*Urgent* starter advice. Stuck in parking lot
 

So I'm stuck at a mcdonald's parking lot. 97 camry. Sis in law Was getting mickey ds breakfast. As she was parked idling engine, car starts smoking. Smells electrical. Look under hood and see the starter is charred brown. Can starter go bad even tho its alteady started? Bro told me they were having problems starting the car yesterday as well - he heard a single click like yesterday with no start. So They jump the car and it started yestetday.

There's absolutely no reason a starter cannot have a short happen while the car is started, which sounds like what you've described.

Do I need to replace a starter with a brand new 1 or can I just use the refresh to the toyota has with a short?

I wouldn't run it until you've diagnosed the problem further, but that's just my 2c.

A short in the starter has the potential to do a great deal of damage to the car if it is left unchecked.

What kind of damage are you talking about

If Joe Perez responds, take his advice over mine.

But as for damage, it depends on far, far too many things about a platform I have no idea about to give an answer.

Anything from just fried wiring/starter to a blown engine and massive engine bay fire (due to harness lighting up) is possible, I don't know.

A quick google of Starter fried, melted wires. - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums reveals that particular 97 Camry lost their electrical harness plus their battery, plus a few other things.

Traditionally, the starter has no fuse, so the potential for fire is there.