QuestionHi, I have a '99 Tacoma won’t start intermittently. Began couple of months ago. No alarm lights were going on. Tried cleaning battery anodes. This activated the alarm. Was able to get valet activated by having ignition on while pushing toggle switch down until light stayed on. Took truck to Sears (Sears battery). Battery and alternator checked out ok.
Starting trouble symptoms were that sometimes it would just click, but not engage. After multiple tries, it would finally engage and start. On a few occasions, starter would not disengage after motor started, making a big racket until it finally slipped out.
Three weeks ago, the toggle switch broke away from the wires it was hooked into - it had been hanging down above the pedals :(. But, no new problems, except that starting was taking longer and longer. But, I can't find the toggle switch to try hooking it back up.
This morning, it engaged and slipped out, as it often does. Third try tripped the alarm. I have tried crossing the wire ends to simulate holding down the switch toggle, as before. This morning I was getting some reaction with the light, but couldn't remember what it was supposed to be, or to have the key in the "on" position. Alarm was engaged all day (I deactivated the siren the first time I activated the valet). After work, I am getting the alarm light flashing, but headlights won't turn on. Maybe the battery is run down.
Tomorrow I will try to hook it up to another running car with battery cables and try to M.M. the switch again.
After all of that, my question is whether or not the starter problems may be caused by the alarm system in the first place. I was having starter problems before I disconnected the battery for cleaning. But, maybe it has to do with the alarm, bottom line, and the alarm should be uninstalled, or somehow disabled in the line somehow, either at the computer, ignition switch, or starter. I had problems with the alarm about three years ago where it kept going off.
Sorry about the long description. But, if you are still reading, do you have any ideas for me?
AnswerThis sounds to me as if the Bendix in your starter is going bad, simply replacing the starter should take care of this problem.
I would tend to agree with your assessment of the dead battery. The lights flashing will put a significant amount of drain ont he battery.
To the problems with the alarm, some alarms are designed to sound when power is re-established. Some will simply malfunction when the battery voltage is too low to supply the system with adequate voltage. I believe your problem with the starter is causing the battery to drain and in turn causing problems with the alarm.
If you wish to disconnect the alarm, take down the dash panel under the steering column. This is where the wires will be tapped into the factory harness. Following the wires that were tapped in will reveal fuses that supply the brain of the alarm with power. Pulling these fuses should disable the alarm.
If you no longer have the transmitters for the alarm then I would recommend permanently disabling it, simply pulling those fuses would probably suffice. If you do still have remotes or wanted replacements, any local install shop should have a replacement valet switch available for you to purchase and should be willing to sell one to you for $5 or less. The remotes would be a little more complicated to replace, as you would need the exact make and model of the system to get both replacement remotes and instructions on how to program them to the system.
The alarm, if engaged, and if it was installed would offer a starter-kill circuit. This circuit would prevent the starter from engaging at all, so I do not believe your starting problems are related to the alarm.
Hope this covers it all, if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
