1st gen 4Runner ('89) won't start...

[Amocat00]

The other day, it was raining really hard. When it does here, the whole road is covered some places. I stopped at the bank, shut it off, did my business and started it back up, no problem. But, as I was driving, I started to hear a clicking sound. It seemed like it was coming from straight ahead of me in the engine compartment. I only drove about a mile to a restaurant and shut it off. I tried to restart it and it wouldn't start. I left it there overnight. When I returned the next day, it started right up, but was idling fast. I drove down the road another short distance and stopped at a store. It continued to idle fast...something was telling me I should let it running...but I shut it off. When I came back out, it wouldn't restart again. I SORT OF sounds like a weak battery. I came back and tried to jump start it and it still wouldn't start. Could it be the alternator, starter? I'm sure it has something to do with something getting wet that shouldn't have. Some wiring maybe? I don't know, but it's still sitting there and towing and mechanics here are priced outrageously, so I'd rather get it figured out somehow myself. At the moment, I'm thinking starter....but would it still TRY to start (sounds like it's dying) if it were the starter? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Shawn

 

[4playin]

Does it crank at normal speed, or does it crank over slowly like dead battery or in gear or something.

 

[Amocat00]

Does it crank at normal speed, or does it crank over slowly like dead battery or in gear or something.

I ust tried to start it again. No luck. When I DO turn the ignition, the ECU clicks and the interior lights/radio go OFF.......??? And, it cranks slowly, SORT OF like the battery dying, but I don't think that's it...???

 

[4playin]

I would check your battery connections---

post's and terminals, I bet their corroded and not making contact.

The water might have made them worse. My 85 had a couple times where, it didn't want to start and then it would, and while I was driving it would act funny, like the battery was gone.

And your radio, lights, ecu or (relays) are clicking and turning off because the starter is trying to take whatever power is available through the bad connection.
Try cleaning the posts and terminals with a post/terminal cleaner, or sand paper or something---and see if it solves your problem.

Good luck!

 

[Amocat00]

I can try the posts/terminals. But, I already removed them, checked them thoroughly and they looked fine.

My dad thinks it's the distributor, coil or possibly the bendix (if it has one???)

 

[4playin]

My dad thinks it's the distributor, coil or possibly the bendix (if it has one???)

22RE? or 3.0?
Your Dad could be right. It could put drag on the engine, making it not want to turn over. Now that I think of it, you said it was surging? like high idle for a while? You should pull the distributer out, and take a look at it. It's really easy to take out, and that could cause all of those symptoms.

 

[Amocat00]

22RE? or 3.0?
Your Dad could be right. It could put drag on the engine, making it not want to turn over. Now that I think of it, you said it was surging? like high idle for a while? You should pull the distributer out, and take a look at it. It's really easy to take out, and that could cause all of those symptoms.

22RE.

I took apart the distributor (cap?). It looked ok, from my minimal knowledge.... WITH it apart, I tried to start it and it still did the same thing...turned ignition, cranked at about half of normal....

I guess the starter is next.....

 

[4playin]

You should take the distributer out, (the shaft), it's really easy to take out, just take the 1 bolt out. Before you do, mark the direction the rotor is pointing (underneath the distributer cap), and don't turn the engine over with it out, that way if it looks okay you can line it back up. Or if you want to try turning it over with the distributer out to see if that free's up the drag, you can. You just have to make sure the engine is at "top dead center" on the compression stroke when you put it back in, and align the rotor where the number 1 spark plug wire plugs into the cap. To make it easier, you can make a little mark on the edge of the distibuter soon as you take off the cap, that way you can line up the rotor with that mark.

 

[Amocat00]

You should take the distributer out, (the shaft), it's really easy to take out, just take the 1 bolt out. Before you do, mark the direction the rotor is pointing (underneath the distributer cap), and don't turn the engine over with it out, that way if it looks okay you can line it back up. Or if you want to try turning it over with the distributer out to see if that free's up the drag, you can. You just have to make sure the engine is at "top dead center" on the compression stroke when you put it back in, and align the rotor where the number 1 spark plug wire plugs into the cap. To make it easier, you can make a little mark on the edge of the distibuter soon as you take off the cap, that way you can line up the rotor with that mark.

Cool. I'll do that next. But, what am I looking for once I get it out? Thanks,

Shawn

 

[4playin]

Cool. I'll do that next. But, what am I looking for once I get it out? Thanks,

Shawn

I hope I'm not coming across as a "know it all" because I don't...
But I'll be done with my associates degree in Toyota Technology as of the end of March--but still learning. I just enjoy helping, because not only am I helping someone but I learn too----and I wan't to learn as much as I can, seeing how this is going to be my new career.

Anyways, if you don't already have one, get a manual on your runner, if money's an issue (I know it is with me right now), don't get Toyota's-although good it's about 75$. Get a Haynes or Chilton's manual on it (roughly 10-15 bucks). And it can give you a bit better detail than I can on-line. It should give you specs on checking it. But I think it should be noticable. The distributer will have a shaft going down into the engine (aprox. a foot long) and a hypoid (kinda spiral) gear at the end. Make sure the gear teeth at the end are okay, and the shaft isn't bent. You can try to roll the distributer on a flat surface (like checking a pool cue).

 

[Amocat00]

I hope I'm not coming across as a "know it all" because I don't...
But I'll be done with my associates degree in Toyota Technology as of the end of March--but still learning. I just enjoy helping, because not only am I helping someone but I learn too----and I wan't to learn as much as I can, seeing how this is going to be my new career.

Anyways, if you don't already have one, get a manual on your runner, if money's an issue (I know it is with me right now), don't get Toyota's-although good it's about 75$. Get a Haynes or Chilton's manual on it (roughly 10-15 bucks). And it can give you a bit better detail than I can on-line. It should give you specs on checking it. But I think it should be noticable. The distributer will have a shaft going down into the engine (aprox. a foot long) and a hypoid (kinda spiral) gear at the end. Make sure the gear teeth at the end are okay, and the shaft isn't bent. You can try to roll the distributer on a flat surface (like checking a pool cue).

No, don't worry about it. I appreciate all the help I can get. I will be getting a manual ASAP. And, I'll check the distributor again, then go to the starter from there. I'm still kind of thinking it's the starter, due to the location, all the rain/wetness that day, and the fact that the piece of rubber in the wheel well by the starter was loose and hanging down, allowing MUCH more water than normal to get up in there. I'll keep you posted.

~Shawn

 

[4playin]

Alright.

That could be--but the starter shouldn't give you high idle.
Good Luck.

 

[Amocat00]

Alright.

That could be--but the starter shouldn't give you high idle.
Good Luck.

The high idle may have just been due to the cold/wet weather and I just happened to NOTICE it more because of the previous problem(s).

I took the distributor cap off again. I cleaned out the inside/points and put it back on...same result. So, I spent 3 hours (!) removing the starter. I'm taking it to Napa Auto Parts to be tested tomorrow....I'll post results. All I know is if it's NOT the starter, I'm gonna be p!ssed, spending all that time removing it and having to spend almost as much to put it back on. Wish me luck!

~S

 

[4playin]

That would be nice, let us know!

 

[Amocat00]

Starter

Looking at the starter, it looks like the copper ring and contacts might need replaced. If not now, they will soon anyway, so I'm just going to do it while I have it out and see if that fixes it.

Thanks,

Shawn

 

[haro]

don't forget the spark plug. the rain moist damage the spark plug. And check the coil, I spend alot money replacing other parts then I had it check by a computer and it said the coil, I was shock because it was a 2 month old coil.

 

[Amocat00]

don't forget the spark plug. the rain moist damage the spark plug. And check the coil, I spend alot money replacing other parts then I had it check by a computer and it said the coil, I was shock because it was a 2 month old coil.

Ok, thanks!

~S

 

[4playin]

Have you checked for spark??

take your spark plug wires off one by one off the spark plugs, hold them to metal (ground) and turn it over. You or someone else looking for you should see an arc jumping from the wire to the metal if it's close enough for the arc to jump.

 

[Amocat00]

Have you checked for spark??

take your spark plug wires off one by one off the spark plugs, hold them to metal (ground) and turn it over. You or someone else looking for you should see an arc jumping from the wire to the metal if it's close enough for the arc to jump.

I'm gonna do that once I get the starter back in....if it isn't the starter...
Thanks,

Shawn

 

[Angella]

Maybe you can get the wife/gf/female friend to put that starter back in when it's ready : )

A womans hands can get in to put that starter in alot easier than the average mans hands (I should know - I did the bolts in under 5 minutes... no need for any extensions).