All out of ideas - Clicks when starting sometimes / blinker blinks weakly 2x then stops (1 Viewer)

[cvan1971man]

Alright, I need the Ih8mudders expertise here.

Got a 77 FJ40 that had an issue a 3-4 months ago where the blinker would blink a few times and then stop. We change the Voltage Regulator and it fixed the problem.

Over the past month, on occasion it won't start when I turn the ignition, it will just click. I then turn it to the off position and try again and in most instances it will start.

The blinker blinking on occasion has also started back up today. When I click on the blinker it will blink weakly once or twice on the dash and then stop. On the outside of the FJ, it blinks once and then stays on.

I don't know if all of this could be caused by a bad alternator or ??? I am hoping that you guys could give some good intel.

I don't have any idea what this could be.

 

[cvan1971man]

Anybody???

 

[Subterranean Nik]

Battery in good health?
For alternator, have you checked that it is charging when operating?

Grounds all in good shape? Any opportunity to confirm ground tight and no rust, etc…?

For blinker - both left and right doing same thing? Or just one side? Do your hazard flashers work ok?

Lastly - for you 77, running stock 2F or any mods with engine set up? For wiring harness - stock or aftermarket?

Nik

 

[bikersmurf]

1) Never underestimate the importance of a ground…. Link below.

2) you most likely have a dying starter solenoid. Seen it a 100 times before.

 

[cvan1971man]

1) Never underestimate the importance of a ground…. Link below.

2) you most likely have a dying starter solenoid. Seen it a 100 times before.

Would the dying starter solenoid also be a cause for the blinkers

 

[Blue77FJ40]

How is the solenoid? If you end up needing a new starter, I'd suggest a gear reduction starter.

OEM TOYOTA Gear Reduction Starter Motor PLUG AND Play Kit ALL OEM Mounting Hardware Bolts Nuts RUBBER Cable LUG BOOT OEM Service Spec. Connector Pig Tail Adapter FITS 1963-1992 FJ40, FJ45, FJ55, FJ60 FJ62 FJ80 F and 2F , 3FE engines ( NO CORE ! ) -

OEM TOYOTA Gear Reduction Starter Motor - PLUG AND Play Complete Installations Kit - ALL OEM Mounting Hardware Bolts Nuts...

vintageteqparts.com

Also, Fourrunner makes bodacious battery cable kits. I got the abrasive covers. Super Stout.

FJ40 Heavy Duty Battery Cable Sets

The kit costs $105.00 shipped (within US). International shipping is available upon request (not included in the posted price). The kit includes three cables and battery terminal connectors. Kit includes: Battery positive to starter cable (with protective boot - not shown in the pictures...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[peesalot]

In my experience it suggests a low voltage condition usually caused by poor connections. I would check all fuses & the backside of fuse panel. Batt terminals, cables. The blinker, try cleaning up the power supply for it at fuse terminal & at the flasher.

 

[bikersmurf]

Would the dying starter solenoid also be a cause for the blinkers

No

Blinkers are most likely a ground issue. Could be a bad flasher… or too low voltage—-> which could be caused by a bad ground (or 5).

 

[cvan1971man]

How is the solenoid? If you end up needing a new starter, I'd suggest a gear reduction starter.

OEM TOYOTA Gear Reduction Starter Motor PLUG AND Play Kit ALL OEM Mounting Hardware Bolts Nuts RUBBER Cable LUG BOOT OEM Service Spec. Connector Pig Tail Adapter FITS 1963-1992 FJ40, FJ45, FJ55, FJ60 FJ62 FJ80 F and 2F , 3FE engines ( NO CORE ! ) -

OEM TOYOTA Gear Reduction Starter Motor - PLUG AND Play Complete Installations Kit - ALL OEM Mounting Hardware Bolts Nuts...

vintageteqparts.com

Also, Fourrunner makes bodacious battery cable kits. I got the abrasive covers. Super Stout.

FJ40 Heavy Duty Battery Cable Sets

The kit costs $105.00 shipped (within US). International shipping is available upon request (not included in the posted price). The kit includes three cables and battery terminal connectors. Kit includes: Battery positive to starter cable (with protective boot - not shown in the pictures...

forum.ih8mud.com

By your response I'm assuming the solenoid is built into the starter

 

[cvan1971man]

Battery in good health?
For alternator, have you checked that it is charging when operating?

Grounds all in good shape? Any opportunity to confirm ground tight and no rust, etc…?

For blinker - both left and right doing same thing? Or just one side? Do your hazard flashers work ok?

Lastly - for you 77, running stock 2F or any mods with engine set up? For wiring harness - stock or aftermarket?

Nik

The blinkers stop blinking but the hazards work fine

 

[Jdc1]

The blinkers stop blinking but the hazards work fine

Have you changed bulbs recently?

 

[pb4ugo]

The starter clicking is usually not enuff amperage. There's enuff to click but not enuff to engage the starter. The solenoid is replaceable, but I would probably clean connections and look at the ing switch. It's has been documented that it can have problems. Clean and check all connections and grounds.

I would check what bulbs are installed. Turn signals should have single element 1156's. Brake/running lights use a dual element 1157. These bulbs have the proper amperage to activate the flasher. Clean the bulb sockets, and make sure the grounds are clean. Earlier 40s light fixture were grounded by their mounting bolts. Later light fixtures had a ground wire added. If your fixtures don't have dedicated grounds, then I would add them.
I used pop rivits to attach the wire to the fixture and then i grounded to existing holes or bolts in the frame.

 

[peesalot]

That blinker issue makes sense of a low power due to bad connection because the hazards take from a different power supply than the blinkers IIRC.

 

[nabbasi]

Just to echo what others said, I’d treat each of these as separate issues.

The clicking: your starter solenoid should have 3 wires: + battery cable, 1 wire to the coil, and 1 wire that runs to the ignition switch. Check each of these connections.

In my early truck, I have both a turn signal flasher and a hazard flasher (don’t think the 77 is the same?), so you’ll want to find the flasher(s) just to ensure they are working.

And as others have said: grounds. I added separate ground pigtails from my taillights and front turn signals to ensure better grounds on mine. The bulbs are ground to the instrument cluster. If any of those aren’t clean, you’ll get intermittent signaling at best.

 

[cvan1971man]

Hey guys, took the alternator off and took it to Oreilly's to test. It was bad. We replaced it with a new one and fixed the blinker issue. We had an issue before where it had to be over 13 volts to get the blinkers to work right before. I don't know why the 13 volt threshold is there, but we ran into it.

Now everything is running smooth. The engine seemed to be running smoother as well.

Still trying to see if we have a "click" issue at the start which happens on occasion. Will have to wait and see.

 

[Hugh Heifer]

The blinkers stop blinking but the hazards work fine

They are a different circuit.
My money is on one or more grounds.

 

[45Dougal]

You shouldn't need 13v for the blinkers to work.
The turn signals have a supply from the ignition switch, while the hazards are wired directly via the stop fuse.

Given your starting problems I'd be looking at the ign switch and ign switch connector, and checking for corrosion.
Are your wipers very slow?
Feel if the green plug is getting warm while everything is switched on.

Otherwise, separate and clean the hazard switch connector under the centre of the dash - all turn signal wires pass through it and it can get corroded also.

 

[60 40]

Over the past month, on occasion it won't start when I turn the ignition, it will just click. I then turn it to the off position and try again and in most instances it will start.

Sounds like two separate issues.

if we look at just your starting issue I would inspect the Bendix drive on your starter. That gear that engages with your flywheel is sacrificial and if worn or burred will produce symptoms like you describe above that worsen over time and wear.