won't start: battery okay, one loud click

http://www.tacomaterritory.com/boophoenix/starter.html

 

I did my starter on Saturday afternoon!!! Same exact truck, year and everything! Just ended up replacing the contacts and started up right away.

I've got 152K miles on mine though, you?

 

Check cables for corrosion and voltage drop. There should be at least 12.4 volts at the starter and 12.6 at the battery. If you have more than .2volts dropped, you have either a bad cable or bad connection. Make sure stared mount is corrosion free too, that's how the starter is grounded.
Are you 100% certain the motor is not locked up? I didn't have time to review this whole thread.
How do you know the battery is good? How was it tested?

 

Hey thank you so much for mentioning trying to start it in first. I had the same issue this morning. Even tried jumping my truck. Didn't even try hitting the starter trick just threw her in first and she turned right over. You saved my butt this morning. So thanks

 

When I first got my truck a few years ago it was doing the same thing. I replaced the battery and it kept doing it. I agree with most that it is the starter and when I checked my cables they were all good. I talked to my mechanic and we figured it was the starter silinoid. There are two copper contacts in there that wear out. I checked to see if I still had them to take a picture but I've since tossed them. I went to my local auto part store and bought a generic starter repair kit. Cost about 20 bucks, maybe 30. I took the starter off, took apart the back side of the silinoid, and replaced the contacts. Took about 2 hours and I haven't had any problems out of the starter since.

 

The advice about checking battery cables is sound. You already hear a 'click' so you know there's connectivity. The next step is to make sure the battery is delivering enough juice to the starter. Starters are very sensitive to getting sufficient power. A drop such as that which can be caused by corrosion on the battery terminal or frayed wire is enough to cause the symptoms you're talking about. If you don't have test equipment, always a good idea to at least clean off the battery terminals and make sure you have a solid wiring connection.

 

What he said. I fought my old Camaro for a few days, including replacing the starter and checking the connections at the battery. Turned out the negative cable was loose on the other side.

 

Are you sure the battery isnt dead? Did you try jump starting it?

 

Holy thread resurrection!!!

But yeah, solenoid contacts are the big wear item on these, other than the battery, of course.

 

Had the same issue with my 04 today. Replaced starter and still no luck after pulling my hair out looking for loose wires I cleaned the battery cables up and it was fixed! They weren't that bad either I've seen a lot worse just goes to show how important it is that they are clean.

 

yup...Had this happen in my jeep in High school...got a ride 30 miles to get a new battery...didn't crank...then my dad showed up with a hammer...climbed under the truck and banged the starter and it cranked right up. We got a rebuilt one the next day at discount auto parts. I believe it was $50-$65.

 

Bringing an old thread back but hoping somebody can help as I'm currently stranded. Went out to leave the store & as soon as I turned the ignition to start the engine I heard a loud click sound & all my dash lights & everything turned off. After about 10 minutes the dash lights are working again but engine still won't even attempt to start & all my radio settings have been reset. Just jeeps making one loud click then nothing. Any ideas??

 

Dead baytery

 

Check your battery connections mine were corroded and not making contact. That's a simple fix

 

Why not push start it? At least to get home, then figure out if it's corroded wires, bad battery or bad starter. If the battery is dead that could be from a bad alternator.

 

Mine did the same thing as described the issue WASNT THE STARTER!! This issue come from the bolt the comes out of the solenoid that the batter cable connects to comes loose and dosnt make contact pull the nut completely off that bolt clean it up and make sure it is tight and sitting properly to make contact and truck will start perfectly I have a 98 tacoma 4x4 2.7l 3rz

 

Resurrection!
2004 4 banger auto.

Ran fine. Went inside for 5 minutes, came out and 1 click. Battery has voltage, starter has voltage. Alternator has voltage, fuses are good, terminals are clean. Starter was removed and tested perfect, battery is brand new.

What yall got cause we're stumped.

 

Battery has voltage- what is it? A good battery should show at least 13.4 Volts. Sometimes even brand new batteries are bad. If it shows low V, then have it load tested.
Also, how old are your cables? Old ones often get corrosion inside and that causes a lot of resistance or drag, which won't allow the battery's amps to get to the starter.

 

Battery has 12.9 and when attempting to crank drops to 12.6. Not significant drop. We're changing the neg terminal and ground wire. We 'coked' the terminals and ground (as We're in a parking lot) thinking very little corrosion, but corrosion and got it to attempt to crank. Will attempt again with new terminal and ground soon.