When I try to start my truck in the morning when the engine is cold, it sometimes grinds really hard. It sounds like the same grind you hear when accidently turning the key when the engine is already running. It started out only happening once in a while, but lately it has been happening everyday. When the engine is warm it starts right up and when the engine is cold it takes about 5-10 tries turning the key and the engine turning over before it finally starts! Do I need a new starter? Or what specifically can I do to fix this and how much $$$ are we talking?? My truck is an 87 4Runner with a manual 22-RE. Any feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

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I usually get my contacts from a local automotive electrical rebuilder, as that's where the dealer sends 'em anyway. Make sure the cog on the starter isn't trashed as well.

To me it sound like the starter shaft,that extends when the starter gets the electrical charge, is not fully extending before it starts to spin, i recommend that you take the starter to a parts store to be tested, take the starter off the night before or at least don't use it before it's tested this way it is still cold, if the shaft is sticking i would get a starter rebuild kit.

I know this may be a long shot but it may just be a shimming issue. When your engine is cold the metal has shrunk several thousandths of an inch. which may be causing it to just barley touch the flywheel teeth. once warm the parts expand and touch the flywheel just enough to make good contact. I had a very similar problem but one of my bolts backed out and the starter pulled away from the flywheel just enough to make a horrible grinding noise. If you have to many shims between the starter and flywheel this could happen.

For sure pull the starter out and give it a good look. Might just be installed poorly as noted above. Check for dirt or grease inside, check for worn contacts.
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks/Starter.shtml

With a good cleaning and some minor repairs, it may be fine. If the drive gear or end bushing is badly worn, may be time for a high quality used, rebuilt or new starter.

If you remove the starter and all the teeth on the starter and the ring gear look good and no installation error, it may be the 1 way bearing in the starter. When these slip it sounds just like what you are describing. They are very spendy so gettng a reman unit may be cheaper.

my truck does that same thing (not only on a cold start, could be hot as well) and I found out my crankshaft pullies shot so it's ripping up the belt everytime it starts (sounds terrible lol) and the cone in the cat dropped. So it's quite a tune <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />

It sounds like you're missing a few teeth. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" /> On your flywheel that is. Maybe you're just hitting the bad spot on the flywheel every so often.

Chock the wheel and have someone bump the motor over slowly so you can inspect the flywheel. There should be a dust/dirt cover you'll have to remove first.