I have a 97 4runner with a 2.7L motor .Today my wife tries to start it with no luck .She just got a one click when she turned the key.I arrive a few hours later .I too only get one loud click when I turn the key .I have 181 000 km on the truck and had the starter rebuild at 130 000k .My friend arrives and we try to boost the truck .It starts on the first try a few seconds after we connect the booster cables .We disconnect the boost cables .I then turn the truck off .It started again no problem twice . I drive home about 15 km and take the battery to be tested .The guy that tested the battery says it was ok .I have started the truck several times more with no problems.Could this be a beginning of the starter going ?I did a search and that`s what it looks like .

 

To me it sounds like the starter is going (sometimes click sometime it starts). I did the same changed the battery
only to have it fail shortly again. But you could try and get battery check still. Most likely it is just the starter contacts that needs replacing (check 4crawler page on this)

 

Tha is exactly what I did last time.I`m just trying to figure out why it failed so quickly ?

 

You did replace the contacts recently? Check the battery then on maybe it is time for a whole new starter.

The starters do seem to be a problem for some. I had my starter replaced once and the Bosch version they put in failed after a year. I complained and got a toyota starter free of charge.

 

Last rebuild was 50 000km ago.

 

bad starter solenoid?

 

i bet it's bad battery clamps, my lil pickup does it some times and all i do is wiggle the clamps back and forth a little bit and it starts right up. if not that, see if tapping on the starter solenoid makes it do more than click. if so, it is probably the contacts getting stuck.

 

had the same problem this past thursday...clicking but no start = starter (98% of the time). so i determined it to be the starter and was forced to shell out $250 that i didn't have for a replacement from the stealership (woulda been $400 if i had let them put it on!) problem was solved!

 

Replace the starter...

They tend to slowly fail this way. with core a new starter for me was like $100 i think.. wasnt to bad.

i dont buy from the dealership unless i HAVE TO.. i got my starter from a parts store

 

before you buy a new starter, try removing and inspecting your current one (if you're up to the task). I just did this on mine and I'm no experienced mechanic. One of the contacts on mine was too worn down and no longer lined up with the plunger in the solenoid. Also was gunked up with fine dirt/dust. Took it completely out, opened it, cleaned it, replaced the contact ($12 from toyota), and put it back together in a total of about three hours. I have the 3.0 though. I can't imagine it being too different or difficult.

 

Today I started the truck and the starter would not turn off .I turned the key as usual .I turned it back and the starter kept going .I turned the key back with no avail.I pressed on the brake and the starter stopped .I`m at work so I don`t want to take a chance till after work so I can drive straight home .

 

Rebuild my starter and all is well again .