4runner will not start...

cadiehl1

New member
Our 98 4runner will not start... it's been running perfectly, then all of a sudden, it just won't fire. Any idea what I should check on this? The engine turns and turns but just won't fire.... thanks a bunch.... CD
 
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Well, it could be hundreds of things. Two things that stick out are fuel problem or electrical. My best guess it is something electrical. I know when the igniter switch gives out, that is it, it won't run at all and there is no warning. Also there are electrical modules and even could be something like a bad distributor cap.

My poor 1988 Acura is in the shop and has the same problem, the engine turns over and it won't start. I was unforunate as it decided to stop at a stop light and I had to tow it to the shop.

You know I have spent many of hours working on cars, I still do, but when there is a problem, with cars being so complicated, it is best to take it to a good repair shop and have them hook it up to their computer. :confused:
 
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peter78 said:
You know I have spent many of hours working on cars, I still do, but when there is a problem, with cars being so complicated, it is best to take it to a good repair shop and have them hook it up to their computer. :confused:
Peter -- seems like the day of us "shade tree mechanics" has passed. I don't even change the oil any more, as there are just too many rules, and it's easier to just get it done.

That's why it's so important to have a good working relationship with the service manager at the dealer. He/she can make your life miserable, or can be your best friend.
 
timing belt

dont keepy trying to start it in case your timing belt is broken...you could do some major damage trying to start it if the belt is snapped...
 
I got it running... bad fuel pump I guess.... had my wife crank it, and I whacked the gas tank with a mallet... fired right up.... took it to the shop....

thanks for all the help...
CD
 
Re: timing belt

loyd said:
dont keepy trying to start it in case your timing belt is broken...you could do some major damage trying to start it if the belt is snapped...
I have broken a timing belt before, belive me you will know if you do. The starter spins real fast, like there is no compression. Having a 98, you have a non-interference engine, meaning if the timing belt broke your engine valves won't hit the pistons.

-------------------------------

To jharris2, yes I still change the oil and dispose of it properly, change plugs, even big things like water pump, CV joints, starters, alternaters, but with cars getting more compicated I find it harder to find the problem.
 
cadiehl1 said:
I got it running... bad fuel pump I guess.... had my wife crank it, and I whacked the gas tank with a mallet... fired right up.... took it to the shop....

thanks for all the help...
CD
Now why didn't I think of that. :D I agree it sounds like a fuel pump starting to go bad. In the good old days it was easy to change a fuel pump, that is before they started putting it in the gas tank. What engineer ever came up with that idea??? :confused:
 
Fuel pump change...easy

Fuel pumps are sometimes easy to change. My `88 has a large plate under the rear seat...4 screws. It gives access to the top of the tank. Disconnect the fuel lines. Unbolt the sending unit from the tank...~6 small bolts. Go underneath the truck. At the side of the fuel tank, disconnect electrical. Go back in the truck and remove the sending unit. Voila! there it is, atatched to the sending unit.
 
97 4Runner wont start after Polar Vortex

Hi Everyone,

I have a 1997 4Runner with 89K miles. I do most of the maintenance on my own and has been running perfectly.

So last week we had this Polar Vortex where temps. dipped below -50F with wind chills here in Chicago. I park my car outside and it was fine before the cold snap.

I tried starting the car next day when the temps were still below 0 and it didn't start. I let it sit since I have another car and didn't want to jump start in the cold weather. Today finally we are above freezing and i tired jumping but it wont start. It cranks but wont start. I checked the battery voltage which is 12.4 so the battery is still good (Toyota true start replaced 3 months ago).

I noticed there was moisture all over under the hood (battery, air filter cover, belts etc). I used the leaf blower to dry it and not sure where to start. I also added sea foam to the gas tank during the last fill, not sure if that did something.

Here are few things done:
Spark plugs, wires - 70K miles (at dealership)
Started -78K miles (at dealership)

Any suggestion where to start diagnosing the problem?

Thank You!
Imran
 
4runner will not start..

Hello I am new to the forum. My 2000 4 Runner will not start. It started fine this morning. I parked it and turned off the engine for a few minutes. Got back in tried to start the car, the dash lights flashed on then off and then nothing, no click, nothing. The battery is new. I checked the charge, it is fine. I can not move the gear from Park to Neutral. After several attempts now the ignition switch will not move. What is going on?
 
Hello I am new to the forum. My 2000 4 Runner will not start. It started fine this morning. I parked it and turned off the engine for a few minutes. Got back in tried to start the car, the dash lights flashed on then off and then nothing, no click, nothing. The battery is new. I checked the charge, it is fine. I can not move the gear from Park to Neutral. After several attempts now the ignition switch will not move. What is going on?

The Shifter shouldn't be able to go into Neutral from Park if the engine is not running unless you over-ride it. How to put 1997 Toyota 4Runner in neutral with dead battery? - Motor Vehicle Maintenance & Repair Stack Exchange

As far as the ignition switch: Is the steering wheel "locked"? I've had that happen (albeit I have a manual) and I just have to turn the wheel a little harder in the opposite direction to get it to unlock.

Check your connection to the battery: although you have a charged battery if it's got a bad connection it won't help. Check the ground to the starter as well.

Goodluck.
 
2002 4Runner Slow Start

I've noticed recently that my 3rd Gen is slow to start, seems to happen more in the morning. Just had the Mass Airflow Sensor replaced a couple months ago, otherwise no issues since I bought it. Just replaced the battery and cleaned the connections real well too (since when I was replacing the mass air flow I noticed how nasty looking the old one was and had no idea how old it was).

So Battery is good (same as everyone says above). Power comes one when I turn the key (i.e. the AC/Heat, lights, radio) but when I turn passed "On" it doesn't "click" or try to turn the engine. This morning I had to let it sit in the "On" position for about 30 sec before I could turn it and start it and it still was a little fussy starting. Not sure if its my starter or what, just want to get it back to being reliable so we don't feel like we're rolling the dice when we take it camping deep in the Big Bend!
 
No crank, good battery.

New member without the new thread privileges. I hope this will be seen.

I’m a 98 owner since 2001 with 389,000 miles . Have never had any problems until the other day. Stopped to fuel up, turned the key to start and would not crank. All dash lights come on as they should with no check engine light. Tried to jump start, still nothing…. Towed her home thinking it was the starter. Pulled the starter and had it tested, it passed.
So I came home and started looking into any and all information out there. This is what I checked:
1. Linkage at the shifter to ensure it was in park or neutral. The dash indicator lights indicate proper gear position.
2. Break actuator works when I press in the break to move the shifting lever.
3. Starter relay. Swapped with another from my wife’s car.
4. Disabled the security system by disconnecting the harness and plugged the oem plug straight back into the ignition starter module
5. Checked my Hayes manual and tested the ignition module and had continuity between pin one and two with key turned to start.

Last resort was to turn on the key and bypass the starting relay in the fuse box…. Engine fired straight up.

This is one of the most frustrating situations I’ve been in. Has anyone else had this problem?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Tony
 
New member without the new thread privileges. I hope this will be seen.

I’m a 98 owner since 2001 with 389,000 miles . Have never had any problems until the other day. Stopped to fuel up, turned the key to start and would not crank. All dash lights come on as they should with no check engine light. Tried to jump start, still nothing…. Towed her home thinking it was the starter. Pulled the starter and had it tested, it passed.
So I came home and started looking into any and all information out there. This is what I checked:
1. Linkage at the shifter to ensure it was in park or neutral. The dash indicator lights indicate proper gear position.
2. Break actuator works when I press in the break to move the shifting lever.
3. Starter relay. Swapped with another from my wife’s car.
4. Disabled the security system by disconnecting the harness and plugged the oem plug straight back into the ignition starter module
5. Checked my Hayes manual and tested the ignition module and had continuity between pin one and two with key turned to start.

Last resort was to turn on the key and bypass the starting relay in the fuse box…. Engine fired straight up.

This is one of the most frustrating situations I’ve been in. Has anyone else had this problem?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Tony

It sounds like either you're not getting power to the starter relay or the relay is bad, look in the fuse block to see if there's another relay that has the same part number and if so swap it into the starter relay slot and see if it starts, if no luck then maybe the ignition switch is bad or there's a break in the wiring and not sending power to the relay.

You can also test relays if there's not another the same in the fuse block, look on YouTube for how-to videos, check for damaged wiring, etc., maybe a rodent has been chewing on the wiring.

If you find the relay is bad you can possibly save some money looking on eBay for a used one that has a warranty for about 1/4 the price of a new one, same with the ignition switch.
 
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I have a 2014 Toyota 4runner and its can't start, it turns and battery is working but it won't get any fuel to the engine, the guy who looked at it thought it has something to do with emergency fuel shut off, is there such a thing if not what else would be causing this?

Can someone help me with this?
 

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