99 V6 4x4. Starting Problem.. Help Needed

T

Torinate

New member
Hi there.
My wife's 99 V6 4x4 is having difficulty starting. When you turn the key to start it, it "clicks" once and nothing happens. Then, if you turn the key off and try to restart it, its fine. Its very odd. It hasn't broke down, but i'm afraid that it might not start. That would be the last thing we would need... with young kids etc... Any ideas? Truck drives fine - no changes to performance. This starting problem does not happen every time. It is very much intermittent. Battery is fine. Is there a solonoid that could cause it? It only clicks once though, not continuous. When you turn the key the second time, it just starts up as normal. No change or difference. No check engine light.
Any ideas? How can I check any fault codes?
Also... Problems that go on and on... Brake pedal vibration, ... Vibration at highway speeds, ... a clunking noice in cold weather coming from the back left inside plastic cover in the "trunk", power antenna that desn't work, ... Ideas?

Thanks again for any help with these concerns.

Dave
 
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faulty battery or starter are the things to check first off. as for vibrations, check your alinement and check to make sure ALL lugs are tight and inorder.
 
I had a Ford that did the exact same thing when trying to start. I ended up changing the ignition where the key goes. Fixed the problem. Just a suggestion if your search turns up a big 0.
 
Still nothing concrete. It happened twice to my wife this morning. The battery is fine, so its not that. Could it be the starter? Doesn't really sound like a starter problem though. She says that it doesn't even click. (I thought it did) Whe she turns the key, nothing happens. She says its almost like she isn't turning the key far enough...? But she is turning it as far as it goes. I've searched this site and another one. No luck so far. Somebody did day in a different thread that they had a problem with a "relay" or something like that ynderneath the panel below the steering wheel. Anyone else had a problem like that?
 
its your key interlock switch, its just under the igition behind the
panel at your legs, a little box (I thinks its white on the bottom W/ wires) .
Happens to mine on a long trip .
once I found this out, I would just tap box or move wires and it will start.
took me alot of talking to techs (I happen to work around the dealerships)
I will get the part # for you ,its in my truck .

Hope this helps !!
Zman
 
Did you copy/paste that answer? That is exactly what I read when I did my search... Is the information correct? Any other ideas?
 
UPDATE...

Just thought I would update everyone.

The problem became increasingly worse; taking sometimes 10 or 15 turns to finally have it turn over and start. This happened almost every time trying to start it. I went to the Toyota dealer to ask them what they thought. Immediately the service advisor said "It's your starter contacts. We could put in a new starter for you ($301.00 plus labour = $426.00 incl. taxes) or we could sell you the parts to rebuild the starter for $35.00". They could also install them if I wanted. He said that its a fairly common "problem" with the 4-Runner and Pick-ups.

So, I bought the starter contacts.

I pulled the starter out and rebuilt it. The starter contacts were worn extremely bad so I was optimistic that they were the problem.

Sure enough, that was a week and a half ago and it has not happened once. I'm confident that was the problem.

Thanks for your input.

Dave
 
starter problems

just read your posts from April 2006 regarding your starter. very helpful. im an going down the same path, with every start becoming more nerve racking. i have one more day that i need to get throug, then i will take it in for service. very impressed that you were able to replace yourself. I had ideas about trying myself, but i have never tried anything so ambitious (replace starter). I worked in a garage in college (about 15 yrs ago), but i dont even do my own oil changes now. Hate spending $400-$500 on a new starter, but that looks like where im headed. This truck has had minimal problems.

Was this the process for your starter replacement? see link. http://www.yotatech.com/showthread.php?t=76347. don't think i could swing this myself. i have a 99 4-Runner limited V-6 eng.

Big question, how long before the point of no return and the starter complete gives out. (last two starts have been two to three tries before it started). trying to save a few bucks, shopping the job - but thinking im going to need a tow truck soon.
 
I had this happen on a 2000 Tacoma. I found the same walkthrough you did, and got the job done.
See here: http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t138611.html

In the process of researching this problem, I found a posting from someone that they let it go to the point that it took 15+ tries to start it.... eventually, it turned over. I didn't have the nerve to wait that long. Once I started having the problem consistently (twice in two days), I took action. Fortunately it's a second vehicle, so I didn't need to drive it every day. It sat until the next weekend after the parts arrived.

I was quoted $450 by a Toyota dealer to replace the starter. About $250 for the part, and a couple hours of labor at their insane labor rate.
 
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Walk in to the darkness or to the dealer....

TOTO - so you are giving me a bit of courage about following the "how to replace your starter post", i'm trying to talk myself into this. How long did it take you to do the job? I assume your rebuilt it vs replacing it entirely? Would you recommend a novice try to follow the post and fix it himself?

I did see the post for the guy who had to try to start 15 times before it turned over for him as well. Had to laugh - but that may be me this week.
 
It took about 2 hours to get it out, 20 minutes to open up the starter and fix it, and about 45 minutes putting it back together.

One of the secrets to this job is having the right tools. You've got to have metric sockets (I think 10, 12, and 14mm are all I needed) and an assortment of extensions. My dad is a retired mechanic, so he had all sorts of good tools. One that helped considerably is an elbow that allows the socket to swivel on the end of the extension. There are only two bolts holding the starter in, but of course they're facing the rear of the truck and one is sort of behind the exahust pipe coming out of the manifold. I actually got at the bolts from underneath the truck using a couple of extensions and the elbow. Once they're loose, you can get your hand in there with a short extension and a thumbwheel ratchet to get the bolts out.

You would also need to have a wire wheel to clean the plunger, but instead I'd recommend buying a new plunger along with the two contact kits. My plunger cleaned up fine but the copper was a bit worn.

See that other link I posted for part numbers and a couple of minor additions to the yotatech walkthrough.

I have the factory exhaust, not the Edelbrock stuff the guy in the walkthrough had. With the factory exhaust, you can ignore all of the steps related to disassembling the exhaust. I didn't touch the exhaust system, and the only challenge that created was physically getting the starter out of the wheel well. It does come out, though at first it doesn't seem like it will!

Finally, know that there are two different starters on that engine - a "regular" 1.4 kilowatt starter, and a "cold weather" 1.8 kilowatt starter. The parts are different, so you need to know which one you have. I had the 1.8. The starter had a green Toyota label facing out toward the wheel well, so I was able to verify the part # and confirm it was a 1.8 before I had to touch it.
 
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Hello...

It went from trying 3-4 times to 15 times in a matter of 1-2 weeks. Each "no-start" got more aggravating, especially when you are in a hurry to get somewhere. More frustrating when your 4 year old is saying "lets go!" The dealer told me that it will always start, just keep trying.

I did see those web sites for the instructions on how to re & re the starter. They help as far as bolt placement etc.

The starter is more difficult to get out than to put back in. Everything is straight forward as far as bolts to take out etc. It took about 15 minutes getting the bolts undone and the starter unplugged. It took another 30 minutes to figure out how to get it out of the cavity where it sits and another 20 minutes to actually get it out. From here, it was smooth sailing. To replace the contacts took about 15 minutes. To put it back in was MUCH quicker. About 20 minutes to put in and tighten up. All in all, it was pretty easy going.

So overall, it was about 1:40 to complete the job.

The truck has been perfect since completing this. Not once has it failed to turn over.

I would reccommend doing this yourself if you are at all mechanically inclined.

One tip though. Do Not Get Frustrated When The Starter Doesn't Just Fall Out When You Are Tying To Get It Out! It takes a little patience and some twisting and turning of the starter to get it out. Keep the young ones of out of the garage while you curse. Other than that, its very straightforward.

Good luck. As I see it, it was a heck of a lot cheaper than a new starter and it was a chance to brush up on my cursing.

Torinate.
 
I know... I got it out quicker than you. That's the big difference. It's REALLY tight in there. The hardest part was getting the starter out. Perseverence in turning it this way and that way. I was always good at those children's puzzles with the shapes...

As I said before, all in all, its not that bad to do... once its out.

Toyota charges 1 hour labour to re & re a starter. At that rate, we'd both starve...

Torinate
 
To the Dealer

The turning point for me was when i opened the hood last night wondered whether or not I should disconnect the battery before i started replacing the starter. Figuring I was right about the battery, i thought of all the other obvious things I "should know" that were not on the walkthrough. I took in to the dealer the next day as I could not chance it not starting. Appreciate the encouragement and the tips. Feel like I wimped out a bit.

The accounting:
Starter R&R A/T 6 cyl 1.8KW 96/00
Part # 28100-62030-84 Reman Starter $297.01
Part # 28100-62030-84 Core Return ($30.00) credit
Labor $134.99 (book rate) he charged me $54.59
PA State Tax $19.30
Total Bill $340.90
And a loaner car for the day.

After doing some reseach on this site and others, and talking with the dealer, Pep Boys and another chain automotive repair shop this job runs anywhere from $350 - $450 most would not even quote without seeing. Would love to hear if anyone thinks I got ripped off on the job.

The service manager at the dealer ive known for years and is straight up guy, but you never know. I asked him what a new one costs he said about $600 from Toyota. The stock dealer line about chain automotive stores is "You buy a remanufactured starter from Pep Boys and you'll be back in here in six months" The warranty is same for remanufactured (by Toyota) vs a new one. Supposedly, there are other parts that go bad aside from the contacts.

Hopefully this info will be of use for those who are pricing this job.
 
starter problems over

Knock on wood, no more problems starting. I was up to six or seven turns of the key before I had the starter replaced just to get it to start. Starts right up now. So problem solved!



:D
 
I am SO happy to be part of this community!! I have been having this issue for the past couple of days and decided to do a search and found this thread. Its better than trouble shooting and playing the elimination game.
I fugured as low maintenance as these vehicles are after a pricey starter job I am still ahead!!
 
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