Intermittent starting problem

[BigNate]

I have a 97 limited that's giving me fits. I will start 10 times in a row then not. I can drive it for days without an issue then it won't start. I thought it might be the battery but I put it on the charger then tried it. It started once then didn't. Turned the key a few times and it started again. The battery showed 13v starting out, dropped to 12 after the messing around described. I pulled the started relay and it is possibly worn a bit, but I cleaned the contacts with some sand paper lightly dragged over them. It didn't seem to help as it would start and then not. The starter is about four years old. I pulled the cable connector off and replaced it.

What do you suggest?

 

[LittleCaesar]

Nate,

I'd start with all ground contacts to make sure they are secure. Also look at the battery terminal connections to make sure they are good and clean.

You may also want to clean your MAF and throttle body.

 

[MAD]

I have a 97 limited that's giving me fits. I will start 10 times in a row then not. I can drive it for days without an issue then it won't start. I thought it might be the battery but I put it on the charger then tried it. It started once then didn't. Turned the key a few times and it started again. The battery showed 13v starting out, dropped to 12 after the messing around described. I pulled the started relay and it is possibly worn a bit, but I cleaned the contacts with some sand paper lightly dragged over them. It didn't seem to help as it would start and then not. The starter is about four years old. I pulled the cable connector off and replaced it.

What do you suggest?

I have a '97 5 Speed with 170k miles and I am experiencing the EXACT same issue. I notice that it happens (the not starting part) most often when it's cold, like first thing on a cold morning. I thought it may be the clutch safety switch but that does not appear to be the case.

I'd be curious about any other suggestions as well.

md

 

[BigNate]

Mine is a auto trans, I cleaned the terminals and actually took the OEM positive side cable connector off and replaced it with a standard cable connector.
It sounds like the relay and solenoid pull in good, but it doesn't crank.

Mine has about 250k on it.

 

[BigNate]

I will pull the grounds and check them.

 

[AZTOY]

I have a 97 limited that's giving me fits. I will start 10 times in a row then not. I can drive it for days without an issue then it won't start. I thought it might be the battery but I put it on the charger then tried it. It started once then didn't. Turned the key a few times and it started again. The battery showed 13v starting out, dropped to 12 after the messing around described. I pulled the started relay and it is possibly worn a bit, but I cleaned the contacts with some sand paper lightly dragged over them. It didn't seem to help as it would start and then not. The starter is about four years old. I pulled the cable connector off and replaced it.

What do you suggest?

I had a similar situation (had to turn key multiple times sometimes) and my started ended going completely. Since I replaced it, no problems. Don't know if that is ur problem.

 

[TRDFerguson]

id go with the starter idea... my wife's subaru did that exact thing until finally it wouldnt start at all. a new battery didnt fix it, but a new starter did.

my tacoma wasnt so nice as to warn me for weeks before failing haha... just one morning there was just a click.

 

[BigNate]

Problem solved!!!

Thanks to this board for the advice and great references on prodjects! I found that I was having the same/similar problem described by others as the starter contacts being shot.

So last night after work I went by the stealership and picked up a set of starter contacts. Funny they were in a sandwich ziploc baggie. I asked him if they order them in bulk and he smiled. $16 So I asked about the starter relay, $73 , turned that one down as I can get one next day for $31 from O'reilly's.

Followed the sticky on this and was done by 11pm starting just after 7pm. I cussed the small handed little Japs, and would still like to kick the ass of the design genious that gave us so much room to work with. I dropped the back skid pan, and the plug is easiest to get off putting a pin in the bottom depressing the white spot. A twist of a long screwdriver between the pieces while pushing the white spot and it slid right off. Actually replacing the contacts wasn't bad in fact easy, but wondering if I should have bought a plunger as well.

If it wasn't for such a PITA spot to get at this would be a 20 min job!

Thanks again to those who helped.

 

[AK Kilted Guy]

Having similar issue with my 1996, manual transmission. Will turn over fine for a time then no luck every now and again. Turning key over and over will finally get the starter to engage. There's an audible click then nothing.

I have replaced the starter. Where else to look?

 

[T4r3gen]

i think you are or were experiencing the same problem i am having i hear the sound of the starter clicking (not trying to turn over) and i will do that maybe once ore 5 times then it will finally turn over. Did you ever find the problem ??

 

[rkntoy]

i think you are or were experiencing the same problem i am having i hear the sound of the starter clicking (not trying to turn over) and i will do that maybe once ore 5 times then it will finally turn over. Did you ever find the problem ??

Sounds like starter contacts

 

[Traveler74]

I am having the exact same problem with my 1996 4 runner SR-5.
90% of the time it will not start. It does NOT click. No grinding noise of the starter motor. total silence.
Here is the absolute weirdest thing. Every time my neighbor tries to start it,...no problem. When I try to start it, it will not start.
Last night, my neighbor started it right up. then I got in and for 10-12 times in a row it started for me. This morning, early before it warmed up, I tried again. Failure ! No start for me.
I think I'm going crazy :loco:

 

[brillo_76]

Starter contacts if clicking. If no click all the grounds and starter checking out good. Very the back the the key starter contacts as they got me once. Completely warn out changed that an my starter was good to go.

If the rig has an alarm in it. You need to verify that is all functioning properly too.

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[spartacus]

Definately clean the grounds as other have mentioned. You can try getting a new key made with sharper profile and see if it helps. If it doesn't then it could be the ignition module.

 

[phattyduck]

Also try starting with the shifter in neutral (or while wiggling it in park). You may have a dirty park/neutral switch on the trans.

-Charlie

 

[phx_4Runner]

I had this issue recently.

Turned out to be the AM1 40A cartridge fuse in under the hood.

It seemed that on some days, the barely broken link in the fuse would be making contact, allowing the engine to start. Other days, not so much.

I couldn't find this fuse at autozone, only o'reilly FWIW.

 

[GeraldHead95]

Some sluggish starting

I have a 2000 auto SR5 with 193K miles. I've read this thread and my problem seems similar but not exactly the same. Mine starts like a champ when it's been sitting for at least an hour. But, if running errands and sitting in a parking lot for 15-20 minutes, and doing a couple iterations of this, the starting gets sluggish and definitely "off-pace". Any ideas?

 

[snydmax]

I have a 2000 auto SR5 with 193K miles. I've read this thread and my problem seems similar but not exactly the same. Mine starts like a champ when it's been sitting for at least an hour. But, if running errands and sitting in a parking lot for 15-20 minutes, and doing a couple iterations of this, the starting gets sluggish and definitely "off-pace". Any ideas?

Check your battery terminals first… i had to replace the positive side to solve similar intermittent “no-start”


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[TX_MD]

I have a 2000 auto SR5 with 193K miles. I've read this thread and my problem seems similar but not exactly the same. Mine starts like a champ when it's been sitting for at least an hour. But, if running errands and sitting in a parking lot for 15-20 minutes, and doing a couple iterations of this, the starting gets sluggish and definitely "off-pace". Any ideas?

Not to shift focus on the OP, but I had an issue similar to this on another vehicle that drove me crazy. Ran fine first thing in the morning. If I ran 4-5 errand consecutively car wouldn’t start. It would crank but not run. Let it sit a few hrs and it ran fine again. After a lot of dx it ended up being a bad fuel pump. Not sure if you’ve checked there but may be worth a look if you’ve tried everything no else suspect.