Hey, so I let my 87 Runner sit for a few weeks, maybe a full month. When I've done that in the past, the battery inevitably drains and needs a jump to get going again, which I've never had a problem with before.

This time when I went to jump start the battery, it doesn't work. The truck just does not start. The engine does not turn at all, it is just a single click when I try to start it. There IS some juice in the battery however, I can turn on the acc and head lights, but no cranking at all when I try to jump start. I'm thinking it must be the starter.

Please help!

 

Batteries have a cold cranking amp rating, it could be too low, especially if it's old

Edit; also, if it has the pop top, see if it's low on water, if so, fill it with distilled, and find a replacement. I think AutoZone might even run a start charging alternator test or some crap

 

The battery could be shorted internally, so not only can it produce no current, it's soaking up the current from your "jumping" battery.

brorealz suggestions (water, pull battery for a test) are all good. I'd start there. I'd also try a voltmeter on the battery while jumping (should be at least 12.5v) and while cranking (should be at least 11v).

 

What clicks and where? A problem well-stated is a problem half-solved.

OK to think it's the starter but don't start throwing parts at a problem without verifying, unless you have too much money See links on my sig to understand how starting system works, and ow I fixed a common problem.

Agree, get battery tested.

Best,
RAD

 

Even if you jump it and it doesnt want to start meaning one or two things cold crank to low or the batter is just plain out no good take the batter in and get it check out... also check your posting too that might be drity could be another thing too

 

Also, a deeply-discharged battery can take time to re-charge to the point where it will crank your starter. Charged if off vehicle? Or allow donor vehicle to charge it several minutes before attempting to start?

Yeah battery connections (https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f199.../#post51939319)

 

I did let it charge with the donor vehcle for 10 min or so. The posts are clean enough. All your suggestions are good. I'll check the water and pull the battey for a test. Will update soon...

 

Took the battery to pep boys. They said it was dead. Threw in a new battery and it started right up. I still don't understand why it would not start with a jump, even if it is dead, but I'm glad it's up and running again.

 

It's pretty hard to get enough juice through a set of jumper cables to start a vehicle if the battery is totally dead. The starter takes a few hundred amps, and there's just too much resistance in the cables and connections to supply that much current without a lot of voltage drop. Most "jump" situations are really an assist, where the jumping vehicle is supplying part of the current and the on-board battery the rest. That's why, if the on-board battery is deeply discharged, it often takes a few minutes of charging from the jumping vehicle before it has enough of a reservoir of charge to make the process work.

Also, as was mentioned before, if the battery was shorted internally, it soaks up even more current and becomes part of the problem rather than the solution.

My rule of thumb for starting problems, is always suspect the battery before moving on to other more expensive solutions like starters, alternators, etc. If a battery is more than 3 years old, it should always be a prime suspect. The other common culprit is corroded connections at the battery. Only after you're absolutely sure you have a good battery and clean connections should you even think about the other stuff.

RJR

 

I see this all the time on project vehicles at the shop. The kids never want to put the batteries on a maintainer ad they are left without a charge for a few weeks if not a month. Then they are too dead to even run with a jump or a jump pack.

Glad to see you got it running.

 

That good to hear! Even though the battery is dead it take 620+ cold start apm to start a rig up. Jumper are only there enough to get a rig start that if the battery isnt dead all the way

 

you need one of those battery terminals that you an unscrew a screw thingee and it disconnects the circuit. costs about $15.

i forget the name of it... but if you constantly leave your vehicle like this, just unscrew a simple thing and battery is disconnected.

 

I know you already solved this, but I wanted to mention that I've had these symptoms before and eventually traced 'em to corroded connection at the starter. It will act like a dead battery, because the starter isn't getting enough juice through the corrosion. I figured somebody else might have the same problem and could use this info.