I am a first time owner and I have a 2002 4runner SR5

Recently it has been slow to start on ignition. It kinda makes that hesitant chugalug sound like its having a hard time turning over before it finally starts up. Battery is fresh however and headlamps are strong so I'm assuming battery and alternator are ok...

Last night I turned the key and all I got was a loud clicking sound from under the hood, the engine didn't even try to turn over whatsoever....

Is that a dead starter? Or am I missing something? I'm assuming the loud clicking sound is my starter but from past experience if the starter was dead it just did nothing or only a dull click. Is something else amiss??

Any solid feedback/reccomendation would be greatly appreciated before I start tearing parts out of my new baby and embarking on my first repair job ever

 

Normally, when a Toyota just gives a single click when you try to start, that means the starter contacts are worn out. It is an easy fix if you have the right basic tools. Look at this link for more details.

Inside your starter there is a solenoid that pulls a plunger to connect your starter contacts (and complete the circuit that starts your motor). Those contacts wear down over time and you start getting unreliable starting. You should try starting over-and-over to see if it catches on one of the attempts.

 

Sorry I should have noted the clicking sound is repeated. Its like a machine gun in the distance sound. It just clicks and clicks, and its pretty loud. Loud enough that I don't want to keep the key turned long at all.

I know what you mean about the cylanoid, but I don't think its stuck in that fashion... its clicking repeatedly and I'm kind of baffled

Thanks for your advise though I do appreciate it....

 

Sorry I should have noted the clicking sound is repeated. Its like a machine gun in the distance sound. It just clicks and clicks, and its pretty loud. Loud enough that I don't want to keep the key turned long at all.

I know what you mean about the cylanoid, but I don't think its stuck in that fashion... its clicking repeatedly and I'm kind of baffled

Thanks for your advise though I do appreciate it....

 

Test the battery, if that's good then starter contracts would still be the prime suspect.

 

Usually the machine gun clicks means the battery is real low or no good. If it's a single click it's the starter. Go test the battery at a kragen or someother place. Or drop in another battery from another car to see if it still clicks

 

hell yeah! All the trouble shooting ended up paying off. What I thought was a new battery I took in and had tested thanks to your advise, turns out it was a dud. I had enough juice in the alternator to make everything look good but not enough kick in the batt to push the cylanoid. Y'all are awesome, I have my audi batt making due for me untill I can get a new high performance cell and I'm back on the road gents

Much appreciated

 

Good stuff.

 

Glad to hear it was simple. The "machine gun" part through me off.

 

Yeah me too. It was like a really loud click click click coming from the starter like I've never heard before but have it solved now.

Thanks again

 

I'm getting this same thing, I will try the battery tomorrow, this is good advice as I assumed it was a dead starter.
I just have a couple questions for my own understanding, bare with me as I'm new to this.
Could this also be a bad alternator? and its not charging the battery enough?
or a bad alternator slowly killing the batter by erratic charging?
My alternator is relatively new (about 4 years) and my battery could vary well be the same one from 1990 so I'm willing to run with the bad battery theory, also a battery is WAY easier to install than an alternator or a starter.

Also thanks in advance, this forum has helped me out on so many of my little yota issues!