Mudawg

My truck is out in the woods now, And for some reason when I turn it over. All it does is click, and the lights fade out. I need help right now.

ozziesironmanoffroad

tighten up the battery terminals, sounds like theyre not tight.

somis13

maybe the starter is stuck engaged to the flywheel. try manually turning it over or bump starting it, (get it to roll then pop the clutch with it in gear) then try the key again

abecedarian

and maybe tap on the starter a bit.
make sure the wiring is tight.

jason191918

Check the voltage to rule out bad battery/charging system.

Matt16

x2

if the starter just clicks, perhaps the solenoid isn't completing the starter motor circuit. Get a long metal bar and smack/ poke the starter while someone cranks it. You can either access it from the open hood, but it will be easier to smack it from the little access panel in the passenger's side wheel well. You need a 10mm socket to get at it (remove access panel).

It would be helpful if you new what year, what engine and what transmission we are working with here.

Mudawg

1986 22R 4x4


Umm, well guys. Theres only me to be tryin to get her out. and the kicker is, shes on a big hill on the side of the lake. So, im limited to bumpin and all this. the front left tire is already in about 15" of water.

ozziesironmanoffroad

as i said TIGHTEN THE BATTERY TERMINALS when mine were loose, it would do exactly what you described. before you turn the key to start, the lights on the board are bright, then when you crank it, you hear a click and the lights fade out. i had the exact same problem. tightening the terminals fixed it.

gte718p

Might I recommend the obvious of calling a friend with a tow strap to get you out of the lake?

904_runner

Check the battery terminals, then you can try tapping on the starter to see if that helps. My starter went out once, and occasionally when it wouldn't start and just "click" , i would put it in first gear and try rocking it forward and backward a little bit, that seemed to help it start

Mudawg

All my friends are in bed for school tomorrow, and you dont understand what kinda incline this truck is on(sideways). Uh...... the terminals. 10-4 to that. What could I put on there as a clamp to get a good connection?

ozziesironmanoffroad

just tighten the terminals. they have a tightening screw on them...

Countryhick

agreed. tighten battery. check starter. wack and test it.

And if anything roll backwards down the ing hill and bump start it. risks are fun in the end. (once they work)

iamsuperbleeder

you might be able to get away with just twisting them back and forth around the battery post and pushing down at the same time; sometimes that'll tighten them good enough for the time being, since the post tapers and get larger towrads the bottom

give that a shot if you don't have any wrenches to tighten the bolts with on the battery leads



also, how are you posting on the forums from in the woods

86Toyrunna

??? clamp what for a good connection.. your batt cables should attach to the battery with a clamping action cable end with a captive nut/bolt combo (if you have post style) or simply a bolt if its the side mount style. did you go though watter with it? could have some watter up in the starter, had a friend who drove though a decet bog with his runner and got some watter in his starter.. would do the same thing you are mentioning.. sprayed some wd40 up in it and wacked it a few times good and hard, she fired right up. ... just an idea for next time.. always carry some way of self extraction if not wheelin with buddys.. and who cares if there in bed, if there friends they should help ya out.. i cant count how many times i had friends (with full size jacked up chevs lol) call me at 11 at night during the school week to see if i could come yank them out of ditch or tree farm ( the most insane wheelin they ever did lol) with my lil ol toyota on 33s lol

874runnersr5

hahaha i am wondering the same thing...

x4 or x5 on the tightening the battery post's. worked for me when i had that problem

desert-rat660

or u have a battery thats almost dead

drguitarum2005

x1000 check your battery. mine did that EXACT same thing last year and like you, i started panicking and it turned out the battery was bad (not loose terminal connections, just plain bad). a million things ran through my mind (starter, links, fuses, etc) but it was as simple as a new battery. good luck

Matt16

Here's what I'd do:

• Collect some pliars, a small adjustable wrench, a 10mm socket, some jumper cables and a crowbar
• Remove the battery connectors a sand off the corrosion. Put the connector back on.
• attach a jumper cable between the negative terminal and the engine block...I don't want you messing around too much with the ground straps while you're on a steep hill
• put the truck in reverse (Im assuming its standard, you still haven't told us) and let it roll back an couple inches so that the flywheel turns just the tiniest little bit.
• try cranking it.

If this does not work, then undo the access cover in the passender's side wheel wheel and smack the starter motor good and hard with the metal bar. Careful not to hit anything else like a fuel line. Its the thing that looks like like this (looking at it from the pasngers side wheel well.):


Finally pull a battery out of your parents/ friends/ neighbours car an jumpstart your battery with theirs.

Cwaters1184

all your friends are in bed at 10pm? what are you in middle school? seriously sounds like your going to have to wake someones ass up. your going to need a jump or a tow.

-lesson of the day= Dont wheel by yourself. Im pretty sure alot of people learned that the hard way. like me. went muddin in HS, skipped class with a buddy, in my Tacoma and sunk that joker to the axles. had to walk 5 miles back to school.