I have a 86 4Runner Turbo with an automatic. Intermitantly when I go to start my truck the starter just seems to spin very fast like the starter is not engageing any thing. I turn it off and try a second time and it almost always starts imediately. any thoughts??????

 

Probably the starter not pulling in... lots of stuff on this if you do a search. Something like: starter solenoid engage

 

I think the term you're looking for is starter "bendix" - it's the thing that throws the starter gear into the flywheel.
It could be the starter gear or flywheel itself also... I don't hear of starter bendix failures on the 22r series, but you might ask around..

 

why does this happen more when its very cold out???

 

If the solenoid is encountering enough resistance to hang periodically, it could well be that "cold" makes the resistance worse.

Picture how it works... you apply power to a solenoid (and the starter motor itself) that pushes the bendix gear out to engage a (ring?) gear that will turn the engine. If anything physically hangs up that movement, or the solenoid is not getting full voltage due to poor contact somewhere, or the starter motor itself has weakened in some fashion, you get the symptoms you describe.