Well The runner has served me well until yesterday, just over 200k the problems seem to start.

Its sunday and im driving around for probably about 15miles, made a couple stops (shut off car and started it back up). Come home, turn off the car, Come back out 20mins later and car will not start. It started fine that morning just a couple hours previous.

When i turn the key I can hear what seems to be a small squeal, like the sound of a small motor, (you know the kind you would tear out of RC cars and try and build your own). So this morning I went out and bought a new battery, And its still doing the same thing. Not starting just hear a small motor type sound.

The stereo still works, and when i get in it will make the beep beep beep, I can roll down my windows. My father believed it just didnt have enough power to start over. (this happened with the previous battery as well as the new one)

Anyone have any ideas? my neighbor said something about the battery cables rotting in his car, could that possibly be it? But wouldnt that result in the car starting intermitently(sp?) Sometimes it would sometimes it wouldnt as whats left of the wires would catch occasionally, letting the car start. Not all of the sudden just being broken? Any help is appreciated I work in 6hrs eek!

 

Have you checked the starter? I have no idea but since the batts new it could be that?

 

If you turn the key and it clicks just once, it's the starter. They'll just go out on you, and if you've never changed the starter, then now's about time.

 

If you're still on the orignal starter i'd say it's that. A click could mean anyhing... starter or battery, i've had both be the culprit of that. However, the "squealling" noise that I think you're hearing is the starter spinning. You normally don't hear this noise because the starter is hooked to your flywheel. The starter is malfunctioning, and so it's not kicking out to the flywheel and thus not turning over your motor (only the starter itself spins). Doesn't sound like to big of a deal. And be glad you have a 2nd gen, that starter replacement is a breeze.

 

Thought it may not help, and is not the permanent solution, give it a whack. I'm no electrician, but you can often get a bit more life out of fuel pumps and starters just by giving 'em a good tap (getting "stuff" out of the brushes perhaps?). I'm told that the Toyota gear reduction starters are prime examples of this (didn't know this back when i owned my '76 and haven't had to try on the 4runner)

 

My 90'4runner with 200k on it did this. Turned out the cables needed cleaning - tapping, whacking...This also happened earlier (165k) but it was the alternator....

I'm no mechanic so just thought I'd give you another view to try,