Dead ignition?

[trdrun]

Yesterday, when I turn the ignition all the way and held it, all I get is a click. Then I would try again, and still, a click. Then my friend sitting next to me told me to put my foot on the brakes and start the engine like that, for reasons unexplained, it worked my 4runner started.

Disregarding the last part on how I started my 4runner and focusing on the clicking non-starting part, whats happening? What should I do to repair it?

 

[Elton H]

bad starter contacts ? loose battery cable

 

[bigtimeweb]

x2 on battery cable

 

[Ron Helmuth]

my guess is the starter contacts

If your battery cable were all the way loose it would not have started until you jiggled the cable a bit at the post.

If you have other functions like the radio works and the clock comes on that narrows it down to 1/ neutral safety switch (a recent post said move an auto tranny to neutral and see if it starts then)

or:

2/ the starter contacts are starting to go

Could be as simple as corrosion at either the positive or negative battery post as well.

 

[trdrun]

I thought it would be the battery terminals, so I got a new post terminal for the positive and installed it. I installed it at Autozone, but then I couldn't start my car. I got an Autozone guy out and checked the battery with instruments, it was good, and so was the connection. He pointed out the click seems to come from the starter. So for about 20-30 minutes, I tried to start the car. I've been hitting the starter with my ratchet wrench and trying to start it. Finally, i got it up and running, and decided to just drive to a mechanic shot to get it fixed.

Luckily, a mechanic was willing to squeeze me in and got me out in 40-50 mins, but unluckily, it cost $294 (~$188 for the starter, and $90 for labor +tax). Felt like i got ripped off on the starter. They didn't have core charges, I should have asked to keep my starter in that case, but didn't think of that at the moment.

Now it starts fine, but the noise it makes seem less powerful than a toyota oem part. (the part that was installed was Bosch)

 

[trdrun]

Yeah, I saw a thread with instructions on how to install new starter contacts. And I would have very much enjoyed making a weekend project out of it, but I'm a student with classes and job, so I just needed to have my 4runner running. :sigh: