Hey im new here to yotatech and im looking for some help. ive got a 1986 4runner 22re and I have a starting issue. I get the clicking noise from the starter relay. the truck has been doing this for about 8 years now and it always starts when I tap the starter or jump the vehicle without tapping the starter. I have a brand new battery, starter, battery cables, and alternator, I also cleaned off all my grounds. it seems like it does this more when I shut the vehicle off after using a decent amount of power like after driving with my headlights on. was never able to figure the problem out and its quite annoying. thanks for any help and info!

 

Where in Pa ??

Could be to much loss of voltage going through the ignition switch the dumb way it is wired.

Just what brand rebuild starter most as of late are very poor ??

What size positive and negative cables .

Just where do you have the main ground attached ??

When jumping the truck you have pretty much doubled the current

Auto or Manual ??

 

Not sure on the brand but this is the third new starter that hasnt changed the problem. Its been like this for at least 7-8 years. I live in Nepa near the wilkes Barre area and the truck is a manual. It just doesnt make sense that tapping the starter or jumping the truck makes it start. The two don't seem correlated

 

They have a known wiring flaw

since it has a relay you can rewire it or redo it with a different relay

Thank rad4runner here is his great write up see post #19

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f199.../#post51947160

 

The tapping on it thing would almost certainly indicate a starter issue. Bad reman starters are a pretty common thing but three of them? You said it's been 7-8 years. By that do you mean that you replace a starter every 2.5 years or you tried three in a row with same results? If they are lasting a couple years each then you need a different starter. If none of them ever fixed it then you have something else. Mine had a similar issue when I first got it. It just wouldn't start all of a sudden. I ended up putting a new end on the little wire that signals the solenoid and that worked. I followed it up with some new 2 or 4ga cables while I was down there. I still run into a similar issue every once in a while, always while I've been driving it for a while and then kill it at a store or something. Not sure what the deal is but I try it with the clutch start cancel button pushed, with the clutch in in N, and with the clutch in in gear and it will start after trying one of them. Not always the same combination. I figure it has something to do with the switch that won't let you crank it without the clutch in or the CSC pushed. Not a real issue to me so never spent much time on it.

Only way I could tie the tapping and jump starting together would be that you might have a weak current from the ignition wire which will only partially allow the solenoid to close the circuit through the contacts. After a few cases of this the contacts become corroded or damaged and now the only way you can make the contacts contact enough to turn the starter motor is to jar them into contact with your hammer or to have enough amperage down there (by jumping it) for a weak contact to be sufficient to start the motor turning. I tell you what. Why not attach a jumper wire to the terminal on the starter where the ignition signal comes in and touch it to the positive battery terminal with the key on. If it cranks, that will show you where the trouble is. Look to the starter relay if it has one. If it doesn't, you could install one of your own.

 

Yes definatly a wiring issue along the starting circuit.

If using a jumper wire or hammer trick make sure it's not in gear!

Wire your own relay or rewire the factory relay. Link I posted is a build thread but just scroll down to post #19 very good write up with diagrams addressing the same issue.

Good luck!

 

I am very hard on starters 3 or more starts in a 10 mile drive.

I up grade the battery cables when I bought the vehicles rebuild the starter .

another thing all my Clutch safeties have been removed or bypassed I am not sure if that makes a difference

I was going to rewire the ignition switch to eliminate the starter current but never did because I never had the issue.

Mine lasted 10 years or so before the starter needed attention.

I am about a hour away or so if you need help let me know. send me a PM

two of my coworkers drive from Kingston .

 

I really appreciate the input everybody. im gonna start with rewiring the relay and ill let everyone know how it turns out!