85 4runnen4life

So for the past few weeks my 4Runner will ocasionally not start when I turn the key, everything electrical comes on when key is in AUX position but when I turn the key to start it all shuts off and nothing. I just turn the key 4-5 times and all the sudden it will start. I assumed it was the contacts in the starter being worn down or something to that nature. It is the original starter with 185,000 miles on it.
So today I was changing my calipers when I finished I went to test out the new brakes and now I cant get her started So I took my caliper cores back to the part store and decided to just pick up a new starter. I threw it in and still I just get nothing.
Im going to take my old starter back to part store and have it bench tested when wife gets home with other car but I am thinking it must be somthing else.?
Any Ideas?

myyota

Are you sure the battery is good ?. Check the power wire between the battery and the fuse box, that wire is known for going bad and causing electrical problems. The only other thing i can think of is a bad ignition switch.

85 4runnen4life

Battery is strong
I checked the power wire to the fuse box, intact and clean

Is there anyway to test the ignition switch before I pull it out?

myyota

Im not sure how to test the ignition switch, check the FSM, should be some info in there on how to do it.

85 4runnen4life

I just put in a new ignition switch, the only diff now is I have the stupid buzzer that indicates the key is still in the ignition and the awesome part is it stays buzzing even when I pull the keys out... This is what I payed $85 for?

So I have installed a new starter
new plugs n wires
new ignition switch

what gives..? I turn the key to AUX and all the electrical system works. I turn it all the way to start and nothing.

myyota

Check the ignition fuse behind the driver side kick panel, make sure its good and not corroded. I had the ignition fuse on my 4Runner corrode on me causing my 4Runner not to start.

desertcamper67

I fixed mine with a simple relay. It takes the brunt of the switching power while only needing milliamps from your old and worn out original switch. Which your switch is still absolutely capable of still doing since everything still works in the aux and on positions.

4Crawler has a very good write up on this I believe.

The relay cost me $6 at a car stereo place and I already had the wires. You should also add a fuse inline to the relay between it and the battery.

It was super simple to do and I sometimes unplug the switch wire from the relay for added theft protection. Or you could pull the inline fuse.

85 4runnen4life

Its good... Seems though now as I have dicked around with it all day that the battery is pretty much dead.. Ill have to mess with it more tomorrow

85 4runnen4life

I just read that. Im going to install this mod tomorrow...

fillsrunner4

May be a dumb question but are your battery terminals really clean?

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

After you charge the battery . I would check to see if you have voltage coming down to the wire that energizes the coil on the solenoid.

When you turn the key to the start position.

If that has your 12 volts then look real hard at your ground cables these seem to be pretty skimpy from new . I always upgrade mine to a lot bigger cable.

I have seen loose battery terminals do this also

Good luck

nothingbetter

step #1 when dealing with anything electrical, clean the battery posts and tighten the engine ground. I've had the same problem and my engine ground was the solution

stevenazevedo00

do you have a clutch start cancel button!!!! if so try holding it while starting it... mine does the same thing it ended up bieng that

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

I forget about the clutch start switch because that is the first thing I remove it can be a real pain at times. When your working on things alone.

Sometimes if you don`t have it adjusted correct You have to push the pedal in several times till it works

RayMackenzie

I've had the same problem with mine. The first time it happened I had a bad ground, which causes the electrical to shutdown. The second time it happened, the small wire that connects to the starter from the battery was loose causing the starter to not engage.

yotarob2005

Pull the signal wire from your starter & test for 12 volts there while the key is turned. You might have voltage drop between the ignition switch & starter. If so...hot shot starter mod with the relay. Easy deal & it fixed my starting problem. See post #581. Link below.

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f199...6/index24.html

JDS1992

Check Ground Wire, and did you tap the starter? and try to start it. Because thats what happened to my buddies starter and we kept tapping it and finally it kicked over.