I wanted to report that for some time my 1999 4Runner Limited has been experiencing intermittent long crank times before it would start. As soon as it would start it would run great. I'm talking scary long. Like, "is it going to start or not?" Sometimes it would fire right up. Seemed to be completely unrelated as to whether the engine or the ambient temperature was warm or cold. I was preparing myself for the decision to get the fuel pump replaced.

The motor is actually a salvage from a 2000 because I cracked a block or head at about 165K. The chassis now has about 250K on it.

A while back the starter failed. I replaced it with a remanufactured PoS from Auto Zone. I believe that was the source of my problem with long starts all along. That pile of junk eventually stopped reliably engaging. Turn the key and nothing. I replaced it with a new Bosch, not a reman (I know I should just get a Denso but they're just too spendy). It feels like it is cranking about 30-50% faster than the old reman ever did and I have not experienced a crank longer than about a second since replacing it two weeks ago. Night and day.

There must be something related to fuel delivery at start and either RPM or air flow.

Whatever it is, I'm happy it's fixed. I love this truck.

 

Did it wind up being the solution?
Curious that changing the starter solved the problem. Not enough rpms maybe for the ecu to want to fire. .

 

It has been problem-free since. Continues to fire right up.

 

Wow, a 4-year-old thread resurrection and an immediate response! That's rare.

I once had an issue with my truck not starting. Every now and then I'd turn the key, and absolutely nothing. I knew it had a starter replacement years back, with a cheap non-OEM, so I figured I'd replace it with a nice OEM. It still happened every now and then...

Turned out my new floor mat was sometimes getting up under the clutch pedal and keeping it from depressing all the way... Well, at least I got a higher quality starter installed.

 

legit. I wish i could report OP for being an absolute legend.

 

lol. Had an email notification active. Still love this truck. If I could buy another one just like it new I would.

 

Absolutely. As mine nears the 300,000 mile and 25-year-old mark, reality is setting in...

 

I'll hit 20 years of ownership in June. Currently sitting at 474,300 miles. And since this thread is about starters - I've never touched mine. I find that somewhat noteworthy...



Andreas

 

316,112 miles and 25 years old....have changed the starter contacts and the plunger somewhere in the 200's on the otherwise original starter.
Good to hear you're still puttin' along aowRS, hoping to have a similar story in a bit over another 150,000 miles and beyond.

 

I have not rebuilt the starter in my 4R yet, but like Hab, I replaced the contacts on the starter on my ‘94 pickup with a 22RE. It takes more time getting the starter out than it does replacing the contacts. I also cleaned all the carbon off the armature while I was in there too. That thing never started better.

 

to be slightly on topic, ive learned that it wont turn on the fuel pump until it measures enough air through the maf for a certain period of time. So it makes sense that if your starter wasnt putting out enough rpms, the engine will pull not enough flow or intermittent flow, and you get no start condition.