2006 4Gen SR5 V6 with 170k miles.

Battery is new.

I turn the key and hear a hard clicking sound (not the soft clicking sound when the battery is weak.

After about 3 or 4 hard clicks, the 4R starts up no issue. The hard clicking sound is worrisome though.

Could this be the starter? Anything else I could troubleshoot?

I've watched some YT videos on starter replacement and I don't think I could perform the replacement myself if it came to that.

Thank you.

It sounds like the starter to me. The easiest way I know to check it is like this: Locate the starter. Have a helper ready with a hammer, rod or another such tool. One of you turns the key. If it clicks don't let go. Hold it in the start position. The other person then taps on the starter with the hammer, rod etc. If tapping causes the starter to operate, you need a starter. Primitive but very effective and accurate.

I recently thought my starter was going since I couldn't get my car to start and it was producing a sequence of hard clicks when the key was turned. Battery was also less than year old so everything seemed to point to the starter. It turned out my battery was just severely under charged. I had to jump it and keep the cables attached for a good few minutes before I had enough charge to start up. I haven't had any problems starting since.

That being said, if yours does start after a few clicks, that could be more of an indication it is the starter and not the battery. It wouldn't hurt to check your battery voltage just to make sure you're not slightly low on voltage.

The starter on the 4th gens is in a really tough spot honestly. Requires taking out a power steering link and working behind the driver side fender liner. I think it's definitely a job I'd pay the extra for to avoid any headaches.

If you do end up replacing the starter, the cold weather package came with a slightly beefier starter (2kW vs 1.6kW) so if you have the weaker version it would be a good time to upgrade if given the option and give yourself some extra peace of mind.

Where can I source the 2kw starter? Dealership? O'Reilly's?

I have a USB voltage meter in my cigarette lighter port. I'll have to pay closer attention to the voltage before I tackle replacing the starter.

Thank you for the reply.

I replaced 4 starters in my 2005 SR5 V6 4runner. The OEM failed after 4 years (60,000 miles). I replaced that starter with an $110 AM from Amazon and that lasted 4 years and failed. I replace that with another Amazon starter. That starter failed at about 4 years too, and I replaced that with a 4th starter (a Quality Built - that came with lifetime guarantee).

I live in the Bahamas so I do three times the "starts" as a 4runner in Miami. The original factory starter cost $900 from the dealer here, and AM ones work and last just as long. The dealer here says he gets his starters direct from Japan.

I have 150,000 miles on the runner today and the starter in there is AM (Quality Built/$120) and about 3 years old. I keep a spare new starter in the garage for when this one fails, and it cost me $87 at Amazon - but I/you can't find them that cheap any more. Quality told me if the starter fails to send it back to them and they will send me a new one. No receipt or box required, but I've kept them anyway.

So far, so good with the Quality Built starter (lifetime warranty) in there now (three years).

My mechanic replaced a starter while the car was in the driveway for $60. He didn't even jack up the car. It took him 30 minutes max. There's only 2 bolts holding a starter onto the 4runners. He got at mine from underneith the car.

With 150,000 short miles on my 15 year old 4runner, I keep a back up water pump, thermostat and starter in the garage. Current WP, thermostat and radiator are OEM. Alternator OEM. Drive belt OEM. Tranny fluid drained and filled (5 quarts) at dealer (110,000 miles) once. Shifts like new after 15 years 'cause it's Toyota.

I do oil changes in driveway every 5000 miles and use the best conventional I can find - like Pennzoil.

BTW. I had the OEM starter that came with the car rebuilt for $120 and it failed in 1 year. Don't bother to rebuild a 4runner starter (solenoid) Get a new one somewhere!

I replaced the starter on my 2006 a few months ago. It is really in a tight space, but accessible through the wheel well. I removed a brake line bracket to get it in out and in. The hardest part was getting one of the bolts off the back. You’ll need a ratcheting wrench, I forget the size (a socket didn’t seem to fit).

It is doable. I watched a few videos first.

Conicelli Toyota (partznet.com) is having a sale right now. The code is Partsmadness10 for 10% off. Their prices are good to begin with and they provided a fedex shipping label to return the code.

Good luck.

In these pics you can see the starter and how it bolts in at the rear of the unit. The next pic show the brake line bracket I removed. The last pic shows what the area looks like after the starter was removed. You can see the hole where the rear of the starter (with gears showing) goes in.

Sorry the pics flipped to the side.

Attached Images

     

I would imagine a dealership would be able to get it for you and would think O'Reilly's could as well. It's also available from a few different manufacturers on RockAuto. The part number for the 2kW starter is: #28100-31050

And just for reference, the part number for the 1.6kW starter is: 28100-31040

I had same symptoms, managed to get it to start as suggested by putting a long bar down and gently tapping the starter whilst someone turned it over. Put an OEM in 20k ago, still going strong, hope it lasts as long as the Toyo did, otherwise the next one is a Toyo one again.

I'm having a similar problem I have a 2003 v8 and when I try to start it, it will click once then start. Sometimes it starts up normal and sometime it clicks and doesn't start. Trying to figure out if it can be anything else besides the starter because I do not feel like taking off the intake to replace it.

The part number for the Denso 2.0Kw unit (they make the Toyota one so it is identical) is 280-0342.

Amazon.com: REMAN STARTER: Automotive