Weird Noise at Start

When I turn the ingnition (and it's not already running) it makes a sound like the one it makes when you try to start a vehicle that's already running. Any thoughts? My husband wants to trade it in for something newer and I want to keep her running as long as possible.

Also, the exhaust stinks to high heaven and my brake dash light is coming on intermittenly. I just had the oil changed and the brake fluid checked (which was low) and the brake light problem was fixed temporarily but now it's back. I'm thinking leak in the brake line coupled with brake pads needing to be changed? Or is there another Toyota specific issue that might be the culprit?

Also, any routine maintenance you might reccomend for my old girl would be much appreciated.

 

Hi, Shea. Good on you for wanting to keep the old girl.

Might be time for a starter rebuild - that noise the truck is making is probably the starter spinning without engaging the teeth on the flywheel. That's a good thing if the truck is already running, not so good in your case. If you choose to replace it instead, go with an OEM starter over a parts-store reman.

Stinky exhaust could be a bad O2 sensor, bad cat, exhaust leak, could be a lot of things.

Two things cause the brake light to come on - when the ebrake is engaged, or when the fluid is low. Check the fluid level, if it's low again you've got a leak. Are your brakes spongy? Do you have to pump the pedal to get them to firm up?