Help! Truck will not start- electrical?

West Coast Trekker · 09-29-2009, 10:53 AM

1990 SR-5, 3 times have been driving, stop for a couple minutes, go to start the truck again and nothing! Battery has been checked, it is fine, have had the starter recently rebuilt, it is fine, have checked the voltage to make sure the alternator is charging the battery, it is fine.

The last 2 times, there was NO POWER, no lights, clock etc. This time, the interior light will work but will not start, (no sounds trying to turn over, just dead!).

Any advice at what else to look at? I'm totally perplexed!

Thanks so much!

ps and it has lots of gas

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bugs1961 · 10-03-2009, 06:09 PM

Could be your neutral safety switch if it's an auto or the clutch start switch if it's a manual. Another possibility is the ignition switch going bad.

If you have a auto, try starting in neutral instead of park. If it works in neutral but not part then it's the safety switch. If not in either, then it may well be the ignition switch.

If you have a manual, 4WD, try starting with the clutch cancel switch pushed in.

That's the end of the easy fixes. Try jumping the starter battery terminal to the terminal that comes from the ignition switch. Unplug the connector with a single wire from the starter and using a piece of wire, jump the starter. Also check that you get 12v at the connector when you turn the key to start.

One of those tests will probably fail and tell you which direction to start looking.

myyota · 10-03-2009, 07:59 PM

Check all of your fuses and make sure there is no corosion on the contacts, i had this happen on my 86 4Runner. It would start fine sometimes and other times i would turn the key and get nothing, i checked all the fuses and the ignition fuse had some corosion on it, so i cleaned the fuse contacts and put it back in and it started right up.

wyoming9 · 10-04-2009, 02:29 AM

Check the ground cable on the battery . these grounds suck since day one get some age on them and it makes them worse .

If it is the clutch safety switch you will still have power to other things it will just not crank

10-03-2009, 06:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
bugs1961 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 256	Could be your neutral safety switch if it's an auto or the clutch start switch if it's a manual. Another possibility is the ignition switch going bad. If you have a auto, try starting in neutral instead of park. If it works in neutral but not part then it's the safety switch. If not in either, then it may well be the ignition switch. If you have a manual, 4WD, try starting with the clutch cancel switch pushed in. That's the end of the easy fixes. Try jumping the starter battery terminal to the terminal that comes from the ignition switch. Unplug the connector with a single wire from the starter and using a piece of wire, jump the starter. Also check that you get 12v at the connector when you turn the key to start. One of those tests will probably fail and tell you which direction to start looking. __________________ '89 V6, 5 spd truck and '07 FJ Cruiser

10-03-2009, 07:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
myyota Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: San Pablo, CA Posts: 1,428	Check all of your fuses and make sure there is no corosion on the contacts, i had this happen on my 86 4Runner. It would start fine sometimes and other times i would turn the key and get nothing, i checked all the fuses and the ignition fuse had some corosion on it, so i cleaned the fuse contacts and put it back in and it started right up. __________________ 86 Toyota 4Runner Solid Axle Swap, 16'' of lift, 37x12.50-15 GoodYear MTR tires, 5 speed manual trans swap, InchWorm Duel Cases With 5.7 Gears, 63'' Chevy Springs In The Rear, 5'' Trail Gear Springs In Front, Marlin Crawler Third Members, 4.88 Gears With A Detroit In The Rear, High Pinion Front With 4.88 Gears And An ARB, Downey Header, Optima Battery, Trail Gear Sliders, Addicted Offroad Front Bumper, Trail Gear Rear Bumper.

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10-04-2009, 02:29 AM	#4 (permalink)
wyoming9 Contributing Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: I live in New Tripoli Pa out in the woods Posts: 266	Check the ground cable on the battery . these grounds suck since day one get some age on them and it makes them worse . If it is the clutch safety switch you will still have power to other things it will just not crank