Occasionally my 85 4runner will not start. The engine will not turn over at all. There is full battery power, but when I turn the key, its like I have a dead battery, no attempt to start at all. Then, other times, it fires right up with no hesitation.

Do I have a bad started, or is there some type of solenoid that I can clean? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Mark

 

sounds like you r problem is in the colum if thier is no clicking or anything.

 

or possibly a bad battery cable

 

Good point, I hadnt thought of that one. I know that the ignition was replaced a shortly before I bought it.

Would that cause this? All the interior lights function fine, as well as the radio and headlights. (Before and after the vehicle is started).

 

one day mine stopped working all together. that was because when it rained really hard my street was flooded and i had a wee bit too much fun. my starter was fried. it had the same symptoms of yours though. turn key, nothing.

I would make sure you're getting 12 volts at the solenoid (the smaller of the two wires going to the starter) when you turn the key to START. if you arent, use a 12 gauge jumper wire to apply 12 volts from the battery to that smaller connection on the starter. make sure the vehicle is in neutral before you do this. it should crank. if it does, then it's not your starter and is indeed something electrical.

oh ya, make sure 100% positive your battery is charged. HAVE IT CHECKED. just because it has 12 volts doesnt mean it's good, it might be at the point where it wont hold enough amperage.

if your wires are damanged, your lights and radio will work because they dont draw nearly as much power as your starter does. if your wires are frayed or a few strands are broken, you may still have continuity in the wire, but not enough current flow

cliff notes:
MAKE SURE 100% the battery is good
check to see if you have 12 volts at the smaller wire when key is at START.
see if you can jump the solenoid and make it crank. it wont start unless the key is in the ON position

 

Excellent advise I will check that out. Thank you

What confuses me is how I can not get the problem to duplicate. I must have started it 25 times yesterday, trying to get the problem to duplicate in my garage. It would not do it.

Could it be a water related problem? The roads were very wet on Sunday, when it failed to start last. It started fine in my garage and when I tried to start it to come home after the rain, it failed. If the rain was the issue, what would be the cause? Loose or frayed wiring that is shorting out?....

 

I had those same symptoms for a long time. it was so random that I could not figure it out. One day it happened and I got out and tapped the starter with a hammer; it started right up. So everytime it did it, I would tap it and it would be fine for a while. Finally pulled the starter out and got another one. No more problems. Starts firts try every time!

 

Did your starter problems increase with wet weather?

 

No. They only happened in the most inopprotune times! like on the trail, after a long day of work; In front of a bunch of Hot chicks on the beach! :pat:

 

your truck must be a woman, it seems to have no heart

sounds like it might be the solenoid starting to go. you could take it out and rebuild it

 

See this page:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks/Starter.shtml

 

It turns out that the main wire going into the front of the starter was loose. there is a little plastic clip on the end that had broke, allowing the wire to slide around, losing contact. When I pulled the wire out of place, it replicated the problem I was experiencing.

I secured the wire in place and it hasnt happened since. I love easy fixes.

 

congrats....might want to go ahead and check your other connections and grounds while you're at it...if one thing is loose, something else might be going soon...

one of the best things you can get for these trucks (aside from the Factory Service Manual, haha) is an ohm meter...mine can test RPM's as well...saves alot of time and guesswork and makes diagnosing problems alot easier