4runner down, need some advice

[t4r4life]

So my trusty 4runner had a problem all of a sudden, yesterday after lunch, when i went to the parking lot to start it truck, all i heard is one single loud click, after messing around for a bit i gave up and called AAA.

The truck had a autozone starter on it so the first thing i thought it was the starter but i went ahead and did a couple of tests first, checked battery and did a jump start, no dice, so off with the autozone and on with the toyota factory starter (BTW PITA job, my arms looks like hamburgers)

Got the new one in and nothing, still the same single loud click. but it sounds like metal on metal, so im thinking, what else can it be. right now the truck is parked and dead. i have no idea whats wrong. :dammit:

 

[4Running Daily]

The clicks are morse code.

If deciphered it reads "Put 35's on me"

 

[t4r4life]

The clicks are morse code.

If deciphered it reads "Put 35's on me"

i wish it was morse code, but its just single clock, morse code means starter contacts. im stuck here and school is monday.

 

[the great him]

check your batter terminals... check all the grounds, and check the power wire to/from the alt... i had this same issue not to long ago.. turns out just had a bad connection... take all your grounds, trace them, unhook them, clean both surfaces, reinstall. then do the same with your power wires.

 

[BrianSD_42]

I had the same issue the Kid mentioned about the battery terminals.

I would turn the key and it seemed like a total power drain but the battery tested fine.

I fixed the issue by taking a wire brush to both the terminals and the connectors.

 

[t4r4life]

I had the same issue the Kid mentioned about the battery terminals.

I would turn the key and it seemed like a total power drain but the battery tested fine.

I fixed the issue by taking a wire brush to both the terminals and the connectors.

check your batter terminals... check all the grounds, and check the power wire to/from the alt... i had this same issue not to long ago.. turns out just had a bad connection... take all your grounds, trace them, unhook them, clean both surfaces, reinstall. then do the same with your power wires.

looks like thats gonna be what im doing tomorrow. thanks guys

 

[the great him]

no problem, hope this is it, i hate being wrong

 

[t4r4life]

Also when i took off my old starter there was a lot of old mud in there, how does that happen. and i dug my finger inside the housing to the tranny and out comes a buncha mud, is there a place for mud to get in there?

 

[the great him]

well thats not so good, but over time yeah it can find its way in... there are weep holes that stuff can accumulate and find its way in, its much harder for it to find its way out. i would not be so worried

 

[t4r4life]

well thats not so good, but over time yeah it can find its way in... there are weep holes that stuff can accumulate and find its way in, its much harder for it to find its way out. i would not be so worried

yeah i haven't wheeled in mud in a long time, and there is still mud under my truck, i will never intentionally go mudding again. this whole situation sucks because i just did a tune up a month ago and it was running tits, better than it was when i got it 5 years ago and boom this happens.

 

[t4r4life]

cleaned everything i can think of, still just one loud click, i hope my motor is not frozen, there was no warning either, looks like i might have to tow it to a shop

 

[Dirtyfingers]

This happened to me awhile back and is the reason I don't mud anymore, I got a new battery, new starter, and double check to make sure everything is plugged in right. Then check the alarm make sure it's not screwing with it. One click normally means you don't have enough juice. Also check your alternator. It also could mean that the ground but isn't right enough. Like I said, check all connections. I've kicked myself and still do when I found out I didn't have a car for a week because of a loose connection. Make sure your positive goes all the way into the terminal and makes a click as well.

 

[LittleCaesar]

Check for spark.

If none, then work backwards following each wire until ya get to the battery cables.

How old is the battery?

 

[t4r4life]

Check for spark.

If none, then work backwards following each wire until ya get to the battery cables.

How old is the battery?

What do you mean by check for spark? Battery is 3 month old

 

[the great him]

Check for spark.

If none, then work backwards following each wire until ya get to the battery cables.

How old is the battery?

if the motor won't crank over you won't have any spark...:rockthrow:

 

[nissanh]

Does the click happens inside the starter?
If a toyota dies this suddenly, it got to be the starter or the battery. Is your battery is also from autozone? If so, try to use someone else's battery.

Have you bench tested the starter?

 

[t4r4life]

Does the click happens inside the starter?
If a toyota dies this suddenly, it got to be the starter or the battery. Is your battery is also from autozone? If so, try to use someone else's battery.

Have you bench tested the starter?

Seems like the click is inside the starter, first the relay clicks in then the starter click, the starter is brand new from toyota, so is the battery from kirkland.

 

[LittleCaesar]

Since there will be no spark without the engine turning over :withstupid:, +1 with bench testing the starter.

 

[4Running Daily]

Since there will be no spark without the engine turning over :withstupid:, +1 with bench testing the starter.

This.

 

[nissanh]

If you hear a click inside the brand new starter, that mean it is working and no current to turn the starter. Use a different battery. It should start.....