understand your analysis I am correct that i should I just replace the starter now and do it at my convenience instead of waiting for a complete failure?

[ACProductions]

Thanks for the responses. If I understand your analysis I am correct that i should I just replace the starter now and do it at my convenience instead of waiting for a complete failure?

Well instead of just throwing money at it, some auto parts stores will actually test your starter out for you so I recommend that get done first since it's usually free.

There are other less likely possibilities, but I always work cheapest to most expensive fix. Free.99 for starter testing? Don't mind if I do

[TheGreenDutch]

change your starter if your battery is good. I just replaced mine not too hard to DIY. A couple youtube vids are up with Camry v6's similar. A starters not gonna last more then 10-12 years on these.