Lately (past 3-4 weeks) my 96 4Runner has been a bit temperamental when I try to start the engine.

Sometimes when I turn the key, it turns over and starts right up just like it was a brand new car.

Other times, I turn the key and nothing. By ‘nothing’ I mean that it doesn’t turn over. The accessories DO come on, the headlights WILL work, but the engine will not crank.

If I turn the key off/on/off/on/off/on then it will crank and start. If the car was recently driven (within the last 5-6 hours), it will not have this problem -- it will always crank on the first turn when recently driven.

My guesses:
1) Battery. I say this because if the car was recently driven, the battery is freshly charged. However, the battery is fairly new and the fluid levels look fine. Granted that is no guarantee of a good battery, but I assume it is OK.

2) Starter. My only question would be why would it work sometimes and not others? if the starter was going out, it would be equally stubborn regardless of whether the car was recently driven or not.

3) Cables. (either battery to starter or battery to ground).

If you have any ideas or similar experience, I would greatly appreciate your insight. Thanks.

 

Don't replace the entire starter. Go to the dealer and ask for a starter contact kit, there should be 2 kits. There are copper contacts in the starter that wear as the starter is used. Once the contacts get worn out they have difficulty passing the current to start the motor. Search on here or Ultimate Yota for write ups. Mine is on UY and it took about 30 minutes and $30.

It's also a good idea to get the battery tested and check you cables and grounds.

 

Yep, I had the same problem, it was the starter contacts inside. They wear and for whatever reason, they will work only sometimes... then finally, one fateful day it wont work at all.

Dealer carries these contacts. They are copper, and you need to remove your starter, open it up, and replace them. It took me about 3 hours, I don't see how you could do it in 30 minutes unless you were a mechanic or something heh.

There are some writeups on here, try searching the forum for starter contacts.

 

Funny you should say that. In all of the places I've seen people discuss pulling the starter, I can't possibly see how it could take less than a couple of hours start-to-finish. Although I am confused: some people talk about removing certain things (e.g. tranny dip stick or something) and other's don't. I really don't know what to believe or expect.

 

I removed and replaced my starter on my 99 in 45 minutes. Not hard at all, you just have to figure the proper twist on the starter when going back in there. You kind of have to work it in to where the start winds up being in the right position at the end of all the twisting. Then of course you have to hold it there and get the starter bolts started.