Annoying problems starting my 99 limited 4runner *Need Advice*

[TRUST8383]

Lately, I've been having problems starting up my 4runner. Once it's running, everything runs perfect...no problems whatsoever. But sometimes, when i go to turn the key, it'll just make a "click" noise, sounds like a relay or something, and nothing else will happen. So if i sit there for a second, try it again a few times, it will eventually crank and start. This is an intermittent problem, it'll be gone for a week, and then come back. If anyone has any suggestions as to what i should check/replace first, i'd appreciate it. TIA

 

[toybox]

It is either the starter or the battery. I suspect the battery. I would first try cleaning the positive and negative terminals real good and see if the problem continues. I would say that is the first and cheapest step to take.

 

[TRUST8383]

It's not the battery, because i changed that out w/ a brand new one, and it still had the problem. Also, it's not a bunch of clicks when i turn the key...just one click, if that makes a difference. I guess in the back of my mind, i suspect the starter, but i was just checking to see if anyone had similar experiences.

 

[toybox]

Yeah but it still may be the connection. Unless you cleaned the terminals real good and tightened the nuts good there is still a possibility of the connection being the culprit. That is why I said to start there because even if you have a good battery a bad connection can still cause problems.

 

[02sport]

sounds like starter contacts....
here and here

 

[jharris2]

Toybox is right, though -- clean the battery terminals and connections first. I had a Mustang that did that, too -- was prepared to tear it apart and found out it was the battery connections.

Never hurts to start with the simple stuff.

 

[TRUST8383]

Thanks guys for all the input. The battery terminals were clean.

I believe O2sport has my solution. Thank you so much for posting that link. All the symptoms you described are dead on. Sounds like a nice little saturday morning project, and then i can get back on the road with no worries.

Thanks guys, Jon.

 

[02sport]

oops, here's the other link i meant to post...
and one more