Intermittent no crank/no start...?!

Hoping someone has figured this out before. I've heard this is not that uncommon with older Toyotas. I bought my son a '99 Tacoma 4cyl/Auto. One day in the morning it would not start. Turned key and all dash lights work normally. Radio comes on, etc. Try to start and nothing. No solenoid click or anything. I figure the battery went dead so I attempted to jump it. No love. I then thought maybe it wasn't completely in "Park". I wiggled the shifter and tried starting in neutral. Nuts. I gave up for a couple of hours and when I tried again (with no add'l jiggling, etc) she fired up like normal.

Everything worked fine for a couple months until today. We ran errands stopping twice. The first time the truck started right up. The second time we stopped for about 15 minutes and when we tried to start it...Butkus. Dash lights and radio came on turn key and nothing. No click, etc. I popped the hood, wiggled wires on the starter and engine ground and battery. Nothing. Fiddled with the shifter several times and nothing. Let it sit for another 10 minutes without touching it an it started normally. Please tell me one of you has had this happen and that there is a simple fix (fingers crossed).

John

 

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Is there much corrosion or buildup on your battery terminals?

 

No. Battery terminals are clean.

 

I've been reading Toyota forums for several years, and what you describe 99% of the time ends up being either bad contacts in the starter or a bad battery or bad electrical connection at the battery terminals. It's almost never the ignition switch or starter relay.

You said the battery terminals are clean. Are they nice and tight on the battery?

Next time it won't start, hold your hand on the starter as someone turns the key to feel if the starter solenoid is being pulled in. I know you said it didn't click but sometimes you can't hear it and with your hand on the starter you'll feel it.

If it's not activating the starter solenoid, then you have to work backward from the starter. Check for voltage at the starter solenoid connector when key is turned to start. If no voltage, then check for voltage at the starter relay.

 

I had bad contacts in my starter that would act similar to your situation. I would usually hear one single click when it wouldn't start. You can pull the starter out through the driver side wheel well and replace the contacts yourself for about $6.

 

Thanks for the input guys. I''' give that a try. What confounds me is that it wouldn't start and then it did...with nothing having changed and me not touching anything other than the key. Does that still make sense regarding the starter contacts theory?

 

Sounds like the starter is on it's way out. My 2.7L did the same thing whenever mine was going bad. It would not start, not make any noise or clicking, and then after a few times turning the key to try to crank it up, it would finally crank like normal.

 

electrical problems almost anything is possible...

 

try "tapping" on the starter the next time with a hammer or a piece of pipe or ? Just enough to jostle the contacts. If she starts, put contacts in her or replace the starter.

 

I’ve been having the same problem that it only give a clicking noise and not start. After a few tries it started. I replaced the starter and it still happen after about a week. Next I replaced the clutch sensor and that seemed to do the trick but about a week later it wouldn’t start and no clicking noise but dash lights up and full power to radio and windows. I played with the clutch and shifter and after about 10 minutes and seconds from calling AMA for a tow it started and has started at the last 5 starts no problem. It’s hard not knowing every time I go to start it that it may let me down. Has anyone figured this same problem out.

 

This is a older thread!

Did you go with a reman Denso Starter through your dealer?? poor quality big box auto parts?

Are you sure your clutch safety switch is adjusted correct ??

Your pushing the pedal far enough to close the switch. I know sometimes I don`t going from my work boots to sneakers..

Have you checked your main ground connections clean and tight as well as the battery terminals?