Hi All! My '99 4Runner has an intermittent starting problems. About five or six times a week I turn the key and the dash lights up but no sound whatsoever from the starter. Strangest problem I've ever seen. No sound no clicks but the entire system powers up just not the starter. Any ideas?

 

So your vehicle is now dead and will not start period ??

If you keep turning the key enough it sooner or later starts ??

Do you have a Auto or Manual??

Mileage ??

From your description it may be anything in the starting circuit

neutral safety switch/ clutch safety switch

loose corroded battery terminals

Poor Ground connection

Worn contacts is the starter solenoid

Might even be the ignition switch if your the type with a hundred keys on the key ring type

 

Mechanic says the leaky valve cover gasket is dripping oil onto the starter and the contacts are NG. He wants about $900 to do the gasket and the starter including plugs and wires. Sound right to you?
Normally I would do the gasket myself but i just dont have times right now.

 

Which motor do you have?

You can do a starter rebuild yourself for $30 and 30 min to cut down on costs, $900 could be right depending on labor rate. Valve cover gasket requires oil draining and removal of intake, plugs, etc.

 

Trust the mechanic but verify.

No sounds from relays OTHER than the starter solenoid, either? Symptom of weak battery... or cranking circuit.
Again... verify.

How about your headlights? How's your battery?
Got a multi-meter? What's your battery voltage AT POSITIVE BATTERY POST when you turn headlights on? When you try to crank?

What's you battery voltage AFTER POSITIVE BATTERY CONNECTOR when you turn headlights on? When you try to crank?

Even if starter solenoid contacts are bad, you should be able to hear the starter relay click, AND you should see 12V at the starter solenoid control terminal connector (picture below) when you try to crank. Do you hear it? Do you have 12V at that connector when you try to crank?

As a further check that is quick, will not cost much, AND give you more peace of mind knowing that we troubleshot your truck thoroughly... Jump that connector ON THE SOLENOID directly to the battery when starting. Does it consistently make starter crank energetically?

Then we'll go from there.

Definitely need to work on that valve cover gasket, but $900? That's already a head gasket job, not just a valve cover gasket.