Supra not starting (starter motor?)

[ibo]

Guys having a starting problem with my ZJA70 supra with R154 gearbox. The car has a brand new starter motor installed about 6 months ago without issue.
The other day it would not start, I tried cycling the immobiliser no luck, then left the car for few mins and lightly tapped on the starter motor with a screwdriver handle (very lightly) went back to car and it started. Used it 3 or 4 times since then. Has now sat for a week and doesn’t start. Tried hitting starter motor properly this time no luck.. here is what happens:
1. Unlock immobliser (red light turns off)
2. Move key to acc position (just before start) and starter motor makes a click click noise like a check (pretty sure this was always the case) fuel pump runs.
3. Turn to start – dash dims, no clicking or anything at all… but after I try this, the secondary fuel pump starts running (which it normally does as soon as the car starts) – running a haltech PS2000.
I was thinking about push starting it to confirm if immobiliser is the culprit, but if it is, it’s a big pain brining the car back up (huge hill)

Any thoughts or diagnostics I can perform, is it a dead give away?

[hako]

Is the starter motor a reduction gear type as pictured?

http://www.gustafsonmachine.com/rolls1.jpg

If it is, I doubt it would be the culprit as it they make a fairly loud click when you turn the key to start.
The solenoid plunger hits the (usually) worn contacts and makes for a fairly obvious sound.

Sounds more like a voltage issue with the dash lights dimming - bad earth, loose terminals, dead cell in battery etc.

[ibo]

Thanks again hako. I'll start with battery. Thought there would have been some sort of clicking even with a low battery. Voltage reads 12.44. Could it be the immobiliser?

[beatle]

Common issue with the A70's, contacts in the key barrel iirc. Common mod to fix it is running a relay to the starter to give a stronger trigger signal the starter.

[ibo]

That sounds quilts legible. Because doesn't make sense that it randomly started previously. Can barrel contacts be repaired or does it need replacement barrel? Also read somewhere about wd40 into the barrel?

[beatle]

Thats because im typing it, not hand writing it.
Badum-tish

To be honest, I have no idea if it can be repaired. I had the same thing happen, i changed the solenoid thinking that was the issue. But no change so i hit up google and found the relay mod across all supra forums a gew times. Gave it a run and worked a charm.

[ibo]

ok thanks mate. Havent had time to work on it but will try those.. I'm going to try push start it first just to rule out the immobiliser

[ibo]

guys I know its frowned upon to ask how to disable/remove an immobilizer, but can someone PM on how I can do this? I've just got a major suspicion its the imob, and don't want to try push start unless I really need to.

[ibo]

Ok so I had the headlights on, no change wouldn't dim. Think I miss explained the dash dimming. Because it's a digi dash it just turns off during start. So I guess since lights not dimming could be barrel or immobiliser

[beatle]

Have you tried bridging the positive and ground on the starter motor?

[ibo]

No. today I just wiggled the wires around the starter motor and then I opened up he dash board and had a look at the immobiliser. Thought I'd give it a try with all the wires exposed. And the damn thing started! So I don't think imob is faulty and have put it down to maybe some wire contacts? If I hadn't jiggled the starter motor wires I could have pinpointed it. I'll wait till happens again I guess