Bad starter solenoid and IAC or?

So I have an 03 Tacoma with the 3.4 at about 161k. It's been starting b e a u t i f u l l y but just recently its been more hesitant to start and now when I go to start it it doesn't even crank. The starter clicks ONCE and I also hear a faint electrical whine. But SOMETIMES when it DOES decide to start after many failed attempts it will idle super low around 250 (and magically not stall). So I go under the good and turn the throttle like that and I hear a few small mechanical clicks coming from inside the throttle body.

TL;DR: Stater clicks once when trying to start engine, thats it. When it does start it sometimes idles at 250 and throttle body clicks. What could these two things mean?

What do you guys think these two things could be? I thought maybe the starter solenoid and a dirty IAC but I wanted your guys' opinions. Thanks in advance!

 

I think your IAC and idle problem could be the result of low voltage from a bad battery. I'd start with getting the battery checked.

 

Thats what my buddy was saying too. But how could the battery have to do with the idle?

 

Low voltage can mess with the ECM.

 

Try cleaning the terminals and wire connections to the terminals. I've seen that cause what you're describing plenty of times on folks vehicles.

 

Yup definitely check battery. Wiggle the cables and also test it. When I bought my truck it would occasionally spudder at low speeds, and even stalled a couple times. Battery was really low but still cranked ok.

 

Will do. The terminals and everything like that is as clean as I can get it but I think I'll head down the street to get the battery tested. It's a 3 year old battery so I have a feeling youre right

 

Cables and nice and snug as well as corrosion free but I'm going to test the battery for sure. It's 3 years old

 

Gotcha.. Gonna test the battery now

 

Hmmmm, 3 years old isn't that old for a battery. Let us know what you find out. Could also be the ground off the battery. None of that has been messed with recently?

 

Hell here in Phoenix anything after 2 years your doing good. Unless its an optima battery.

 

Oh jeez, really?? Yeah heat kills batteries quickly. I seem to get 5 or 6 years out of a cheapy and a couple more years from a good quality like Interstate.

 

Battery did end up being bad, but it must have been some cheap-o one. Some brand I've never heard of. But after putting in a new one it starts fine again however it still idles low. So I think tomorrow morning or later on tonight (depending on how bored I get) I'll take apart the throttle body and give it a good cleaning along with the iac valve... And nah cruiser I havent messed with the terminals since I installed my pod lights a few months ago

 

Drive it a day or two let it relearn idle

 

Yeah for sure. Thanks for your input man much appreciated! You seem to know your shit

 

Thx! I try.

 

1 click is bad battery multiple clicks is a bad starter

 

Thats exactly what it was. A bad battery