[cdrewferd]

Hey guys. got a pretty big problem. Last Friday I drove my 4Runner to work like any other day. I came out at the end of the day to go home and it wouldn't start. When I turn the key I get a single click. When I feel the starter I can feel the plunger engaging. I smacked it with a hammer while my wife tried to start it and nothing. Had it towed to my house on Sunday to start working on it.

I thought I would go the easy way and replace the starter. Did that, same thing. Here's the list of things I've checked:

Starter relay - swapped it with my Tacoma and they both work
Battery - even when hooked up to another vehicle for a jump, just click
Power at starter - used my test light to check power at the starter and get a bright light
Turned motor over by hand to make sure it was good - turned nice and easy
Neutral safety - shifted to neutral and same click

I'm open to any ideas, though it might be a day or so before I can try any of them since there's almost a foot of snow on the ground.

99 4Runner V6 Auto

[snivilous]

Is your starter clogged up with shit? Mine got filled full of mud and I had to clean it out and then it worked fine. It sounds like the starter itself is your issue.

[4eigner]

Check your ground connections.

[4eigner]

Still could potentially be your solenoid contacts.


Edit: just saw that you replaced the starter. Disregard this post.

[cdrewferd]

Originally Posted by snivilous

Is your starter clogged up with shit? Mine got filled full of mud and I had to clean it out and then it worked fine. It sounds like the starter itself is your issue.

I replaced my old one with a new one from Napa, and it does the exact same thing. I then took my old starter to O'reileys and it tested fine.

I will be checking grounds as soon as I can get under it without getting soaked or freeze my hands off.

[Mountaineer300ZX]

Originally Posted by cdrewferd

I replaced my old one with a new one from Napa, and it does the exact same thing. I then took my old starter to O'reileys and it tested fine.

I will be checking grounds as soon as I can get under it without getting soaked or freeze my hands off.

I have seen bad battery cables cause this problem degrades over time

You have to trace it out use jumper cables or different cable

[I_bRAD]

I wouldn't rule out the battery just yet. How good are your booster cables? Have you tried a different battery?

[cdrewferd]

Originally Posted by Mountaineer300ZX

I have seen bad battery cables cause this problem degrades over time

You have to trace it out use jumper cables or different cable

Are you talking about the cable from the starter relay to the starter, or the feed from the battery to the fuse block?

Originally Posted by I_bRAD

I wouldn't rule out the battery just yet. How good are your booster cables? Have you tried a different battery?

Basic booster cables. Haven't tried another battery, but when it's hooked to a running vehicle I measured the output and the battery in the 4Runner was reading 13.5v.

The current battery is a 2 year old Diehard Platinum.

[MudPie]

check CCA on the battery

[IBallEngineer]

OK, this isn't rocket science. I don't care if you bought a new starter or if your old one tested good. The one in the car is not working, why?

1st, you said you have a bright test light at the starter, but that doesn't mean much. How about voltage, and what terminal are you testing?

2nd, if it is clicking, you technically can rule out the neutral safety circuit and the starter relay, assuming of course you are getting battery voltage at the solenoid.

3rd, does the engine have a good ground? If you test voltage, either with a test light or a DVOM but use a different ground, you have only tested half the circuit. Use a DVOM and confirm ground is good at the engine block.

4th, if you read for 3 days, you must have heard about the "big 3" and the millions of starter contacts replaced my forum members. If your voltages are good, both at the solenoid and the battery cable AT the starter AND the ground circuit is good. Its in the starter!

[cdrewferd]

Originally Posted by MudPie

check CCA on the battery

So just take it to O'Reileys and have them test it?

[Samxini]

I just went through this with my 240sx, still did it even after a motor swap. Turned out to be a bad ground wire.

[cdrewferd]

Originally Posted by IBallEngineer

OK, this isn't rocket science. I don't care if you bought a new starter or if your old one tested good. The one in the car is not working, why?

1st, you said you have a bright test light at the starter, but that doesn't mean much. How about voltage, and what terminal are you testing?

2nd, if it is clicking, you technically can rule out the neutral safety circuit and the starter relay, assuming of course you are getting battery voltage at the solenoid.

3rd, does the engine have a good ground? If you test voltage, either with a test light or a DVOM but use a different ground, you have only tested half the circuit. Use a DVOM and confirm ground is good at the engine block.

4th, if you read for 3 days, you must have heard about the "big 3" and the millions of starter contacts replaced my forum members. If your voltages are good, both at the solenoid and the battery cable AT the starter AND the ground circuit is good. Its in the starter!

Yes, I read about the starter contacts after replacing the starter. I plan on doing the big 3, will probably order the stuff tonight or tomorrow. I will measure voltage at the battery and starter tomorrow. I'm going to pull the battery tonight and put it on my trickle charger till I get home tomorrow.

[shootmymime]

Originally Posted by cdrewferd

Yes, I read about the starter contacts after replacing the starter. I plan on doing the big 3, will probably order the stuff tonight or tomorrow. I will measure voltage at the battery and starter tomorrow. I'm going to pull the battery tonight and put it on my trickle charger till I get home tomorrow.

Ok listen to me. pay attention. Im serious!

the click you hear is the starter solenoid clicking on, the starter is not getting enough current to spin the motor, could be power side or ground side.

You have a bad connection to the starter. you have 2 wires going to the starter.

1. 12V accessory to power the solenoid. it only gives it juice when the key is trying to start the vehicle. (check this with a test light to ensure its getting power with key trying to start vehicle)

2. 4ga wire from the positive terminal on the battery to the starter. I have seen these cables work loose from the terminal post (not the post on the battery but the terminal itself) take all those cables off the battery and terminal and use a wire brush and brush them off. Coke will also neutralize the battery corrosion. (hot water works good as well)

Also clean your ground wires, (one from engine block to fire wall, fender well to battery, and any other you can find.)

I purchased a dodge durango for $500 because the 2 bolts on the terminal were loose and the owner and mechanic could not find the problem.

Trust me this is a simple problem, its connection, not a part per say. ive also seen old muscle cars power cables corrode inside the rubber protective insulation, water leaks in and corrodes it. not a good way to check it because it could not be pulling as much current it needs to turn the engine over.

[MudPie]

Originally Posted by cdrewferd

So just take it to O'Reileys and have them test it?

That would be my suggestion.

What you described has happened twice on my 05 sequoia and once on my wife's is350. It was the battery every time.