Car delays to start - battery or electrical issue?

[Wakko]

got an odd issue with the 3rd gen. when i try to start the car the battery seems weak, like it delays turning on the radio and i turn the key immediately after putting in the car to start it i get a single click. If i leave the key on the on position for a little bit (not sure if this is annything but i step on the break too) it starts up a little weak...

cleaned the battery terminals last night tried to start it and it fired right up. when i tried to start it this morning it did the same delay one click then started after i waited.

Odd issues
- when i open the driver door the door light doesn't come on but when i open all the other doors, door light comes on.
- when i leave the key in the starter, the car didn't beep at me when the door was open.

Am i dealing with just a weak battery or an electrical grimlin somewhere? I've been putting off the big 3 but maybe this might be it?

 

[KingPrat]

Am i dealing with just a weak battery or an electrical grimlin somewhere? I've been putting off the big 3 but maybe this might be it?

When I bought my 3rd gen I had some weird electrical things pop up - pass window wouldn't stay up if I pulled the auto-up, map lights didn't work, etc.

Battery was 7 years old and undersized. PO cheaped out, which is the MO for this truck so far.

New battery solved the majority of my "weird" issues. Go have your battery tested and see what's going on. Could be as simple as that.

I also get a cold "no turnover" from time to time. Search the forum for replacing starter contacts.

 

[gamefreakgc]

got an odd issue with the 3rd gen. when i try to start the car the battery seems weak, like it delays turning on the radio and i turn the key immediately after putting in the car to start it i get a single click. If i leave the key on the on position for a little bit (not sure if this is annything but i step on the break too) it starts up a little weak...

cleaned the battery terminals last night tried to start it and it fired right up. when i tried to start it this morning it did the same delay one click then started after i waited.

Odd issues
- when i open the driver door the door light doesn't come on but when i open all the other doors, door light comes on.
- when i leave the key in the starter, the car didn't beep at me when the door was open.

Am i dealing with just a weak battery or an electrical grimlin somewhere? I've been putting off the big 3 but maybe this might be it?

You have two separate issues.

1. The non-start issue is your starter contacts worn out. They are not "contacting" anymore at certain spots, causing intermittent power to the starter. Eventually it will leave you dead in the water, so you will want to fix it soon. You can buy the contacts at most part stores (they are two different looking copper plates) but if you want to replace the center plunger as well, I suggest getting that from Toyota. No need to replace the starter, just the contacts. Search on the forums for write ups on how to do it, it's not hard as long as you can remove the starter from the engine bay. Here's one where the writer could not remove it from the engine bay: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/63228-another-starter-contacts-removal-thread.html

2. Your door position switch in the driver's doorjamb is broken. Take off the rubber boot, there's one bolt and pull out the switch to disconnect and then put a new one in (don't lose the wire connector in the pillar though!). Can be bought secondhand off Ebay or a junkyard for very cheap. Basically your 4Runner thinks the door is always closed since it's not grounding when open.

 

[Wakko]

thanks [MENTION=115347]gamefreakgc[/MENTION]

is that why it clicks only once? i tried hitting the key and turning the ignition without luck a few times too.

 

[gamefreakgc]

thanks [MENTION=115347]gamefreakgc[/MENTION]

is that why it clicks only once? i tried hitting the key and turning the ignition without luck a few times too.

Yeah if you turn it over enough it will eventually start, since it tries until the contacts work. Eventually though, it gets so worn down there is no surface left that will start the car. It has nothing to do with the key at all, everything to do with those contacts flowing enough electricity or not.

 

[Wakko]

thanks, ordered the contacts should be here tomorrow and will install them this weekend.

I'm thinking something is electrical as well though since the door jam sensor worked this morning.

which brings me to odd issue #3. when i went home from work yesterday the radio had no power but car started on first time. after about 20 minutes of driving the the radio finally turned on like it was on the entire time... Not sure if when i cleaned the terminals and cables i got water in places it didn't like.. but it started and radio turned on with no issues right after cleaning it up.

if anyone has any guesses, i'm all ears!