I have a '86 4-runner manual trans 22re.... and I have this stupid "safety" switch... I have replaced the starter, battery and still have no idea why it wont start.... When I turn the key after the button is pressed, sometimes it will start, other times I hear a single click, and a whining noise... Any Ideas

 

well i would take your clutch safety switch behind your pedal and unplug it, run wire from one side to the other to bypass it. i would clean the ground to the block, mine looked fine then i brushed it and the truck started where it wouldn't even turn over before

 

Check your grounds.

 

do a voltage drop test across the battery cable to the starter, u may have a poor connection or alot of corrosion on the terminals

 

I have new cables, pos and neg... a new battery, and when I put the new starter in, the same thing.... one click, and a whining sound; when I turn the motor over.... I Can start the truck without having to press the clutch down... The main problem is this is a intermittent problem, where I think that I have fixed it but at the most inopportune time it comes up again

 

that's the problem with a lot of reman Denso starters... they're not very well remanufactured...

I'd exchange it under warrantee (assuming it's still covered) for a new one. It if it's spinning up but not engaging with the flywheel, it's the starter itself; it's not kicking out.

I swapped my new one on my 22re out about 4 times before I got one that kept working

 

I agree with super bleeder, I searched and searched for a loose connection....it was the starter the whole time, had to take the new one back to get it replaced again....kinda frustrating