Stranded!! What's this noise?

[jjb3kgt]

I'm sitting in a parking lot right now. 4runner won't start. Electrical seems fine as all the lights and windows work and jumping it won't do the trick. Clicking noise comes from the drivers side of the engine when I attempted to turn it over. Here is a YouTube video I just made to help ID the sound. I'm thinking the starter froze?

2008 Toyota 4runner engine click - YouTube

 

[jstutz101]

I'm sitting in a parking lot right now. 4runner won't start. Electrical seems fine as all the lights and windows work and jumping it won't do the trick. Clicking noise comes from the drivers side of the engine when I attempted to turn it over. Here is a YouTube video I just made to help ID the sound. I'm thinking the starter froze?

2008 Toyota 4runner engine click - YouTube

Just for kicks I would check for a loose electrical connection. Start at the battery..

 

[jjb3kgt]

Battery terminals are tight. Don't have a flash light to check the leads to the starter. Just got dark too. Tow truck on the way.

 

[ClockWork]

Sounds like starter contacts. A very common issue with the Denso starter after 125kish. Perhaps yours failed early.

You need the contacts and plunger - like $20 in parts, if that's the issue.

 

[jjb3kgt]

Tallied up 75k miles on her so far. I'll tear it apart when I get home. Tow truck hauling her now.

 

[R.A.]

Sounds like a dead battery to me. Have you tried to jump it?

 

[ClockWork]

Sounds like a dead battery to me. Have you tried to jump it?

InTheFirstPostBro

 

[Sungod]

Looked like the original battery in the pic. Battery would be my guess.

 

[R.A.]

InTheFirstPostBro

Sorry, can't read...

 

[jjb3kgt]

Battery reads 12.54v as it sits. It does need distilled water though.

 

[jjb3kgt]

Im taking the battery in now to Checker to have tested. I'll pick up a starter rebuild kit while i'm there. Has anyone got any links or stickys on Starter removal? I'm willing to pay cash for anyone in the Marana AZ area to come hold my beer while I pull an all nighter...

 

[jjb3kgt]

The overall suspicions were correct. The factory battery took a quick dive into oblivion. At the store it tested only 160 cold cranking amps. This means no all nighter starter replacement, but still calls a cold beer. Thanks guys.

 

[ClockWork]

Good to hear it. These batteries just straight up die. I've had 3 Toyota/Panasonic batteries do it to me.

 

[blaniac22]

Today's technology is amazing. Glad you got it worked out and it was an easy fix.