2000 4Runner SR5, 3.4... 169,000

I was just bragging on my T4R the other day, how it always starts right up and runs like a top (albeit a top with 169,000).

Today I hopped in to run to the parts store to pick up stuff for my "unreliable" car. Truck fired up, made a terrible sound (kinda grinding noise, almost like clutch was halfway engaged or something, although vehicle did not lurch) and died. The noise was a sort of ratcheting sound, surged with the engine firing up and died along with the engine.

After that, the starter cranks, but there is no sound of the engine turning or any plugs firing or anything. Just the starter cranking.

Any ideas? Obviously, I'll have to have her towed somewhere. But I'd like to know what you experienced 4Runner owners think might have just happened.

It definitely doesn't sound to good. But don't sit there cranking and cranking, giving it gas, yelling and screaming. Because that won't help. Have it towed home. Idk if you are a DIY guy but if so, get the hell under that thing and check it out. Do a good visual inspection. Look all around all your belts, drive train, all of it. Think to your self, what is making that sound. Obviously it's nothing to do with your starter because it cranks over fine. Does it grind when it cranks? Or does it run and grind?

If you hear the starter spinning but the engine isn't cranking, the grinding sound may have been the gears or clutch on your starter being damaged.

http://www.autoshop101.com/forms/h7.pdf

What may have happened is that the starter didn't properly disengage when the engine started up. I've been having a bit of trouble with my starter, and had a similar sounding thing occur to me recently, but I killed the engine and things have been fine since. (Starter is still getting replaced pretty soon.)

I'm sort of a diy kind of person. I've done quite a bit of work on my Audi (timing belt/water pump, control arms, gauge installs, brakes, etc.).

So, I popped the timing belt cover off to see if that was the problem. Got coolant all over the front of the engine in the process, but the belt looked quite good. Sticker indicates it was last replaced at 115,000.

Decided I'd crank it again, noting all the belt positions, to see if it was indeed turning the engine at all. This time it cranked for a second then seemed to want to fire up, but died. Hmmm... Sat for a count of 2 or 3, then cranked again, same thing. Fourth time it came to life, and a huge cloud of smoke came out of the exhaust (which is definitely not normal), it ran rough for an instant, then settled in and ran like usual. Belts squealed a bit (thanks to my coolant spill), but it idled fine, and revved as usual.

Could it be something with the catalytic converter or exhaust getting gummed up? Fuel pump going bad?