Starting Issue Options

[BWDAVE]

Hi,

I own a 2000 4Runner limited. Recently it has been having intermittent starting issues. The battery and the starter were replaced last year.

So here the clues any help would be greatly appreciated.

1. The 4 Runner is parked for a number hours wife comes out and it won't star. It will click a couple times, lights will go on but won't turn over.

2. The Car then starts with a jump. (dead battery you say... my thoughts as well)

3. Get home car doesn't start again.

4. Take it to local Shucks Auto store they test battery pulling 550 amp charge

5. Put the battery back in clean up the posts, connectors and resecure the ground. Car starts up like a champ. (Issue solved you say?)

6. Next day take it to local electrical auto shop to make sure its not another bad Starter, (wifes 4 Runner can't leave her stranded)

7. Electrical shops says everything checks out fine. No problems.

Next Day Same thing happens again. I go through the same motions again 1 - 5. But now Wife wants new car.

It is like I am Bill Murray in Groundhogs Day.

Any help would be greaty appreciated.

Any thoughts on: A bad relay? A bad Celinod? Bad Security chip in the key?

[fourwd1]

Have you checked ALL the connectionsfor batt/alt/starter, including grounds?
A corroded or loose connection would cause those type symptoms.

[chito28]

Had the same problem on my 95 V6 runner.
1. New Battery, 2. New starter (after market at Kragen) 3. New ground wire 4. New ignition switch.
My rig worked fine for a few weeks and then, again just the clicking sound. Someone noticed that the lights on the radio gets dimmed when I try to start the rig and suggested that my wiring needs more grounding so I added a couple of wires from the ground terminal connected it to the cars body (one on the fender side and one on the fire wall) Again I had a smooth one click starting but for only a couple of months. Finally a mechanic friend told me to better hot wire the starter since the problem may well be the wirings and its gonna be a heck of a job fixing that. So I hook up a gauge 12 wire directly to the starter connected it to a push button starter switch I got from Kragen for about $7.00 and presto! I got a back up starter switch that works everytime I need it.

Incidentally, I've been using the back up switch for a few weeks now since the key would'nt work again after a month of worry free starting up my rig.