Clicking sound will not start

[rewind206]

So a few months ago randomly I started having the clicking but not starting problem, usually after a few tries it would fire up. Most of the time it would fire up first try no problem. The other day I went out and could not get it to fire for the life of me. I realized it was very low on gas so I added some and eventually through repeated turning of the key and having to pump the gas I got it going.

It was fine for another couple weeks, had the problem maybe once but after a few "click" turns, it fired up.

Now it will not at all. I have done a lot of searching on this so I will let you know what i know for sure:

Battery and alternator are good.
Starter Relay is clicking and so is the starter when I turn the key.
There is plenty of gas in it.
All fuses are good and the wiring I see is fine.

I'm trying to figure out if it is a problem having to do with the fuel or if it is indeed a starter problem. Everyone has seemed to find a different solution to this and no one has mentioned the gas issue like mine seems to have. Note that it only needs me to pump the gas if it takes a long time to start. The times it fires right up it doesn't need gas at all.

Anyway I just lost my job and am trying to find work, it's my daily driver and I am a beginner mechanic at best. I hear any work on the starter is a huge pain because of where it is located, (I think I found it but am still not sure, but I hear the clicking coming from it when I try to start it, along with the click from the relay.)

Anyway, any ideas or suggestions would help. Keep in mind I'm pretty new but I have managed to fumble my way through repairs with help from you guys so I have some knowledge especially of my 90 yota (3VZ-E)

Thanks in advance guys =\

 

[Ryros92runner]

Might be the Solenoid contacts.

Toyota/Chrysler/Mitsubishi - Nippon Denso Starter Solenoid Repair

Not sure exactly how to remove the starter though. I pulled the 3VZE starter with the heads and exhaust manifolds off.

Hope this helps,

Jim S

 

[541joseph]

So a few months ago randomly I started having the clicking but not starting problem, usually after a few tries it would fire up. Most of the time it would fire up first try no problem. The other day I went out and could not get it to fire for the life of me. I realized it was very low on gas so I added some and eventually through repeated turning of the key and having to pump the gas I got it going.

It was fine for another couple weeks, had the problem maybe once but after a few "click" turns, it fired up.

Now it will not at all. I have done a lot of searching on this so I will let you know what i know for sure:

Battery and alternator are good.
Starter Relay is clicking and so is the starter when I turn the key.
There is plenty of gas in it.
All fuses are good and the wiring I see is fine.

I'm trying to figure out if it is a problem having to do with the fuel or if it is indeed a starter problem. Everyone has seemed to find a different solution to this and no one has mentioned the gas issue like mine seems to have. Note that it only needs me to pump the gas if it takes a long time to start. The times it fires right up it doesn't need gas at all.

Anyway I just lost my job and am trying to find work, it's my daily driver and I am a beginner mechanic at best. I hear any work on the starter is a huge pain because of where it is located, (I think I found it but am still not sure, but I hear the clicking coming from it when I try to start it, along with the click from the relay.)

Anyway, any ideas or suggestions would help. Keep in mind I'm pretty new but I have managed to fumble my way through repairs with help from you guys so I have some knowledge especially of my 90 yota (3VZ-E)

Thanks in advance guys =\

Pull the starter and replace the starter contacts. Easiest way is to jack the truck up pull the passenger wheel off disconnect the battery and go through the fender well to the starter.

 

[rewind206]

Pull the starter and replace the starter contacts. Easiest way is to jack the truck up pull the passenger wheel off disconnect the battery and go through the fender well to the starter.

this seems to be the general consensus so I'm going to try. People have mentioned it's a pretty big pain to get the starter off and you need quite a few specialized tools.. I have a decent starter set but nothing advanced like some of the socket extenders and things they're talking about. I guess I can just hope I can get through it.

Thanks

 

[541joseph]

You need an extention and probably a deep socket. But you should be able to do it.

 

[giro]

In total you need 18" (or possibly as much as 24") of extension. I grabbed all of my socket sets (1 in each car, a cheap one, and a good craftsman one), took all of the 1/4" extensions (I think I only needed the 1/4" ones), and had enough. A normal socket (not a deep one) worked fine.

Harbor freight has a good set of wobbly extensions (so you can be off by maybe 10-15 degrees). It's not ideal for this (non-wobble would be better), but that should get you in the general direction for only $10 or so. Or borrow some from friends (be sure to return them quickly, please!). AutoZone also loans out tools (you pay for it, but then can return it), but that's often more specialized things.

When I replaced mine 5 years ago or so, I just replaced the whole thing with a remanufactured unit. It was only $80 or so. But having now read of so many people just replacing the contacts, I'd consider trying that first.

I had something messed up the first time I put it in (not plugged in?), so had to pull it out and put it in a 2nd time that day. In total it took maybe 5-6 hours, but that was being slow and careful, rounding up all the tools, and hitting that problem. If I did it now, I wouldn't be surprised if I could do it in 1-2 hours. I think it was just 4 bolts, with the hard part being getting the socket onto them on the long extension, and likewise getting the bolts in.

(I don't see extensions in the Autozone loan-a-tool listing. At HF, there's a couple non-wobble options that I'll probably see about picking up or a birthday gift or something, such as http://www.harborfreight.com/4-piece-38-in-drive-uick-release-extension-bar-set-67976.html and http://www.harborfreight.com/3-piece-super-long-extension-set-67975.html Be sure to get a 20% off coupon to use, from the newspaper or signing up to their e-mail list. And a free coupon for a multimeter or bar clamp or flashlight)

 

[wshiverick]

The same thing happens to mine sometimes, check out kidv's fix, i think its a sticky at the top of the forum. Also, being lazy, I haven't fixed mine yet, I just jump the starter from the battery when that happens. My guess is the gas thing is from the engine getting a little flooded because the fuel pump runs when you try to start it so if you do it a bunch of times...To jump from the battery get a length of wire (mine is 14 g) and stick one end in your negative starter solenoid terminal. Its the little terminal on the bottom of the starter that has a clip connector. just undo the clip and stick one end of the wire in there. You should be able to see it just past your passenger tire. Turn the key to on, put on your clutch cancel, make sure you're in neutral, then touch the other end of the wire to the positive battery terminal. Should start right up.

 

[RAD4Runner]

So a few months ago randomly I started having the clicking but not starting problem...

Please clarify terminology:

By starting, do you mean starter is turning mechanically, but you hear,feel,smell no combustion?
Or by "Starting" do you mean you actually hear, feel, smell combustion or "VROOM"?

Might be the Solenoid contacts.

If solenoid contacts are bad you do not get enough power to starter so:
Solenoid may only click but no power will go to starter motor. No turning (cranking) whatsoever, OR
There may only barely enough power to go to starter motor. It will not crank energetically, so no cycling, no spark, no combustion (or VROOM).

The same thing happens to mine sometimes, check out kidv's fix, i think its a sticky at the top of the forum.

Yes, KidV's fix for the 85 would help with 22RE which does not have a starter relay.
O.P.s V6 has a starter relay, AND I do not believe that has the wiring flaw that the 22RE has. (I explain in my signature on Yotatech) so most likely, It's solenoid contacts like ^^^

My guess is the gas thing is from the engine getting a little flooded because the fuel pump runs when you try to start it so if you do it a bunch of times...

Full tank, empty tank, flooded fuel system has absolutely no effect on "click-only" cranking issue.

To jump from the battery...

Yes, This is my setup for torubleshooting a click-only cranking issue.