I have a 1991 truck (4x4) with a 22re engine. Its auto as well. It has a new starter on it and has been running fine. Today it would click once (like a relay sound) but will not engage starter to turn over. I saw a post about a starter relay on firewall but dont think mine has this.

Truck has around 200k on it and back last year i replaced head, timing etc..Didnt get to check underneath at starter yet as it got to late. Just wanted some ideas when i get back to it tomorrow incase anyone has had this issue.

Does the ignition switches go bad like this? Around a year ago it did the same thing (so i bought a new starter thinking it was going out) but it only did this once and i couldnt get it to do it again so i couldnt track anything down.

 

Check the battery cables, its common for them to corrode on the inside and go bad, but look just fine on the outside.

 

x2 on the cables. I just replaced my starter on my 91 and I have trouble starting every once in a while. The first time it happened i replaced my ground and it worked for like a week and happened again so I'm gonna have to replace my positive line as well. Try wiggling the wires around on the battery and if it starts after that then you know for sure something is wrong with those. When mine does it my battery gauge shows my battery being low and then after moving the cables around on the battery the gauge shows the battery being fine.

 

Good idea, the battery is the cheapo walmart variety and is around 4 years old. Always started fine though. When trying to start it it didnt last long and is weak now. It still has factory cables on it but they have been well maintained cleaning and use those green and red disc things under terminals.

May go ahead and pick up a new battery tomorrow as well.

 

Check the solenoid contacts. 4Crawler sells a replacement set if you need 'em.

 

Well got the cables off and measured resistance and they didnt have none. Cut the insulation off at ends and clean copper no green or etching i could see. THey did surprise me on how puny/small they are. Im going to replace both ground and postive with new/bigger gauge though.

Checked starter and everything looks and test fine. Any other ideas i should check?

 

have you tried the 'ol "tap on the starter with a hammer" trick?

if it frees up and turns over after tapping on it, it's usually the contacts on the inside



I use to have to carry a small hammer with me and do that everywhere I went with my 22re for a while, lol