RAD4Runner
Senior Member
Click-only, No -Crank: How to Test If Starter Solenoid and Starter Motor work
I covered the root cause of click-only, no-crank for 1984-1988 22R-E's thoroughly, but some people may not have the patience to read the whole post, and it helps others to troubleshoot one little part at a time so here's how to check if starter solenoid is doing its job:
Verify that THICK positive battery cable to starter and ground connection to block are good. Good electrical connection means bare, shiny metal contacting bare, shiny metal. If you don't have that, fix it then we'll talk.
Put gear in neutral.
Disconnect this spade connector for starter solenoid COIL:
Crimp/solder a 1/4-inch female spade terminal to one end of 12AWG wire long enough to reach between this^^^ solenoid connector and battery.
Connect this female spade connector to the male spade terminal on starter solenoid connector.
Run the 12AWG back near the battery positive.
Verify that truck is in neutral. YES CHECK AGAIN.
Momentarily touch other end of the wire to battery positive post. Expect a spark.
Solenoid should clunk energetically and starter motor should run.
IF solenoid clunks energetically but starter motor does not run, suspect bad starter solenoid contacts.
IF you get the favorable outcome above, test with starter relay connected normally. IF this does not get starter solenoid to clunk energetically and turn the motor on, suspect/fix the starter relay and/or wiring. Remember that the starter relay on 1984-1989 22R's/22R-E's, if present, was wired wrong from the factory. Combination of smooth solenoid operation, good, thick solenoid contacts, healthy battery, light solenoid return spring, etc could mask the problem. List of affected models is here.
I covered the root cause of click-only, no-crank for 1984-1988 22R-E's thoroughly, but some people may not have the patience to read the whole post, and it helps others to troubleshoot one little part at a time so here's how to check if starter solenoid is doing its job:
Verify that THICK positive battery cable to starter and ground connection to block are good. Good electrical connection means bare, shiny metal contacting bare, shiny metal. If you don't have that, fix it then we'll talk.
Put gear in neutral.
Disconnect this spade connector for starter solenoid COIL:
Crimp/solder a 1/4-inch female spade terminal to one end of 12AWG wire long enough to reach between this^^^ solenoid connector and battery.
Connect this female spade connector to the male spade terminal on starter solenoid connector.
Run the 12AWG back near the battery positive.
Verify that truck is in neutral. YES CHECK AGAIN.
Momentarily touch other end of the wire to battery positive post. Expect a spark.
Solenoid should clunk energetically and starter motor should run.
IF solenoid clunks energetically but starter motor does not run, suspect bad starter solenoid contacts.
IF you get the favorable outcome above, test with starter relay connected normally. IF this does not get starter solenoid to clunk energetically and turn the motor on, suspect/fix the starter relay and/or wiring. Remember that the starter relay on 1984-1989 22R's/22R-E's, if present, was wired wrong from the factory. Combination of smooth solenoid operation, good, thick solenoid contacts, healthy battery, light solenoid return spring, etc could mask the problem. List of affected models is here.
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