86 Runner "clicking" instead of starting.

[MrMoose]

My neighbor has an 86 with a 22 RE and about 175,000 miles.

Lately he has been going to start it, and it just clicks. If he keeps trying, it will eventually start. He did it for me an hour ago.........one loud click for each turn of the key.

This is after he replaced the perfectly good starter with one from NAPA. (why do guys always do that.........well, they are young guys that just party and drink beer) It still does the exact same thing.

So what is your advice? I know that someone here knows what it is exactly.

Thanks,
MrMoose

[MistyandChris00]

Did he buy a brand new starter, or did he buy a rebuilt starter? Sometimes they come faulty from the factory, I've had it happen several times-
This sounds EXACTLY like a faulty starter.

[MrMoose]

Oh, really? I don't know. Let me go over there and ask him right now.

MrMoose

[kyle]

Check the battery connection.

[Max Volume]

That would be starter contacts. DONT buy a new starter. Fix the one you have.

[kodiak1232003]

i have this same problem. intermittant and just a nuisance right now. but i'd like to get it fixed before its a big deal.

[kodiak1232003]

there was a four wheeler mag that had the # of a shop that stocks these contacts....

are they common? or would that be helpful? if they're hard to get, ill dig through my mags.

[MrMoose]

He says that it is a brand new starter, not rebuilt. He paid $117 for it, with a $20 core charge.

He also says that the clicking is coming from a small box on the passenger fender wall.

Could just a loose battery connection do this?

MrMoose

[Max Volume]

Originally Posted by kodiak1232003

there was a four wheeler mag that had the # of a shop that stocks these contacts....

are they common? or would that be helpful? if they're hard to get, ill dig through my mags.

http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...OnlineOrdering

[Max Volume]

Originally Posted by MrMoose

He says that it is a brand new starter, not rebuilt. He paid $117 for it, with a $20 core charge.

He also says that the clicking is coming from a small box on the passenger fender wall.

Could just a loose battery connection do this?

MrMoose

When it doesnt start, does he have power to the radio or lights? If not, its most likely the battery. If he has power, its most likely the starter.

[MrMoose]

Cool, I'll pop the hood with him tomorrow after work and check out a few things.

MrMoose

[toy4crawlin]

Originally Posted by kyle

Check the battery connection.

loose battery connection, or Actually excessive corrosion,

pull off and clean with baking soda and water or wire brush it

Replace positive battery clamp with a new one

[ibuildthings]

Mine did the same thing.... it might be the starter wires. If there is oil or dirt on the wires/connections/or bolts you will get this. Get in there and shimmy the starter around and it will work. A little bit of brake clean on them and it should be good. Usually only happens when cold.

[REDNECKnBA]

Sounds to me like the clicking would be the Solenoid or relay. I would check both.

[87rustbucket]

yep check the connections or even the battery cable itself.

[Toyboxrig]

For the mileage on it id say x2 on the starter contacts. real common thing i see at the shop and they cost around $25 any dealer should carry them. Take off the back plate of the solenoid and remove the plunger (just pulls out) you'll see the contacts at that point.

[affende]

loose or bad battery / starter connections...same thing happened to me

[4CrawlR]

Originally Posted by Toyboxrig

For the mileage on it id say x2 on the starter contacts. real common thing i see at the shop and they cost around $25 any dealer should carry them. Take off the back plate of the solenoid and remove the plunger (just pulls out) you'll see the contacts at that point.

A quick voltage test will help you isolate the source of the problem:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...shtml#EasyTest

Replacement contacts are available for about $5/ea., if needed, or it may be a wiring or relay issue:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...l#OtherOptions

[Sir Flipsalot]

Take it apart and clean the contact on the back...

Seen it 100,198,183,272 times....

[Chass]

I have the same problem. Only happens when the truck is cold. Its NOT the battery connection. All I do is short the posts on the starter and it starts right up. I need to pull it and clean or replace those contacts. Once my truck is warm, it starts up flawlessly every time.

Chass
ct

[ErikB]

Originally Posted by MrMoose

He also says that the clicking is coming from a small box on the passenger fender wall.

That would be the "Starter Relay". Hard to belive, I know.

That could be the problem as well. It makes it look like the starter is bad when in fact it may not be. Similar symptoms as the starter solenoid contacts being worn.

[OOP'S]

nineteen posts and not one mentioned the starter realy until Beebs came along. There are three or four say it is the contacts get new ones, it is a rebuilt starter, they should be fine. My bet like Eriks it is something to do with the starter relay. That is what it was on mine and I just bypassed it with a Ford solenoid and a push button. It has worked fine ever since!!!!!

[Aaronius]

My uncle was having the exact same symptons with his 2wd DD. Accessories worked fine. He cleaned his battery connections, but would still do it periodically. I told him I thought it was his starter and he didnt want to deal with putting a new one in. He bought a new battery just to try it because it was easy. Hasnt had a problem since.

*edit* scratch that... just talked to him. It has done it one more time to him in the last month.

[Wild_yota13]

The People saying it is the contacts are wrong. Its the relay.

Steps to fix. ( i did this yesterday)

1. Get a screwdriver (+) head.

2. take the glovebox off.

3. get a rachet and 10mm socket.

4. stick you head in where the glovebox goes and you'll see on the pass.side of the firewall more the side wall there is a big relay. (its says something like STARTER RELAY go figure)

5. take the socket and take that relay out.

6. Replace with new on of one that is off another junker. (i think new it would be somewhere around 100 bones, Hell the flasher relay from toyota is 59 bones.)

7. Try starter. It should work fine.

8. bolt back on to the firewall.

9 put the glovebox back on.

10. your done. Now your headache should be over.

Dan

[4CrawlR]

Originally Posted by OOP'S

nineteen posts and not one mentioned the starter realy until Beebs came along. There are three or four say it is the contacts get new ones, it is a rebuilt starter, they should be fine. My bet like Eriks it is something to do with the starter relay. That is what it was on mine and I just bypassed it with a Ford solenoid and a push button. It has worked fine ever since!!!!!

My page lists all the possible options, including wiring, battery clamps, relays and solenoid contacts, can be any of the above. And I have heard of "rebuilt" starters that have worn contacts in them fresh out of the box. I suspect a lot of starters cores are bench tested and if they work that one time, they are cleaned, painted and boxed up as rebuilt. Yes, good shops will go through and replace all wear items like contacts and brushes, but who knows what quality shop rebuilt this particular starter. Testing the voltage at the starter solenoid will narrow down the source of the problem with one simple test (make a little Y-test jumper for an easier test):



Any more than about a 0.5v drop (under load) and the problem is likely between the starter and the battery.