While I'm away for work my dad runs my 4runner once a week (doesn't drive though). Recently it's been hard to start, even when i'm home and do it. turn the key, has power, but nothing happens. After the 2nd or 3rd try it would turn over.

Now it won't start at all. the 4runner has a brand new battery....my dad tried jump starting it one time (didn't now about the new battery) and he said that worked.

I'm thinking starter or possibly fuel filter. Any ideas?

How long does your dad keep the engine running? I'd say about 10-15 mins to charge the battery and warm up the engine is ideal.

Use a volt meter and find the voltage at the battery when engine is running. Typically it is around 13.2 to 13.8 V at idle and can go up to 14 V with higher RPM.

A brand new battery could still be bad, especially if it is from an auto parts store. My cousin had to replace a battery twice he bought from A-zone within 7 months!

Wow I always buy my batteries from Autozone, never had a problem. Usually 30 minutes or so

Make sure your battery and starter connections are clean also.

I had a run of bad alternators and thought there was a problem with my vehicle so I messed with the all the grounds and connections. I accidentally left the positive cable connection on the starter loose and it was causing similar issues.

It probably isn’t loose like mine was but it could be corroded and causing problems


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do you hear the solenoid click? I just replaced my starter that was doing the same thing.....

For awhile now I would occasionally just get the solenoid click when I turned my key. After 2 or 3 tries it would turn and start right up.

I got a $14 starter contact kit off rock auto. Took about 45 minutes to get the starter out, another 15 to replace the contacts, and less than 10 to reinstall.

now she turns and starts immediately every time.

There's lots of writes ups on starter maintenance here, I found most of them made it look far more complex than it really was, good luck!

FWIW, i bought a $4 (w/ FS) starter contacts kit off ebay and they worked just fine. I agree with you, it was a lot easier than people made it seem. I wasn't able to get my transmission dipstick out so I just replaced the contacts while it was still in there.

Sounds like a bad starter.

thats a pretty short warranty
I would suspect contacts or bad grounds. Bad grounds are easy to check, just pull and clean where they mount to the body etc.. there is one behind the engine not so easy to get to. some people do the big 3....that gives bigger better grounds and power. However a friend just ran an extra ground from the body ( fender bolt if I remember) to the alternator mount. this gave him another engine ground incase the one behind the engine goes bad
also while some people like the original Toyota battery connections, I don't and have had issues with them, however still running them, just need to really clean and make sure they are tight, I had to remove a rubber spacer in mine to get them to tighten around the terminals.
But that's another project when I find some I like, but not in a hurry

Well if it doesn’t crank over, and you have never replaced the contacts, assume it is they that is the culprit.

I have to ask if it does have gas in it.

You would be doing the 4Runner more good by letting your pops drive it once a week.