Starter totally locked up?

Ok, so I sunk the Tacoma yesterday. It was running, just drying it out. This morning I turned the key and all I hear is CLICK like if the battery was dead. Anyone have a starter totally lockup like that? It's getting voltage. I don't think it's a power issue

 

Not on a truck, but I did a 4 wheeler we had once.
It was full of mud and dirt after sink it.

The starter is a huge pain in the ass to get to on the 4.0 4WD trucks.
I'd start with making sure all the connections are good and tight. (Did you have battery disconnected?)
Then, I'd have a set of jumper cables, and another vehicle, to "help" send all the power I can to the starter.
And hope that frees it up.

Other wise, you're towing it home. Or pulling the starter off and replacing it.
Once you get the starter off, you might get lucky taking the small little bolts off that hold the starter together and cleaning it out.
But the thoughts off doing the starter 2x.......Ugh, I feel for you man.

 

Yes it does happen, as long as youre sure its not the battery, I'd simply buy a replacement.

If it was a newer model I'd say clean it out and see if you can get it working, but its run its course and the core value is more than the spare part value.

 

Battery could read fine or close to, and you could still have a dead cell that doesn’t have the amperage needed to crank the truck over. Pop the battery out and take it to get tested. If the battery is good check all connections at the starter. If good try hitting the starter with a small hammer. The actuator could be stuck

 

My baby girl "my Tacoma" made it through the night and even hit some more trails. We got it to my cousin's, started drying it out and went get some sleep. it's just in her carport, she doesn't have a shop or anything, so I'm not on the side of the road at least. Amps are fried, but the rest of the electrical seems pretty good. Battery still full charged, the truck was leaning towards the driver's side in the water. The water level was right below the inside fuse box and on the passenger side about as high as the top of the door speakers. So I think ECU is ok.

 

I have 2-3 starters at my shop, problem is I'm in Houston, shop is in Louisiana, lol! I'm at a relatives house who has no tools I have all my trail tools and gear with me, so not worried about core or cost per day, just trying to narrow down possibilities and keep the inconvenience to my cousin as minimal as possible.

Battery is good, on the meter it was over 13v and I stick it on a charger for a few hours also.

I'm thinking I might try previous posters idea, get someone with a heavy duty alternator to try to jump it and bang on it, see if it will free up. Then at least I'll know that is the issue.

 

Didn't someone in your other thread with photos/video say your starter was going to lock up? Foreshadowing, for sure.

 

Yup!

Replacing it was going to be part of the whole rest of the maintenance and repairs I'm gonna need to do, but never had a starter just completed fail that quick.

 

Can you turn the crankshaft with a wrench?

And damn dude, you put your truck through a lot lol. Didn't you flood it a few years ago doing rescues during a hurricane?

 

Starters dying after water crossings is normal. Wish there was a better way around it... I buy Toyota remans, but even those are single-use with a proper dunk.

I've never been left stranded though... even on morning no-starts with still-wet carpet, I can usually nudge it to crank with some quick flicks of the key in the ignition.

Try timing it to music, throw in some pauses for swear words maybe... seems to help?

Worst case, get a prybar on the starter and hit it with the hammer, like it owes you money, as wife cranks it. Seems to free things up.

I do carry a spare starter on trips when I plan to get engine-deep in the drink though. Definitely a weak point when operating these trucks at depth!

Edit: Two more thoughts:
1. Shower it with some WD40 or whatever else you've got on hand... ideally to lubricate points of friction, but also just for general good luck, and don't hesitate to spray extra out of spite.
2. If hammering on it, be careful not to short against the battery conductor! Remember, it owes you money... don't give it a chance to turn the tables on you!

 

I thought he had it running and driving after the dunking...

 

Do you have the 6 speed? When my starter died I just pop started it in 2nd gear and moved along until I could get a replacement.