FilthyRich

My wife's 99 SR5 has 99k miles. Is up to date on ALL service work. It has not been wheeled in a long time--no mud or anything.

It currently has a 3 year old Interstate battery. However, the last week when you go to start it--nothing. THe lights work, but nothing. Not turning over, no click of the starter. Do that about 3-4 times and it starts. OR other times it will not start right up, like the battery is not fully charged.

I have not had the battery tested.

I was wondering if anyone else has ever experienced the same issue

Localmotion

I had the same exact problem. I thought it was my battery, then i thought it was my alternator. I ended up unplugging my air horns to my alarm and everything was ok??? Dont understand it but that my story

Travs97

could be a dead cell in the battery

FilthyRich

My thoughts, hence the need for a battery test. However, with a baby on the way this is a good opportunity to install a red top Optima (34R)

4Crawler

iTrader: (3)

Try the following test to isolate the source of the problem:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...shtml#EasyTest

NathanBERG

Starter may be going south or ignition switch.

My 2 cents

Rick F.

My opinions, in order of likelihood:

1. Battery
2. Starter
3. Battery Cables
4. Ignition wiring

MTL_4runner

It sounds like starter contacts or battery to me.
Does it make any difference if you jump the vehicle when this happens?

FilthyRich

there is no need to jump it b/c within 3-4 tries it starts---at least that is what it has done the last week. The battery is not sealed and might need water.

Would starter contacts cause intermittent issues??

984RNR

Had the same problem, but it just resovled itself?

ASU4runner

Yes they can cause intermittent issues. I have this problem on my 96 right now.

ebelen1

Not on my runner but on my old Accord, I had something similar. When it takes a few times to start the car, it most likely is the battery. As you know, the battery starts the car but the alternator keeps it going and charges the battery at the same time. When batteries stop taking the charge, your type of situation can occur. Why not go over to Sears or similar place and have them test the battery? It's free and w/ a baby on the way, it would be horrible for you or your pregnant wife to get stuck.

Localmotion

I also replaced the battery connector thingy ma bobers....the ones that go onto the poles...that made the problem go away too. The guy at the autoparts store only had some bling bling gold plated ones used for boats

runnerboy97

i had similar intermitent starting issues. replaced the starter and works great everytime now. i replaced the contacts in the old starter and have it as a spare. we put it on a friends truck a few weeks ago, and works awesome. i would put money on your problem being solved by doing the starter

hhog4dc

filthyrich
I had this same thing going on with my 98 just about a month ago. Right at 90,000 miles on my Runner It just started out of the blue and progressivly got worse in the next week. I did the same thing that you are doing, I would turn the key on and off a few times and it seemesd to be OK and start up.
I took it to my very trusted independent toyota mech and he told me that the contacts were going bad on my starter. It seems that this is common and that it's not that big of a deal to fix, not by me mind you. He replaced them and have not had any trouble since. Cost me about a $ 100.00 to get it fixed, but it was going into the shop for other things anyway.

Hope this helps Doug

nakman

I'll also suggest the starter contacts, and just do the contacts- save your money, you don't need a new starter. just mho, of course.

Swissdrums

Same thing with me, i switched out the battery contacts, that goes on the poles...Connector thingy ma bobers...lol, and well...i have no more problems

MTL_4runner

I agree, take the battery in and get it load tested at a parts place. If it comes up good then I would bet money on the starter contacts as the next most likely cause of the problems.

bamachem

I had the same thing in the first 99 i had. Some days it was perfect. Others, the lights, etc would work and there would just be NOTHING from the starter. I'd try it several times, and then you could hear a faint "click" and then it would turn over like nothing was wrong. The battery was strong, terminals were clean, and I couldn't find anything wrong w/ any of the fuses and relays. It stumped me until I thought of checking the starter. It had LOOSE starter contacts - the nuts on the contacts were simply loose. I got under it, cleaned the contacts and then tightened them down good and it never acted up again.

If that's not it, then make sure the main fuses aren't corroded on the prongs and that the battery terminals are clean.

midiwall

Ditto. This started happening on mine about 3 months ago.