1986 Toyota Pickup Loud clunk noise when starting truck

1986 TOYOTA PICKUP
175,000 MILES • 4 CYL • 2WD • MANUAL
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RAYCHRIS1
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When I try to start the truck sometimes the engine makes a loud clunk noise. The truck acts like the engine is seizing up and it dies. I can restart it and it works fine. I know the starter is going bad but I was wondering if the flywheel also may be having problems.
Jan 13, 2009 at 9:13 PM
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KHLOW2008
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Hi raychris1,

Where noise problems are concerned, it is never easy to diagnose without physically understanding.

A bad flywheel ring gear would always produce a whining noise as if the starter is freewheeling when the engine does not crank. The clunk noise that you mentioned can be anything from a bad starter to a lloosely mounted starter due to loosened bolts.

If it is the starter alone, the engnine should not stall after starting. You would need to check the engine for faults.
Jan 14, 2009 at 10:01 AM