Intermittent Starting Issue

Having a really odd intermittent issue with my 2.7 Tacoma. Had an issue starting about 6 months ago, dash would light up and it would click on ignition start, but not crank. Happened probably once or twice a month, so I replaced the starter with a reman unit. Since then has cranked consistently every time, up to a few days ago.

Now when I turn the key to ACC or full ignition, the dash won't light up and the starter won't even try to turn over, but the dome light is on and the oil pressure gauge is moving, so I don't think the ignition is broken. I was able to get it to crank once by pressing on the brake pedal pretty firmly. As soon as I did that with the key in the ignition, the dash lit up and it fired right up, so I don't think it's a dead battery issue either, although I'm going to try and get a multimeter on it tomorrow to say for sure. One other oddity I noticed is the oil and emergency brake light are on even when the rest of the dash isn't, but as soon as I press the break pedal, they go off and the oil pressure gauge needle drops. Maybe some sort of brake related issue? Possibly starter relay related?

Sorry it's a bit crappy, the truck is currently stuck in a parking garage, but here's a video of the last behavior I mentioned: https://photos.app.goo.gl/97hmDd75QtV8AmDp9

 

this really sounds like a bad ground. Unfortunately I dont have a ground point location(s) chart for a 97 BUT Toyota kind of keeps things the same so I attached what I have. Hope it helps. If I send you down a rabbit hole, sorry.

 

Agreed. Check the battery posts first.

 

My 98 will die when the body ground off the battery looses contact but that seems to kill the whole dash when it does it.

 

Weird, my battery ground to the fender was disconnected for awhile before I caught it and I never noticed anything abnormal happening with the truck. Started and ran normally. Maybe one of your other grounds is disconnected as well? Back of the block to the firewall and one from the battery to the starter I believe.

 

Nothing would surprise with this truck from some of the other things I have found.

 

The trucks have 2 ignition leads. 1 for the starter and interior lights/accessories, and 1 for the engine to keep running. I would check those.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/04-taco-electrical-problem.531827/#post-17081354