Won't start - one click
- Thread starter Bugsy
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Ron Helmuth
Senior Member
likely the starter contacts-internal within the starter body.
Easy fix is new starter but less expensive is simply replacing the contacts inside
4crawler.com covers this issue but search "starter contacts" on this forum or YOTA TECH for more discussion.
Don't rule out a simple connection. No corrosion at the battery posts?
You have power for accessories and so on?
Easy fix is new starter but less expensive is simply replacing the contacts inside
4crawler.com covers this issue but search "starter contacts" on this forum or YOTA TECH for more discussion.
Don't rule out a simple connection. No corrosion at the battery posts?
You have power for accessories and so on?
Well, the battery wasn't fine. I had it checked out at the local Advance Auto Parts and they said it was good but I was suspicious of it when I got back home and decided to put it on the charger. It took a full charge and fired right up. Drove it for about a half an hour and after it sat over night wouldn't start the next morning. Now I'm thinking alternator or a short somewhere. I plan on taking it up to a different shop and have them test the alternator.
IanB
New member
Does it do the same thing as before, just clicks when you try to start it? That's a symptom of bad starter contacts. If you have a multimeter, you can test the battery yourself, if your accesories still work, then it's not a problem with the battery or charging system.
The "click" is a result of a dead spot in the starter, there, the contacts need replaced.
Toyota starter contacts are a common and known problem... The good news is that they are easy to fix and will cost less than $10 in parts (the OE parts are two chucks of copper, horseshoe shaped about slightly smaller than a penny)... Once done the starter will last another 100K-150K miles
The hardest part of this project will be extracting the starter from the truck... On my limited third gen there was all kinds of skid plates and "stuff" in the way.
Most of this project is snaking the starter out of the truck.
Thanks guys, I've read the threads on the starter contacts. I really don't think that's the problem here. As I said the battery was dead and took a full charge now it's dead again. I would have thought there would be an idiot light or something if the alternator was going though. I didn't have time to check it out this morning but will look into it further when I get home. Luckily, I have another vehicle I can drive.
IanB
New member
You said previously that when the truck wouldn't start, the accesories still worked, so the battery couldn't have been dead. You said the battery was tested and checked out fine, so that again says the battery wasn't dead. Is there info missing here, or am I being thick?
A battery can still take a charge when it isn't dead, I top mine up on a charger a couple times a year, sometimes city driving just doesn't get the job done, lots of cranking with short drive times, etc.
Accessories still came on and yes I said the battery checked out ok at Advance Auto Parts. When connected to a battery charger it showed the battery was dead. I'm not saying it's not the starter contacts I'm just saying I'm going to look into a couple of other things before I start a project of that magnitude that may not be necessary. By the way I've read in recent posts the starter contacts are $10-$12. I called 4 Toyota Dealerships in the area and they all told me the contacts are $22 each.
IanB
New member
The price dealers will charge for the contacts varies wildly, but worst case scenario, $50 for new contacts is way less than an alternator you don't need. Your battery may be on it's last legs, but it doesn't sound like it's the cause of this no start issue.
Try giving the starter housing a couple taps with something, and try starting again. If that works, you KNOW the problem is the starter.
SJC4Runner
Member
Sounds like a problem with either the battery or charging system. If you can jump it, then it's not the starter. If you charge the battery and it starts, then it's not the starter. (assuming a normal start)
I would be more concerned with an open circuit somewhere. If you can charge the battery, then start it and turn it off multiple times ok? But then when you leave it overnight it wont start. Sounds like it's losing charge from something. How old is the battery? It should have a manufacture date on it. If it's over 3 years old I would be suspicious of it as well. Your not leaving a light on overnight or anything right?
P.S. Just because it can hold a charge to power accessories doesn't mean the battery is good.
I would be more concerned with an open circuit somewhere. If you can charge the battery, then start it and turn it off multiple times ok? But then when you leave it overnight it wont start. Sounds like it's losing charge from something. How old is the battery? It should have a manufacture date on it. If it's over 3 years old I would be suspicious of it as well. Your not leaving a light on overnight or anything right?
P.S. Just because it can hold a charge to power accessories doesn't mean the battery is good.
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IanB
New member
Did he say he was able to boost it sucessfully that I missed? Bugsy, are you able to jump start it? Or does it still just click?
Did not jump start it. Battery is 6 months old. I thought I might have left an interior light on as well but double checked and that is not the case. I'm not sure how long it would take to run the battery down if the alternator was shot but I would think it would be more than a half hour no radio and no A/C running.
IanB
New member
Try jumpstarting it, or swapping the battery with a known good one. If it does the same thing, you can rule out battery/charging system.
TheDurk
Elite Member
^^This is called troubleshooting--beats guessing. Also try charging the battery and leaving it overnight OFF the car. If it won't start then, it is discharging internally--even though it holds enough juice to pass an auto store load test. If a known good one starts it, then leave it in the car overnight. If it then fails to start, think parasitic drain.
OP is right, not every one-click no-start is contacts. A semi-weak battery can still run accessories but be unable to crank the starter. The click is the solenoid engaging. If the battery is weak, it is the same as not being able to pass current through the contacts. You get the click in either case. If it is REALLY weak, it can't power the solenoid, and you get chatter or nothing at all. THEN you won't get accessories either.
Thought I would wrap this one up for those of you who were kind enough to offer your help. Turns out it was a partially broken battery cable on the positive side. Thanks for the suggestions. The positive thing that's come out of this is after seeing all the enthusiasm you guys have for your trucks it has motivated me. I bought my T4R Sport new in 1999 and other than tires it has remained stock. I have a 1970 Mustang, A Chevy SSR, A Mini Cooper, 2 Harleys and a boat so the 4Runner just became a ride. Don't get me wrong, it's probably the best vehicle I have ever owned but I drive it every day so I guess I started to take it for granted. I'll start with detailing it this weekend and then maybe look at some new wheels.
octanejunkie
Elite Member
Starter contacts LOL
JK
If you have another good battery, swap it into the car and see if it starts, otherwise make sure all your fuses are in good shape and you are jumping it correctly (see below):
Get a friend
Good car: jumper cables connected to battery terminals (red to pos, black to neg)
Bad car: red (pos) cable on positive bat term, black (neg) cable on good engine ground (watch out for moving belts and fan blades)
Friend revs good car to 2,500-3,000 RPM for a minute or so, then you try starting bad car
If the car starts and runs, carefully remove jumper cables from both cars careful not to short them together
If the bad car dies when you remove the jumper cables then the battery is likely bad
If the bad car doesn't start at all, you have other problems besides a battery
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AssBurns
New member
Have you had any issues with corrosion? I kept fighting battery corrosion on mine and would always end up with this same issue. Enough power to power accessories it not enough to get the starter going. Eventually I ended up replacing the terminal clamps and part of the cables near the terminals that were full of corrosion. After replacing I covered everything with NCP2 battery corrosion preventive.
Don’t rule out this issue
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Don’t rule out this issue
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
