i have an 87 4Runner, trying to get it to daily driver shape, its a 22RE/auto

Heres my problem
It does start after i park it for a while, BUT, if i run it, shut it off then try to start it again right away/2-3 mins later, no dice. Only the dash lights come on, no starter action/noise, the lights do go dim when i do try to start it as they normally do when starting.

would this be a bad starter?
any opinions?

 

anyone?

 

could be the contacts on the starter. next time it does it, hit the starter with a hammer, if it works, it is the contacts more than likely.

 

It's not necessarily the starter. The dimming headlights may be a sign of an electrical drain (other than the slight normal ignition drain) depending on much they are dimming. A bad battery connection will cause the same symptoms....as well as no starter action. Try cleaning the battery connections until the metal sparkles and make sure all your ground connections are good. Start there, atleast.

Be careful on the starter. Although what tortis has suggested can work for a bad starter, if it's actually still good, hitting it too hard can kill it.

 

the battery is brand new, but i'll try cleaning up the termanials today again
the last time this problem happened i had a buddy hit the start while i tried to start it, but to no avail
if worst comes to worst and it is the starter i do have a spare one from my old 90 4Runner (22RE/auto as well)