Intermittent No-Start???

tjhaf2007

tjhaf2007

New member
Has anyone else had their 4runner randomly not start? And I don't mean because of a dead or dying battery? Its happened a couple of times to me, Ill get in my car and drive somewhere and when i get back in the car wont start. it doesn't crank either. the first time it happened, i made sure all my fuses were fine and same with my relays. I know that if you try and use a duplicated key that doesn't have a chip in it, it wont start. So i was wondering if it was possibly something to do with that. i'm using the stock toyota key with a chip. i was just wondering if the chips can go bad and cause this issue.
 
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If there is a remote starter installed. I would look at that first Zak. Depending on what bypass was used there can be a bad connection between the tx and rx lines. Could also be the antenna ring in a bad position and has moved since install. Or in the OPs case it can be as simple as loose battery connections. I have seen alot of stuff in my years doing this stuff.
 
gshadow325 said:
If there is a remote starter installed. I would look at that first Zak. Depending on what bypass was used there can be a bad connection between the tx and rx lines. Could also be the antenna ring in a bad position and has moved since install. Or in the OPs case it can be as simple as loose battery connections. I have seen alot of stuff in my years doing this stuff.
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pm coming your way later, hopefully with a video, don't wanna thread jack.

But, tx, rx :noidea: lol.
my remote start came installed when i bought the truck.
 
I don't think it's the key. I recently had a spare key made that doesn't have a chip and works only the doors. When you turn the ignition with that key the engine cranks, but it just doesn't catch and start. It will keep cranking unless you turn the key back without the engine ever fully engaging.
 
Can you describe it with a little more detail. When you turn the key does it click? does it do anything? Do you turn the key back and try again several times and still nothing? Did you check for corrosion or loose cables at the block/ground, starter? Did you tap the starter?

How many miles on your runner?
 
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tjhaf2007 said:
Has anyone else had their 4runner randomly not start? And I don't mean because of a dead or dying battery? Its happened a couple of times to me, Ill get in my car and drive somewhere and when i get back in the car wont start. it doesn't crank either. the first time it happened, i made sure all my fuses were fine and same with my relays. I know that if you try and use a duplicated key that doesn't have a chip in it, it wont start. So i was wondering if it was possibly something to do with that. i'm using the stock toyota key with a chip. i was just wondering if the chips can go bad and cause this issue.
Click to expand...

I have been having this issue as well sometimes, but it has something to do with my transmission. Sometimes it wont start in park but always start in neutral, i would unlock the shift lock and go thru all the gears and back in park and sometimes it will let me start it again. Seemed to be the neutral safety switch, but i have also been having delayed engagement so i drain and filled my tranny fluid a couple days ago and havent had any issues yet.
 
Bernardchan96 said:
I have been having this issue as well sometimes, but it has something to do with my transmission. Sometimes it wont start in park but always start in neutral, i would unlock the shift lock and go thru all the gears and back in park and sometimes it will let me start it again. Seemed to be the neutral safety switch, but i have also been having delayed engagement so i drain and filled my tranny fluid a couple days ago and havent had any issues yet.
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This definitely sound like a neutral safety switch not catching. Not denying there is an issue with the trans, but nothing in the mechanical workings of the trans would prevent the electric starter from working, to my knowledge. Cycling thru gears with the engine off means no turning fluid pump, so the only thing you would be doing is cycling the neutral safety switch. As to randomly not starting with no remote circuit, if the solenoids clicks but the starter doesn't engage and spin, probably a starter. This just happened to me last week. Replaced starter and everything is ok. Also replaced the battery first since I thought it was low voltage, but that didn't do it. Good thing I was only 2 years into my 3 year warranty. I like free batteries
 
[MENTION=217462]81runner[/MENTION] Isn't the whole point of the switch to stop the starter activating in gear? If the switch isnt in park or neutral the starter circuits will not activate, thats why it cant be started in gears like reverse or drive, correct ? Thus moving the gear shift lever a few times may over come the worn / stuck switch and the switch will be seen in the proper position.
 
Seasparrow said:
[MENTION=217462]81runner[/MENTION] Isn't the whole point of the switch to stop the starter activating in gear? If the switch isnt in park or neutral the starter circuits will not activate, thats why it cant be started in gears like reverse or drive, correct ? Thus moving the gear shift lever a few times may over come the worn / stuck switch and the switch will be seen in the proper position.
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Yes that's correct. The neutral safety switch is specifically to prevent a trigger of the starter circuit when the trans is not in neutral or park. So cycling thru the gears if the switch is stuck could free it up to where you get it to make contact in the correct position and thus start the engine. Pretty sure we're on the same page there.
 
81runner said:
This definitely sound like a neutral safety switch not catching. Not denying there is an issue with the trans, but nothing in the mechanical workings of the trans would prevent the electric starter from working, to my knowledge. Cycling thru gears with the engine off means no turning fluid pump, so the only thing you would be doing is cycling the neutral safety switch. As to randomly not starting with no remote circuit, if the solenoids clicks but the starter doesn't engage and spin, probably a starter. This just happened to me last week. Replaced starter and everything is ok. Also replaced the battery first since I thought it was low voltage, but that didn't do it. Good thing I was only 2 years into my 3 year warranty. I like free batteries
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Just changed the fluid in the transmission and seems like everythings working fine again.
 
tjhaf2007 said:
Has anyone else had their 4runner randomly not start? And I don't mean because of a dead or dying battery? Its happened a couple of times to me, Ill get in my car and drive somewhere and when i get back in the car wont start. it doesn't crank either. the first time it happened, i made sure all my fuses were fine and same with my relays. I know that if you try and use a duplicated key that doesn't have a chip in it, it wont start. So i was wondering if it was possibly something to do with that. i'm using the stock toyota key with a chip. i was just wondering if the chips can go bad and cause this issue.
Click to expand...

Im having similar issues with my 2004 4runner. 246k well maintained, runs perfect. yesterday left the house no problem, finished my errands, got back in my 4runner and it will crank strong but no start. had to crank it 5-6 times and it would finally start. runs fine when it actually started up. no bogging down or stalling out or miss fires. replaced the spark plugs thinking that was the issue and its still happening. any info helps
 
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