el camino

I have a 1988 MT 4runner. I know the starter is a on its way out, has been giving me minor trouble far a while, but when I returned from xmas travels (3 weeks, in which weather was cold and snowy here in ABQ New Mex) my car would not start and headlights blinkers etc do not work. No clicking in starter, no turning of motor, no sign that turning the key did anything at all. Ignition switch seems OK (just checked for continuity) and battery seems fine.

Any advice?

Thanks!!!

Cam

PS, any good places to buy a starter for this car?

Paul H.

Are your battery cables good and tight? Check fuses? Doubt a bad starter would cause all electrics to fail.
Welcome to Yotatech too.

keithguts

X2.......

Bigblock

Check the wire going from the battery to the fuse box.

el camino

Hi Paul and all, Thanks.

Yeah, seems odd for just a starter. Battery cables seem tight enough... fuses good (found one fuse box under the hood by the battery, and another by the clutch...). I got this a few months back and have been trying to clean it up, strip it down, make it a comfortable ski/trailhead car, but not familiar with all the ins and outs. I've been cutting out a lot of the useless wiring, but I haven't done a thing since it last ran just fine... only thing that's happened to truck is sitting in cold driveway.

C.

BC Rider

[QUOTE=el camino;50400106]and battery seems fine.

Any advice?

QUOTE]

Not sure how you checked the battery, but I've been fooled more than once when batteries go bad, still put out good voltage, but don't hold up under load (amps).

I know one guy who changed his starter - then changed the battery. Turns out he didn't need a new starter.

The dim lights etc - all point to a battery problem - you need to deal with that before you can diagnose the starter. Make sure you check the battery under load. Any place that sells batteries should be able to do this for you.

Also be aware that once a battery starts to sufate it can become difficult to even boost your vehicle as long as that bad battery is in the circuit.

el camino

Scratch that, you're right. Found a corroded cable coming out of battery, part of the fuse box is broken off and dangling next to battery. one cable leads from battery into this calved section of fuse box and cable crumbled upon touching it. This must be the problem. Will replace it.

Thanks so much.

Cam

notanymore

make sure your battery is connected good, one time i went to see a movie, my truck ran fine and started fine when i left for the movie and when i came back out there was no power in the truck, the cables were tight on the terminals but they just wern't connecting, i ended up having to have a friend hold pliars on the positive terminal to be able to start it, so make sure for sure that your battery cables and terminals are connecting good