94 4runner, ran great all day, went on a 250mile road trip with multiple starts and stops, stopped into a casino for nice dinner, when I came back to fire it up it was in gear (which i forgot), I pressed the clutch override, when to start, it nudge forward, so backed off, put it into neutral, went to re-fire, all lights on dash were on, radio worked, but made a click noise and then, no power! I mean no lights, nothing, no door noise, got out messed with cables a lil, got power again, went to fire, click then no power again! So, when i would get no power, if i unscrewed the power to fuse box wire, removed from terminal waited a couple seconds and attached i would get power again, again all lights on, loud click, then boom no power at all, I tried jump starting it, but would get same thing, turn key, click noise, then no power even with jumper cables attached! So im a little confused, I was able to push start it and get it home, but wanted a little help if anyone else had this issue or could help, I was thinking starter relay just bc of the power cut off when turning the key. Battery tested fine. Any thoughts? Any help would be greatly appreciated, I plan on getting to work on it tomorrow.

 

Maybe you jammed the starter when it started in gear. Tap on the starter solenoid with a metal rod (like the spare tire lowering rod) to see if it frees up, Could check the mounting bolts to ensure it's secured properly.

 

If it was me, I'd check the power wire to the battery and the wire to the starter for being corroded and tight, and probably the starter contacts. I'd also check grounds in the engine bay

 

Ok, i did think that first I might have jammed the starter, but when I was able to push start it, and had the same symptoms when I got it home, i kind of crossed that off my list,Ok, I forgot to mention, i tried to hotwire the starter relay ports in the fuse box, when i did this i got the loud "click" noise, but i didnt have the issue of complete loss of power, i was able to keep touching the ports and kept getting the "click" noise, idk if this info is relevant or not

 

Personally, I'd go with the starter solenoid, the heavy wire down from the battery, especially at the ends, and the ground cable from the engine block up to the battery negative terminal, once again, focusing on the ends. In that order.

Cables on the battery terminals, especially if they are open, get corrosion down inside the insulation, where you can't see it. Causes the strands to break until what's left can't carry the current necessary. It's from the battery acid mist regular lead/acids put out when charging. It get's down the insulation and goes to work. A good way to prevent it is to change over to the Marine type terminals, and when you clamp a ring terminal to the cable to go onto the Marine terminal, slip a piece of meltwall heatshrink on first. Once you shrink it down, it will seal up the cable's end, and protect it from the acid mist.
Alternatively, switch to the Optima type battery. The "gel-cell" ones. They are sealed much better, and don't out-gas like the regular lead/acid ones.

Or do both things, and never worry about the battery cables again. I did it to my pickup, both the Marine terminals and the Optima battery, and still have the cables on it I made up when I switched out. 30 years ago, give or take a decade I pull the terminals every couple years and clean them, but I really don't need to. No corrosion at all.

Good luck, and let us know what solves the trouble.
Pat☺