2001 Tacoma Won't Start... Sometimes

Yes, yet another "my truck won't start" thread My truck is a 2001 4-cylinder, regular cab.

The symptoms:

Turn the key from a cold start and nothing. No noise, no starter, nothing. However, the dash lights and all electric components are on. If I keep trying to turn the key, something *magical* happens and it will often start right up for no apparent reason.

On occasion, turning the key will sound like the truck is going to start, but then it just abruptly stops trying and things go quiet again.

Tried starting it this morning (20 degrees F):

* Turn key once: nothing.
* Turn key twice: nothing.
* Turn key third time: nothing.
* Turn key forth time: starts-up like nothing was wrong!

I started having problems once the weather got cold. It went from ~60 degrees F to less than 30 degrees F in about a day here in Wisconsin. It seems like this issue happens from a cold start only.

My battery is only about 3 months old and seems to be fine. I've been testing the voltage and it's usually at least 12.45 volts (I know that 12.6 is ideal.)

Thoughts on where I should start looking?

 

Well, the issue magically fixed itself?

It was suggested that I start with replacing the starter relay. I pulled the ground wire off the battery and then pulled the starter relay out of the fuse box under the hood and took it to my local dealer, only to find they'd have to order one for the tune of ~$78. Shocked at the price, I told the dealer "no thanks" and went home and put the relay back in and re-connected the battery ground.

Since then, my truck has been starting. The battery ground seemed pretty tight when I took it off, so I'm not sure if simply re-tightening the ground might've done something or if removing the starter relay changed something. Either way, it's a mystery as to why my truck starts now. Hopefully it keeps starting all winter.