This may be blatantly ovbious to most of you, but I need some help here. When I go to turn my Runner on, all I get is a clicking noise. Tested the battery and got 12 volts. Checked the fuses to the best of my ability, all fine. Turned the key to the run position and crawled underneath to touch the IG wire running to the alternator, and no power. This wire should read 12V when the key is turned to "start/run", but not actually running. The other two wires are the S and the L, correct?? To make a long story short, I think the problem is between the alternator and the battery. Besides the IG, S, L, and ground wires, what else runs to the alternator / between the alternator and battery?? Any help here to give me something to go from for troubleshooting would be much appreciated. Let me know what any and all of you think I should examine...alternator ground, fuses, other wires, etc. I highly doubt it is the starter as I only 6K miles on her. Thanks again and again.

BIlly

 

Im having the same problem however Im not even clicking and its weird after aout twenty minutes the 4runner can be started without any problems.

 

if all you get is clicking it's something to do with the starter - relay, solenoid, or motor

the alternator merely converts mechanical energy (spinning) back into electricity to keep the battery charged, so you can (and I have) run a car without an alternator

pull the starter out and take it to NAPA or other local parts store that can check it for you

 

Read the posts on replacing the starter contacts. I had the same problem and it only takes $26 and 2 hours to fix instead of $200 for a new starter. Do a search and you will find a lot of post about it. I replaced mine last weekend and the problem is gone.

 

Thanks for the help Toad...I'm on my way

Billy