02 4runner 4x4 wont start

D

dalmo

New member
I tried unlocking my doors from my keychain, it would not unlock so I just assumed it was the battery on my keychain, a few hours later I went to go leave and start the car and it was dead. I noticed a clicking sound coming from my engine. I opened my fuse panel thats in the engine, and determined the clicking was coming from the big relay fuse labled "head". I tried jumping the car but nothing, no contact what so ever. I could not use my remote door opener, the only way I got the clicking to stop was when I was playing with the passenger door lock with my key, it finally stopped. Oh and the clicking sound was coinciding with the light "beep" sound, almost like the horn or alarm was going off, but it was really soft. When I tried jumping the car, everytime I would put the positive cable on my battery, it was sparking. I disconnected the positive cable that connects to the starter and tried connecting the jumper cables on the battery, and agian it was sparking. The funny part about this is that i had a 7 year 100k warrenty, which expired on June 16th... Go figure !!!!!!

Any suggestions ?

Thanks

Joe
 
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sounds like a dead battery

as for the sparking, you'll usually get a small spark when connecting the cables, but if it's a shower of sparks, your polarity is crossed (no good)

bring your battery into where you bought it, they can load test it and either replace it for free (if it's within free replacement warranty) or at least pro-rate it
 
I did try a new battery, still no contact.
Is it possible something with the alarm ? If so, where is the alarm ?
 
let start w/ this ...... if you turn on the lights, wipers, stereo, etc, does all that work okay?

you aren't describing the no start condition very well. Most people are assuming you are getting the rapid clicks like a dead battery, or a starter that isn't getting enough power. If you are getting a single click, then it could be the starter contacts (search pretty much any toyota site for more info), or it could be the alarm. if it is the alarm, you should have an LED or security light that should be giving you some flashes or be illuminated when its normally not. depends on what security system it is.
 
dalmo said:
I did try a new battery, still no contact.
Is it possible something with the alarm ? If so, where is the alarm ?
Click to expand...

It could be the alarm, but the location really depends on who did the install, it could be anywhere. Normally it'll be behind the driver's side kick panel, or under the dash on the drivers side
 

let start w/ this ...... if you turn on the lights, wipers, stereo, etc, does all that work okay?
QUOTE]

NO lights, wipers, stereo, nothing at all. There is no clicking when I am trying to turn on the car, it was clicking I heard when the car was locked and the clicking was coming from the fuse panel under the hood.

When I tried jumping the car, I did notice that my headlights were on when I connected the jumper cables to my battery, but my lights were in the off position.

No work was done to the car at all
Click to expand...
 
if you aren't getting any power to anything in the car, then you need to check the battery itself, like was suggested, as well as the connections at the battery terminals. if both of those are good, then you would move on to the large fuses in the fuse box, as well as the wiring down to the starter etc.
 
dalmo said:
I took the battery to Auto Zone, and its good. I cant even put the car in nuetral
Click to expand...
If your truck has an automatic trans your shifter won't work unless you are pressing the brake pedal. Also, you said your lights were on when you hooked up the jumper cables but the light switch was off correct? This sounds like your alarm had been triggered which flashes your lights and makes a beeping noise. There is no other way your lights could be on. To be clear, when you took off the positive battery terminal did you hook up the jumper wires coming from the jumper battery to your old battery posts in the truck or to the negative post in the truck and the positive battery cable? If you did not hook up to the positive cable nothing will work.
 
drmorbius said:
[B To be clear, when you took off the positive battery terminal did you hook up the jumper wires coming from the jumper battery to your old battery posts in the truck or to the negative post in the truck and the positive battery cable? If you did not hook up to the positive cable nothing will work. [/B]
Click to expand...

Yes I hooked it up to the positive. I think you are correct, it does seem like its something with my alarm. I am getting it towed to the dealer shortly, i guess i will know tomorrow morning what is wrong
 
I'm going to go out on a limb here, but have you checked the ignition fuse to see if it was blown or not? Or any other fuses?
 
If you had to replace that many fuses you probably have a short somewhere either between the battery and the chassis or somewhere in the ignition system. If those fuses keep blowing after you replace them you definitely have a short. Another thing to check would be the mains relay or any of the other relays under the hood.
 
Stick Figure said:
If you are getting a single click, then it could be the starter contacts (search pretty much any toyota site for more info), or it could be the alarm.
Click to expand...

I'm having an intermittent start problem, which seems worse when it is damp outside. The battery is fine (12.8V) and I cleaned it on Friday. I get a single click, but no turning over of the engine. If I flick it on and off a few times, it will start usually, and cranks up really strong.
 
Get the starter repair kit on ebay for about 30 bucks. There is loads of information on this site about that.

I recently had this problem and ordered the kit and it took me 4 hours to replace the contacts. This was the first 'hands on' repair I'd ever done to a vehicle, now I'm hooked!

Good luck
 
Maritimer, I would be up for helping you out if you decide to replace the contacts, I may need to do it some day.

Shoot me a PM if you need a hand
 
ironhippy said:
Maritimer, I would be up for helping you out if you decide to replace the contacts, I may need to do it some day.

Shoot me a PM if you need a hand
Click to expand...

Cool. I'm a little scared about delving into this, but I figure the stealership would charge me about $300 for a starter problem, so I'd like to do it myself. I'll shoot you a PM sometime this week.
 
Dalmo - I now have the same symptoms on a 2002 4runner sport. What did the dealer do when it was towed in?
 
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