Help with a 06 4Runner

CBarden

New member
Any help would be much appreciated, first post here..

My wife's 06 4-Runner, v6 sr5, will not start, just clicks one time and that is all. Everything else is working.

So far I have, cleaned the battery terminals and checked the cables.

Checked the ground strap for proper connection

Battery is reading correct volts, even while attempting to crank, battery is about a year old btw.

Removed the started and had it tested x3 at advanced auto parts.

Still unable to crank 4-runner.

:help::help::help:

thanks in advance Chad.
 
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So jump starting the vehicle does nothing I take it?

Is there an aftermarket alarm in the vehicle by any chance?



Yes I have tried jumping it and no there is not an aftermarket alarm. It has the one from factory..

Im still thinking its the starter.. will a starter be bad and fail a test at parts store 3x?
 
could be the starter is bad. I know you brought it to the auto store to test it but cranking it with the load is different than testing it without engine load. just a thought.

Any help would be much appreciated, first post here..

My wife's 06 4-Runner, v6 sr5, will not start, just clicks one time and that is all. Everything else is working.

So far I have, cleaned the battery terminals and checked the cables.

Checked the ground strap for proper connection

Battery is reading correct volts, even while attempting to crank, battery is about a year old btw.

Removed the started and had it tested x3 at advanced auto parts.

Still unable to crank 4-runner.

:help::help::help:

thanks in advance Chad.
 
could be the starter is bad. I know you brought it to the auto store to test it but cranking it with the load is different than testing it without engine load. just a thought.

My dad and his buddies are all shade tree mechanics and were all coming to the same thing, its the starter.. Think I'll stop on way home from work and pick one up.. Just wondering if i was missing something. thanks
 
My dad and his buddies are all shade tree mechanics and were all coming to the same thing, its the starter.. Think I'll stop on way home from work and pick one up.. Just wondering if i was missing something. thanks

If you have the starter out of the vehicle already, I would see if you can take apart the solenoid and check the plunger/contacts for carboning & wear. Though I'm not entirely convinced it's the starter if it's working out of the vehicle...

You can manually test it yourself with a set of jumper cables and a jumper wire to engage the solenoid if you know what you're doing.

Also, what do you mean by "factory alarm?" Do you have a security light that blinks in the HVAC console or another LED/box on the driver's side kick panel area in the vehicle?
 
One loud click is either a locked up motor or a starter. If it was running fine before then chances are your starter is bad. You can try starting it a whole bunch of times and see if it catches once. Or have a helper tap on the starter with a hammer while you try and start it.

You can try and rotate the engine with a large ratchet on the crank pulley bolt to confirm the engine turns and indeed not locked up. Very unlikely though.
 
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If you have the starter out of the vehicle already, I would see if you can take apart the solenoid and check the plunger/contacts for carboning & wear. Though I'm not entirely convinced it's the starter if it's working out of the vehicle...

You can manually test it yourself with a set of jumper cables and a jumper wire to engage the solenoid if you know what you're doing.

Also, what do you mean by "factory alarm?" Do you have a security light that blinks in the HVAC console or another LED/box on the driver's side kick panel area in the vehicle?

keyless entry? what ever comes with it? not really sure about a security light, id have to look when i get home.. So cleaning the solenoid contacts may solve the issue? I called and check on a price for a new starter solenoid and its more than a starter and have to order from factory.
 
keyless entry? what ever comes with it? not really sure about a security light, id have to look when i get home.. So cleaning the solenoid contacts may solve the issue? I called and check on a price for a new starter solenoid and its more than a starter and have to order from factory.

It's possible the contacts may just be fouled up, or they may be severely worn down. I know for the Toyota stuff I get the contacts pretty cheap; but I don't know how much it'd cost for a new set for an aftermarket one or if they're compatible.

The reason I am mentioning the contacts is because a single click could be a few things, most commonly it's the solenoid (the "click" you hear is the solenoid being pushed forward".) if the contacts are dirty current is not flowing to the starter. Conversely if the starter has a bad armature or brush it would get current through the solenoid, but not be able to turn the starter.

The curious thing is that the starter tested okay at the parts store, which is making me suspect that a bad armature or brush is unlikely (though stick it in the car, give it a crank and see if it starts up? If not whack it once or twice while cranking and see if it helps?)
 
Lol well not exactly but don't seem like I have an option, unless you think cleaning the solenoid points is an option? I just got home tried to turn it over and got one click that was all the starter didn't try to spin at all?
 
keyless entry? what ever comes with it? not really sure about a security light, id have to look when i get home.. So cleaning the solenoid contacts may solve the issue? I called and check on a price for a new starter solenoid and its more than a starter and have to order from factory.


You are hearing is your solenoid trying to engage the starter. The starter is not engaging properly more than likely because the brushes inside are worn.

An alarm system malfunction would cause no signal to get sent to the starter and no click.

Fast clicking would be the battery failing.
One loud click is a starter (or locked up engine, but probably not the case here)
 
Sounds like a starter. While your trying to start it have someone wack the hell out of the solenoid with a hammer. That should spin the winding inside the solenoid past the bad spot enough to catch and start spinning. If you have the starter out of the car I would recommend jumping it yourself with some cables. Make sure it's in a vice or has something holding it.

If that doesn't work check the voltage on the signal/reference wire on the starter solenoid. Not the battery terminal but the small wire. Make sure it's getting 12v enough voltage. I had a problem similar to this on my Datsun and replaced the battery, starter, cables and found out the signal wire wasn't getting 12v so I had to wire up a new relay. I am sure it's not the case on your truck nut it never hurts to check.
 
update: took the starter off, removed the plunger and contacts, cleaned them up really good with a wire brush! Blew out the compartment and cleaned it with Qtips and put it all back together... Re-installed the starter and the 4-runner came back to life!!! Thanks for all y'all's help!!! :cheers:
 

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