1990 Toyota pickup 22re

[Ceciljrjoe]

Hey guy, new to this site.

I have had this truck for about 3 months, been running fine. The first day it's been really cold this winter it wouldn't start in the morning after sitting all weekend. I removed the starter and there was some water and corrosion in the solenoid so I cleaned the copper connections and dried it out with a hair dryer. I put the starter back in and it started right up. I let it run for 30 minutes and parked it for the night.

The following morning the truck won't start again. It has been under freezing the whole time. Any ideas why my truck started when I cleaned the solenoid and dried it but not the next morning? I'm thinking worst case is bad head gasket and maybe I'm getting fluid in my starter and it's freezing? Is this possible?
Thanks in advance

[Crvett69]

if the engine is not cranking over when you turn the key most likely the starter is bad and just needs to be rebuilt or replaced

[Brian R.]

If you are just getting a click when you turn the ignition key, you need to replace the starter solenoid contacts. Cheap fix. Bring your VIN to a Toyota parts department and get the correct contact sets. There are two in each solenoid.

[Ceciljrjoe]

Thanks guys. I'm picking up a starter today. Hopefully that does the trick. I cleaned the copper connections inside and like I said it fired right up but wouldn't start in the morning and I was wondering how it could get fluid inside when I haven't ran the truck through mud or water yet. Any ideas on that?

[Ceciljrjoe]

I installed a new starter and it still isn't starting.

[Crvett69]

does the engine spin over when you turn the key or it does nothing?