My 89 Toyota pickup won't start... I have searched the forum and seen some similar posts but mine is just a little different. When I turn the key, I get nothing. It was running fine until one day I drove it, shut it off, then couldn't even get the starter "click" so I push started it and it ran fine and it started again once I got home. I decided I didn't want it to happen again so I replaced the starter and gave it a couple cranks and it fired right up every time. I was feeling good about the easy "fix" until now when I'm back to nothing upon turning the key. At the battery I am getting 14 volts at idle, 12.5 at off, and all lights are working normal and getting normal instrument panel lights. The starter is also getting 12.5 volts at key off and drops to 11.0 when the key is turned to start (all lights also dim when turning the key to start). I tried to replace the starter relay and got all the same results. Any ideas?! I'm at a loss.

 

im going to be captain obvious here, but are your terminals and all grounds tight and corrosion free?

 

x2 on checking all the battery terminals and ground.

BTW, the thread title is so unclear!

 

Unfortunately its not that easy. Terminals are all clean both on battery and starter. I tried hooking up a voltmeter to starter wire (smaller wire) and was getting 11.5 volts when key is turned to start. Is it possible its a bad starter?!

 

so you have no click from the starter when you turn the key to start correct but still have headlights, interior lights etc etc?

if so common causes of this are in no particular order:


Starter relay (you should actually hear this click as well assuming it's got power going into it but might be unlikely since you are getting voltage to the little wire going to the starter)
Ignition Switch
Starter Solenoid not engaging
Little wire to starter not attached well enough to close starter solonoid

Since you have headlights and all that happy stuff you can rule out battery and cable connections as these would either cause no lights to come on or the starter would engage and you would hear fast clicks from the starter solenoid or it would be very slow turning the motor over.

 

Try whacking the starter with a hammer a couple times? Sometimes that loosens things up (solenoid). This happened to me recently and it worked.

good luck!

 

Well thanks for the advice! It was a new (rebuilt) starter so assumed that would be the only thing that worked however I was wrong. I got home from work and again, nothing when I try to start it so I break out the hammer and do a little tap and boom, running again! Hopefully that'll be the last time I have to. Thanks for the help.

 

Awesome! glad you got it back on the road.

Starters are strange like that....

There is a really good write up n 4crawler's site about rebuilding starters (instead of buying new/remanufactured ones)....check it out HERE. Note his tip about tapping it with a hammer if you're stranded and won't crank

Phil

 

I read that article but was unable to find a local rebuild kit and wanted to get my truck up and running rather than wait for a delivery.