Hi, guys. I was hoping you might be able to help me troubleshoot an issue I'm experiencing periodically when trying to start the truck. Every once in a while when I go to start her up I get the dreaded click. I've read several articles on here about the starter/solenoid contacts and how to rebuild the unit, but I'm wondering if my issue isn't something else. Whenever I get the click, I can normally start the truck by rolling it a foot or two (normally backwards since i tend to park up hill). And when I say roll it, I'm not pop starting it, just moving it a couple feet by pushing it or letting it drift. This led me to believe that the issue might be some sort of position sensor or safety feature acting up, then again maybe I'm crazy. If anyone has any ideas or has experienced a similar situation, your input would be greatly appreciated.

Also, the truck is an 86 w/ 22RE and manual transmission. Thanks again for any help!

 

make sure your battery termanals are clean

 

Nope, not a safety feature. Check to make sure your connections to the starter are clean and secure, you're probably getting intermittent contact at one of the connections. solenoid contacts are extremely easy to clean if it comes down to that, and the starter is relatively easy to remove if you go though the passenger fender well.

 

You moving the truck has nothing to do with it starting, probably just coincidence. It's either going to be your starter contacts or your battery or a combination of both. Sometimes your batter does not have the juice to engage the starter, which you will have to replace the battery. Most often though, your contacts are shot.

When mine was doing it, I changed both the contacts and the battery and all symptoms went away.

 

Look into the hot shot starter kit. I had the same problem with my 86 4runner. Problem is that Toyota did not give us a factory starter relay, making the ignition switch carry the full 12 volt load. Over time the ignition switch builds up resistance and when you hit the key you are not getting the full 12 volts to the starter, and it just clicks. You can test it by disconnectiong the small signal wire on your starter and testing for voltage at that wire while the key is being turned into the start position. You should have a full 12v, if you have less then this is your problem

link to 4crawler
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...l#OtherOptions

 

If you work on the starter for any reason, make sure you disconnect the battery first.

 

Sounds like the old classic dead spot in the starter.. thats why moving it makes a difference.

 

There are three things to check, the contacts in the starter could be warn out, the positive battery cable could be bad, or the ignition switch is going bad.

 

Thanks for all the responses! Sounds like I've got a little work to do this weekend.

The battery is relatively new, but I'll clean the terminals.
I'll check the starter signal wire as well for 12 volts, and see if the ignition switch is the culprit.
If that doesn't work, I'm going to pull the starter and change the contacts.

Yotarob2005: That was the same link that I was looking at. It's good to see that those instructions actually work. Thank you!

Thanks again for all the advice and I'll update you guys on my progress once I have a chance to get into everything on Saturday. Hopefully I'll be reporting back a success and not further problems.

 

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f199...l#post51532587

See post 581 for my hot shot starter mod.

 

I know a lot of people have been having problems with the clutch cancel button. Unplug that and see if that doesn't make it better.

 

Slight update and more immediate trouble

So I checked everything out, and it looks like I need to rebuild the starter. I ordered the contacts last week and hopefully they'll be there when I get home. In the meantime, I cleaned the terminals and upgraded the 2 main grounds off the battery with the third ground waiting to go in when I pull the starter again.

The problem I'm running into now is that it seems like the starter has stopped working completely and is no longer an intermittent issue. I'm at work, parked uphill, with no way to get the nose pointed downhill without assistance. I've never tried it before, so I was wondering if it would be safe to popstart the truck in reverse? Any reason this would be a problem?

 

You should be able to jump start it in reverse, just be VERY careful not to hit anything... If you can get it rolling down hill, can you turn it around so you are facing down and start it that way?

 

Where I'm parked is kind of weird, so in order to turn it around I'd either have to do like a 7 point turnaround pushing by hand on an embankment, or drift down the hill where i could turn around and then have someone pull me back up for the roll. Never a dull moment!

Now I wish I'd gotten everything done that first weekend I said was going to instead of going wheeling! I guess hindsight really is 20/20...

 

**Update***

I rebuilt the starter last night and everything is up and running again. You guys were right about rolling the truck to start it just being in my head. It definitely didn't do anything at all, but I guess at the time it made me feel better. I want to thank everyone for the advice and assistance!

I wanted to post up a couple pics, but work security policy won't let me upload so I'll have those up at a later time. Thanks again!

 

Glad you found it. I had the same issue and could get mine to start by rolling it and popping the clutch, shaking the truck from side to side or stomping on the floor board.

Meh it eventually went away....

It it ever happens again I'll know what to fix.