Randomly not starting.

[Perrone]

So I have a 99 SR5 V6 and something weird has been happening in the last few weeks. This is only the second time it's happened and it only seems to happen when my wife is driving it. About a week and 1/2 ago she went to work and when she got off for the day the truck wouldn't start. She says there's no lights, no sounds, nothing. The weird thing is that she is still able to unlock the doors with the keyless remote so the battery can't be completely dead. This morning she got to work and needed to move the truck to another area, but again it won't start. I have never had an issue related to this before and I'm not throwing any codes and everything on my scangauge looks normal.

Recently the only things I have done to it are:
replaced the spark plugs
cleaned the maf
deckplate mod
checked air filter
cleaned up the intake

I did notice that when I replaced the plugs a while back that they were the wrongs ones. After I put the right ones in it did seem to start better.

Last time it died on her I cleaned the terminals because they were pretty nasty and I thought that may have been the issue. The truck isn't here right now, but I want to take a look at it when she gets home this evening. Any ideas?

EDIT: This morning she was only away from it for a few minutes after arriving to work before trying to start it again.

 

[Skrimz]

I would have the battery tested first. If the battery is good I would check your terminal wires and make sure they are tight on both ends. I had a similar issue where it was not the terminal wires attached at the battery that created the issue, but the ground had shook loose. also check the connectors, if they are old and warn you may not be getting a good connection.

 

[kball]

I agree with Skrimz check all your connections first. If they seem to be good the next time it happens just keep trying the key over and over. Open and close a door, kick it and try again. If it works after repeatedly trying the key I'd say it's the starter contacts.

 

[Perrone]

I did clean off the terminals a few days ago and they both looked pretty beat up, but were tightly connected and clean when I was done. I'll check out all of the cables out better when she gets home. I did read of similar issues where it was the starter contacts. Hopefully it doesn't come to that.

 

[Maritimer]

The starter contacts lets it click, but not start. It will usually start if you just keep trying again and again. It's actually a cheap fix, but not a particularly easy DIY I guess. I ended up not needing to do it because my contacts were just damp or had some residue on them that worked itself off. Dunno, just the wonders of winter driving.

 

[Perrone]

The starter contacts lets it click, but not start. It will usually start if you just keep trying again and again. It's actually a cheap fix, but not a particularly easy DIY I guess. I ended up not needing to do it because my contacts were just damp or had some residue on them that worked itself off. Dunno, just the wonders of winter driving.

She said it's making no noise at all, but if she gets a jump she has to let it sit for a while until it will start. I'll check the battery, but it's a pretty new one. I wish it would happen for me so I'd have a chance to hear for myself.

 

[Perrone]

I didn't get a chance to check the cables yet, but my wife was having issues again this morning and my scangauge II was flipping out so she unplugged it and it started up just fine. Is there ANY way the scangauge could be causing this issue? I had it plugged into another vehicle for a long time before my runner and never had an issue.

 

[Perrone]

Just wanted to update this and say that since I unplugged my ScanGauge II I have not had a single problem with the truck not starting. I have no idea how this is possible, but it seems to be the problem.

 

[kball]

Glad to hear you figured it out. Now what you need to do is find out which pins the scangauge was shorting out so I can make my own .25 cent security mod! lol