Tacoma 2000 V6 Having Trouble Catching

My truck won't catch when I turn the key right away. It was starting on the second and third trys for awhile but the problems getting worse, this morning it took 15+ trys. After I let her run for while she starts easier but then over night it takes forever.

I had a ground issue last year that I resolved and she was working fine till this weekend. The starters new and I checked all the grounds. Battery is fine as all the lights come on when I toggle their switches. I don't know what else it could be unless I got a trash starter that has already burned out. Please help!

 

Check the actual power wire and ground wire, even though they are tight and grounded if the wire has corroded it won't work for shit. Pull the starter out and get it check at autozone

 

Plugs and wires? How old are they? 3.4l copper plugs needs to be changed every 30k

 

Just checked the power and ground wires and cleaned the terminals to the battery. Didn't help much. I'm looking to try everything before pulling that starter out again...

Could it be the ignition switch?

I changed the spark plugs around 25k or so ago... does it seem like compression could be the issue? When I turn the key it just makes a clicking wretching sound.

 

The clicking sounds like a battery but odd it works after keep trying or bumping the starter

 

No codes?

 

The check engine light isn't on and I don't have my own code reader. Just walked over to autozone and will return when they're back from their lunch break.

 

Next time it's not catching...jerk the key around in the ign. switch. That sounds pretty likely, especially if high miles or you have a heavy keyring.

 

Once it's running does it run with no issues? I'm having a similar problem and someone else on here, "zer0" I believe, responded to one of my posts saying he had some good similar to my problem, which sort of sounds like yours, and he fixed it with new plugs and plug wires. I ordered new coils and plug wires and just put new plugs in yesterday. Got the wires today and the coils should be here tomorrow. Once I get them in I'll let you know if it fixes my problem. Good luck.

 

It could just be me, but I am not quite clear on what "not catching" means. When you turn the key, does the starter engage and start yo crank the motor? Or does it does it do a series of clicks (not engaging) or is it just a single click til you release the key and try again?

It's the 15+ tries that is getting me. I can't imagine it is actually engaging and cranking over.

 

Once its running then it has no issues. I'd appreciate that.

 

It won't turn over. Just a click. I went for an easy fix tonight and tried changing out the ignition switch and ignition cylinder but neither worked. No its not engaging or cranking, just a click. So yeah 15 clicks... but now it will still start after more than 15 but after I run it the truck will start after 4 or 5 key turns.

Its getting worse and I'm getting closer to pulling the starter.

 

So you turn the key and just get a click with no starter turning at all then eventually the starter starts to turn and then the motor cranks and starts? If that's the case I think it'll be a different problem than I'm having.

My issue is that the motor cranks every time, it just doesn't want to actually fire up. But when it does fire up there isn't any major issues that are noticeable. The coils are out for delivery today so once I get home I'll be throwing them in and seeing if it fixes my problem.

 

When I had that problem a few years ago I replaced the starter's contacts in the starter solenoid and that solved the problem.

 

That is not a battery test.

Have someone read a DVM across the terminals when you are trying to start the truck. It should not go below 9V.

However, my money is on the starter solenoid.

 

Put the new coils and plug wires in and I'm still having my same issue. Everything turns and cranks but just wont catch. It did start the first try after installing them and I drove around fine like all the others time. Did a few tests of shutting it off and back on and at first it was fine then after about 30 minutes of waiting I tried it again and it wont catch now. I have no idea now.

 

A new battery solved this issue for me a year ago. I would imagine an auto parts store could test the battery for you.

 

So I pulled the skid plate to get at the starter and I banged on it with a little hammer then a bit more w a screwdriver handle. 10 minutes later she started up fine and has been starting fine since.

 

I know you said the starter is new, but it sure doesn't sound like it.

Now that you can get at it, may want to replace it with OEM or if it is OEM, rebuild it, replace the contacts and brushes.