Starter clicking, engine not starting

[v02maxster]

Hi! I am have a (new to me) 2008 SR5 4 runner with 70,000 miles.

I keep the truck parked outside at school and only gets driven a few times per week. A few weeks ago, it got really cold (pretty far below zero) and the 4runner refused to start. When I turned the key, it would make a click-click-click sound but the engine wouldn't come on. I figured it was just because of the cold and didn't worry about it. A few days later, the temps warmed up and the truck started fine.

Yesterday, I tried to start the truck with the remote starter and it went back to just making that click click click sound and the engine not kicking in. The radio and dash lights did come on though. When I put the key in and tried to start it it made the click click click noise, lights came on, but the engine didn't start.

Any ideas on what could be the problem? I don't know much about cars, but my first thought was that the battery was dead. However, if the battery is dead, would the radio still be able to come on? And if it's not a dead battery, what's causing the problem?

 

[jsmith21]

Hi! I am have a (new to me) 2008 SR5 4 runner with 70,000 miles.

I keep the truck parked outside at school and only gets driven a few times per week. A few weeks ago, it got really cold (pretty far below zero) and the 4runner refused to start. When I turned the key, it would make a click-click-click sound but the engine wouldn't come on. I figured it was just because of the cold and didn't worry about it. A few days later, the temps warmed up and the truck started fine.

Yesterday, I tried to start the truck with the remote starter and it went back to just making that click click click sound and the engine not kicking in. The radio and dash lights did come on though. When I put the key in and tried to start it it made the click click click noise, lights came on, but the engine didn't start.

Any ideas on what could be the problem? I don't know much about cars, but my first thought was that the battery was dead. However, if the battery is dead, would the radio still be able to come on? And if it's not a dead battery, what's causing the problem?

Mine did this to me, it was a dead battery. I put it on a trickle charger and it's been fine ever since. :yo:

 

[morphious]

Sounds like the battery to me.

 

[cksutler]

I agree with battery

Sound like the battery to me as well. Also if you go to replace the battery, make sure you buy a battery that has the recommended Cold Cranking Amps(CCA) for your 4Runner. I bought a battery from a store that they claimed was a replacement for my 4Runner, winter came and the battery started to die and only start sporadically. Took it to the shop to find out the CCA was to low.

 

[SolRayz]

Definately dead battery, same thing happened to me last weekend.

 

[MikeInNH]

First check the cable connections. Make sure they are tight and cleaned.

If that doesn't fix it..then I too think it's the battery. Radio and lights only draw about 5-10 amps. A starter motor draws HUNDREDS OF AMPS to start the car. A weak battery may have more then enough juice to power the lights/radio...but just doesn't have enough for the starter.

 

[johnathanng]

I'm pretty sure it's the battery. I let my friend drive my 4r while I sat next to him and after he parked the car, he turned off the engine and left it on the battery. We sat there talking for 30 minutes with the music playing and lights on and later when it was time to go I had the same problem you had. We took his car home to get jumper cables but when we got back to my car it started up. It just had a few extra clicks when starting. Occasionally now when I start up the engine I hear a few extra clicking noises too

 

[v02maxster]

Thanks for all the advice. I was hoping it was a dead battery, will try to jump in later and see if that works!

Besides setting up a trickle charger, is there anything else i should do to keep the truck in good shape while it's sitting outside?

 

[mderick]

For my collector vehicles that are not driven very often, never in the winter, I use a CTEK smart charger on each. They monitor the battery and keep them charged. I have never had an issue.

smartercharger.com

 

[v02maxster]

Okay so I tried to jump it today. Got it all hooked up to the other car and ran the other car for a couple minutes. First thing happened as soon as other car turned on was running lights and console lights on the 4runner came on. Let it charge for a couple minutes, then tried to start it. Again just clicking. Tried again after another few minutes, still clicking, but no engine going!

So finally I get fed up and decide to try again tomorrow, and I unplug the jumper cables. Then the 4runner goes crazy...clicking noise pretty much continually, and the interior lights started flashing, bright first but getting dimmer and dimmer over time. The only way to get them to stop flashing was to press the brake. As soon as I took my foot off the brake, they went crazy again! I think it might have something to do with the aftermarket remote started that is installed? Maybe that is making it click click click even without the key in there?

Anyone have any idea what is going on??? Or is it time to call up a mechanic?:help:

 

[RAD4Runner]

Dead or deeply discharged would do that, would take a long time to recharge.

(1)...Tried again after another few minutes, still clicking, but no engine going!
So finally I get fed up and decide to try again tomorrow, and I unplug the jumper cables.
(2) Then the 4runner goes crazy...

Nothing made the battery any better between (1) and (2), so don't expect anything to get any better.

Anyone have any idea what is going on???

Yes., the many people ^^ who said dead battery and trickle charger do.

Or is it time to call up a mechanic?:help:

No. Time to listen to people ^^

 

[v02maxster]

Dead or deeply discharged would do that, would take a long time to recharge.


Nothing made the battery any better between (1) and (2), so don't expect anything to get any better.

Yes., the many people ^^ who said dead battery and trickle charger do.


No. Time to listen to people ^^

Ok thanks. I guess I just got frustrated when it wouldn't start then really worried when the lights started flashing. I will take another shot at it tomorrow. Thanks for everything

 

[morphious]

Ok thanks. I guess I just got frustrated when it wouldn't start then really worried when the lights started flashing. I will take another shot at it tomorrow. Thanks for everything

Just an FYI, don't try to jump start the 4Runner with a 4 cylinder and use cheap $20 cables and think it will work. I have a set of 4 gauge jumper cables with dual batteries and haven't found anything yet I can't jump start on the first try. Not saying you did this, but you need something that will put power into your vehicle.

 

[dereky]

Solenoid plunger in starter? Been in deep water lately?

 

[Code2]

Here is better advice

Do what one other said and hook the battery to a trickle charge over night. Trying to start or jump a COLD battery that is drained completely is near impossible. Learning curve I found with motorcycles dead battery + cold never starts. bringing it inside and letting it warm up while charing always works.

Of simply buy a new battery and call it a day

 

[RAD4Runner]

I will take another shot at it tomorrow. Thanks for everything

Cool. Hope it works out. Gotta be patient. Otherwise, rely on the stealers

It just had a few extra clicks when starting. Occasionally now when I start up the engine I hear a few extra clicking noises too

You guys who own 4th gen 4Runners mind posting schematic of your cranking system? Toyota screwed it up on first-gens. No telling if it could have happened again.

 

[Robs08Runner]

Even if you get it jumped, it sounds like the battery is too far gone to be trusted. I would replace the battery now before it takes the alternator with it. Alternators don't like recharging dead batteries

 

[v02maxster]

So after 8 days of being out of town, finally got back and had time to get the truck started today. Buddy came by with a jump pack, hooked it up, started like a charm on the first try! Man I wish I had called him first instead of trying to jump it with another car.

Anyways, since it was really drained, he recommended I drive for at least an hour or so to get it nice and charged up. We are just getting some nice warm weather and spring sun here so no one had to tell me twice to take the afternoon off from homework and go for a drive! Headed up the mountain into the national forest and cruised some dirt roads for a couple hours. Was a great break from the grind of school and got to check out some sweet roads I'd never seen before. Got the truck nice and muddy as well and gotta say it looks great parked in a lot full of spotless land rovers, fjs, land cruisers, and beemers that have never seen dirt a day in their life!

Thanks for all the replies!