Starter/clutch switch & bypass

[oldschoolfool]

Newby here and first post, so bear with me.
I've researched the posts here before creating an account and have learned a vast amount of information, but unfortunately, I'm still having issues. 1986 manual. Just purchased and had to "bang" on starter to get it to crank. Replaced starter, same thing (old starter is good), good connections, good battery. I found out about the clutch safety switch by researching here. Turns out if i push my foot thru the floor board, it will start 50% of the time. Adjusted switch, still about 50% of time. Depress bypass switch, still about 50% of time it will start. I can still ping on the starter and it will also start about 50% of time. I've seen here, where I can bypass the safety start switch, but i'm reluctant to do that, when the bypass isn't working. Any ideas would be appreciated and thanks for having me in the group. I'm looking forward to learning more as this is the second of 2 4runners that i now own.

Thanks

 

[KidVermicious]

Welcome! Partway though the '86 model run they started adding a starter relay. Make sure you don't have a bad relay, should be on passenger fender. See the stickies at the top of the forum for links to a couple fixes if that turns out to be the problem.

 

[wallytoo]

how about the internal plunger contacts in the starter solenoid? those could be worn out. your symptoms are consistent with it.

the starter solenoid is the attached smaller housing on the starter itself.

 

[RAD4Runner]

how about the internal plunger contacts in the starter solenoid? those could be worn out. your symptoms are consistent with it.
the starter solenoid is the attached smaller housing on the starter itself.

Long story short...

 

[RAD4Runner]

I've seen here, where I can bypass the safety start switch

There is nothing wrong with the clutch safety switch or the Clutch Safety Bypass switch.
Even bypassing/removing the clutch safety switch completely will NOT solve your problem. Ask me how I knew.
CHEERS!

 

[penbergm]

I've never heard of this fix. I had an intermittent problem on my '86 automatic. Was only getting about 7v to the starter solenoid. I traced wires and could not find the voltage drop anywhere. Ended up putting in a starter switch in parallel with the existing circuit that puts 12V directly from battery to the solenoid & use that on the ocassions where it won't start as designed.
Is this connector on the passenger wheel well by the carcoal canister (looking at your pic)? I don't know if I have that. Do you know exactly what you are bypassing and jumping to 12V?
Very interested.

 

[KidVermicious]

I've never heard of this fix. I had an intermittent problem on my '86 automatic. Was only getting about 7v to the starter solenoid. I traced wires and could not find the voltage drop anywhere. Ended up putting in a starter switch in parallel with the existing circuit that puts 12V directly from battery to the solenoid & use that on the ocassions where it won't start as designed.
Is this connector on the passenger wheel well by the carcoal canister (looking at your pic)? I don't know if I have that. Do you know exactly what you are bypassing and jumping to 12V?
Very interested.

So what happens is the Toyota wiring was originally set up to route the voltage that triggers the solenoid straight through the ignition, wearing it out. Partway through the 86 model year they started adding a starter relay, but they wired it wrong and it didn't fix the problem. The result is intermittent no-start when the ignition switch wears out. Test for it by turning the key to On and then jumping the positive battery stud straight to the starter solenoid (which is essentially what you did by adding your second starter switch). If that starts the truck, you've found your trouble.

Fix it two ways - if yours is the earlier model without a factory starter relay, add a relay. If you already have a relay, fix the wiring. More info here: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/class...x-intermittent-no-crank-22re.html#post1117438

If jumping the battery to the solenoid doesn't reliably start the truck, you have a voltage or starter issue, not an ignition switch issue.

 

[wallytoo]

the solenoid contacts will still wear out over time, even with the corrected wiring & relay