Video - 05 V6 4Runner Won't Start

[SlamMan]

This morning I tried to leave for work and my 4Runner wouldn't start. It's an 05 with about 75000 miles on it.

It finally started this morning after I hooked it up to my other car and jumped it so I sort of assumed the battery had been drained some how. When I tried to go home this evening it wouldn't start at all. Jump or no jump.

The video shows exactly what's it's doing when I try to turn it over. I'm no mechanic so I'm hoping someone here has seen this before.

YouTube - 4Runner Starting

Thanks!

 

[BlairB]

Could be the battery not holding a charge or the alternator not charging the battery. My bets are on a bad battery though.

Is it the original battery?

 

[Teqeeler]

Could be the battery not holding a charge or the alternator not charging the battery. My bets are on a bad battery though.

Is it the original battery?

A quick way to see if it is a bad alternator is when the vehicle is idling, take off the positive terminal cable and if the car dies it is the alternator.

You can have auto zone measure the volts coming out of the alternator if you don't have a voltmeter.

 

[SlamMan]

I'm the second owner but bought it about a year old so I think it is the original battery. If it's the battery shouldn't it start with a jump?

After posting I remembered I did have the alternator replaced a year or two ago. The symptoms were different. It started running hard like it wasn't getting a good spark but I was able to drive it home.

I'll try your suggestions if l can but I may just have it towed to a shop. Does anyone know a good shop in the north metro Denver area?

Could it be the starter? Can someone tell me where it is?

 

[travis0311tide]

Auto zone, Oreilly's, Advance Auto Parts, any of these places can bring their tester outside and check your battery and alternator and can tell you instantly what it is. they will even put the battery on at no charge.

 

[sheik]

That ticking you hear in the video I have heard before and every time I have encountered it, the problem was not enough power to turn the vehicle over. (battery not accepting a charge)

If the battery is dying, you may have to leave it connected to the other vehicle for a while (while it is running) to get enough charge into the battery. Slightly revving the jumping vehicle will help the process, especially while trying to start yours.

With that said, I would get a new battery before I did anything else.

*edit*
If you had an alternator replaced on this vehicle and still have the same battery, there's a decent chance that the dying alternator placed extra strain on your battery for some period of time before it completely bit the dust.

 

[SlamMan]

Thanks again for the info. If I can get it started I'll take it by one of the auto parts stores to be checked. Makes sense that it might be the battery.

 

[RickC]

If the battery is shorted, it is sometimes difficult to get them to jumpstart. I have had that happen at least 3 times. But I think a new battery will fix you right up.

 

[SlamMan]

Any suggestions on batteries? I don't think I need anything like an Optima.

 

[RickC]

I really haven't seen two dollars difference in any of them. The Diehard from Sears is a good battery, but so are the autoparts store batteries. I have even bought them from Walmart. As long as it is the correct size, you will be fine. I usually just buy whatever I can find that is the cheapest.

The books will tell you what size to buy and they are rated in cold cranking amps.

Hope this helps,

 

[sheik]

I've always used Interstate. That's because the first battery I ever bought was an Interstate and I've never had any trouble with them.

I usually buy the next step up in CCA due to the climate I'm in.

 

[java]

sounds like a dead batt. how long was it charging off the other car?

 

[Jed]

A quick way to see if it is a bad alternator is when the vehicle is idling, take off the positive terminal cable and if the car dies it is the alternator.

You can have auto zone measure the volts coming out of the alternator if you don't have a voltmeter.

That's an old mechanic's trick that you shouldn't use on modern vehicles. These days, it's never a good idea to disconnect a battery cable on a running engine.

 

[Jed]

Any suggestions on batteries? I don't think I need anything like an Optima.

Buy a replacement battery from your Toyota dealer. They sell two different batteries that fit the 4Runner. The bigger one is an exact match in size and CCA to your original battery. And it retails for $100. The other battery is a bit smaller than the original battery and is about $15 cheaper. Personally, I'd get the bigger one.

And FYI-- That is the ONLY choice you have if you're looking for a battery that is the same size and the same specs (including CCA) as the original battery. Nobody else sells them.

 

[sr5hi]

This morning I tried to leave for work and my 4Runner wouldn't start. It's an 05 with about 75000 miles on it.

It finally started this morning after I hooked it up to my other car and jumped it so I sort of assumed the battery had been drained some how. When I tried to go home this evening it wouldn't start at all. Jump or no jump.

The video shows exactly what's it's doing when I try to turn it over. I'm no mechanic so I'm hoping someone here has seen this before.

YouTube - 4Runner Starting

Thanks!

If the battery has an internal short, sometimes you will not be able to jump start it. That ticking noise is most likely the starter solenoid engaging, but there is not enough power to turn the starter motor. A kind of general way of determining if your battery is too weak or if your starter is at fault is to turn on your headlights. If the headlights appear normal, then try starting the vehicle. If the headlights go out or go extremely dim, then the battery may be bad. If the headlights dim only a little bit or not at all when you try to start the vehicle and the starter will not crank, then the starter may be bad. Of all the electrical components on a vehicle, the starter motor requires the most electrical power from the battery.
If the starter cranks slower than usual, you can have a "load test" done on the battery to check its condition. If the battery is good, do a "starter draw test" to see if the starter is going bad and drawing more amps that the battery can provide. If the battery is at fault and you replace it, make sure you check that the alternator is charging properly and there is no short in the vehicles electrical system that is draining the battery when the vehicle is not running. Also make sure your battery cables are in good condition, the terminals clean and secure on the battery post and at the ground and starter solenoid or relay.
And with the computers and electronics in modern vehicles it is not a good idea to disconnect the battery cables with the vehicle running. A voltage spike or power surge could damage the vehicle computer or other electronics.