1999 2.4 won't start after sitting 7 months

Hi everyone

I have a 99 2.4 that has sat without being started since around March of this year. The truck was running just fine when I parked it but six months later of course it wouldn’t start. Not even a click. So I checked the relay, terminals etc. and everything was fine. Battery had a good charge but was over four years old so I replaced that. Didn’t help. Pulled the starter and installed new solenoid contacts… still nothing. My next unnecessary part purchase was the ignition switch. Before I could install that somebody suggested to me that the engine may be seized and strangely enough (to me) that was the case. So I removed the plugs and squirted about a quarter can of WD-40 in each cylinder, let it set for about a day, then put it in reverse and rocked it back and forth about three or four times and it broke free. I checked the oil and there’s no water in it and also put some Marvel mystery oil in each cylinder. Anything else I should do before I crank it over? Should I change the oil first or what? Any info is greatly appreciated!

 

If it was seized, you would have at least heard a click. I'm pretty sure your issue is electrical.

Battery cable and grounds are a weak link. Check them all. Especially body grounds near the fuse block.

 

Do your dash lights come on? If so than battery is good and power is getting to the dash. Next would be to check the starting circuit. Try putting it in neutral, foot on the brake and the e-brake engage and try to crank the engine ensuring no one is in front of the vehicle. If the truck starts put it back in park.

 

Thanks for the quick response. I did hear the relay once or twice....It wasn't as loud as the "CLICK! usually associated with these Denso starters. So I didn't think it was worth mentioning...guess I was wrong. And yes I get power to everything when I turn the key. The reason I say it was seized is my friend tried to move the engine by turning the accessory belts (with the trans in neutral of course) but it wouldnt budge. So I pulled the spark plugs out and squirted wd 40 in each cylinder and let it soak for a day then put it in reverse and pushed it backwards as hard as I could, then first gear pushing it forward... with no plugs in it should move with enough force, right? After about 10 times it still wouldnt budge so I took a break for about an hour. When I went back to it the first push in reverse broke it free and I heard a muffled pop from the tailpipe.

 

there are various endoscopes on the internet that plug into iPhones or Android phones for under $50... I would get one and take a look see inside the cylinder(s) for rust damage before I fired her off.

 

the real question is why did it all rust up in the first place?

 

Well I got it unstuck. But still nothing when I turn the key. Checked the clutch safety switch and there is no continuity either depressed or open. Thinking that must be it...but I jumped the terminals at the connector and still nothing. New switch is $31.99...gonna have to wait till payday for that

 

Have you checked for 12volts at the starter post? Then have someone hold the key in the start position and check for 12volt at solenoid wire. I've seen the cables corrode in half under the engine area.

 

Was anything done to the truck to prep it for sitting that long?

 

How was your friend trying to turn it by the drive belts? Gorilla style? Turning over an engine by hand isn't easy or possible for most guys out there.

You have some more straightforward procedures for trouble shooting before you start throwing parts at the truck.

 

did you try pushing the clutch start cancel switch?

 

I think it’s 2wd with the 2.4 engine. No clutch start cancel on 2wd trucks.

 

Ah I thought they all had them...

 

it has to be something really basic like bad battery cables. Grab the positive lead while someone cranks her, if it gets hot fast, the cable is bad... same for the ground.

 

Thanks again for the replies. I posted earlier but somehow it disappeared from the thread. Maybe I'm doing something wrong? (obviously)
Well Ill try again. First, to answer the questions some of you had:

Yes the dash lights come on. I checked the starting circuit but not as I should have.

Now I'm not so sure it was frozen or not. Unfortunately, I lost the phone number of the "friend" who suggested it was seized. I would like to hear what he has to say about the truck still not starting...he was so confident that was it. And having spent a frustrating couple of months now trying to find an answer I have to admit I WANTED it to be a simple solution like that. Now I'll settle for any solution lol

I didn't check for 12 volts at the starter post because I just went ahead and replaced the cable with a larger gauge one with new terminals at each end. I will be checking for voltage as soon as I get home from work though.

No. I wasnt planning on it sitting that long and living in sunny SoCal I didn't think about it.

When he tried to turn it, he said "a little four banger like this should turn over easy." Now that I think about it, the plugs were still in when he tried that...and he was no gorilla lol. I took him at his word because he said he restored classic cars for a living AND he knew everything about my first rebuild, a rather rare and obscure 6 cyl. OHC Pontiac engine. YES I know thats not a Toyota lol but like I said before, I wanted it to be something simple.

No, there isn't one on this model. What I have is a clutch starter neutral safety switch. I checked it out and theres no continuity with the switch open or closed, which means obviously it needs replacement. However, jumping the contacts on the connector does nothing either. Assuming everything else in the circuit is functioning properly, a jumper wire would serve the same function as a depressed (closed) clutch safety switch, right?

 

Did you get it running?

 

what about the gas? Could have gone bad after so long in the gas tank...

I see this alot of times with lawnmowers, chainsaws, snowblowers. After a few months of storage, the gas turned bad and sometimes has caused buildups in the fuel lines and carburetor, clogging them

 

This could be an issue, but it sounds like he can't get it to turn over at all.

 

Dunno how I missed this post. So did you try to rotate the crank counter-clockwise?

 

If you're in SoCal, I would bet it was not seized. It happens here sometimes but only to something left open for that long. (hood up, no plugs, stuff like that)

But now you have a crankcase full of WD40 and Marvel oil so yeah, I'd change it.