built 88 RUnner w/22re starting issues.

[pilot]

OK THis one is getting me. Got an 88 runner w/ a built Stage 2 LC engine. it has a new batt, new starter and a new EFI computer. THe problem. Randomly Hot or cold... This vehicle when you push the clutch in and turn the key, all you here is a click???? THe click is coming from the Computer on the Passenger side. THe click does not sound like a major electrical "click" just a light Click. The starter is not turning, and there is no power to the starter. The battery is charged when this hapens. It is not the "clutch disconnect switch" on the dash. But tracing wires from the battery, there is a solenoid on the passenger firewall that looks old, and I have no idea what it is called, but it does not look like a typical Starter solinoid. but is def. attached to the Starting system of the truck, and it looks old.... I have built this buggy from the begining and I am stumped....If you grab the key and keep turning off and on, the vehicle will eventually catch and fire right up. Please help, I got a run this weekend.

 

[Jukelemon]

What you are describing happened to me a couple of weeks ago. Heard a clicking from a relay during a start attempt. Mine came from the Driver's side kick

Anyway, I could not figure it out. As well, the starter relay in the main fuse panel under the hood would click.

I was even MORE stumped because this all happened at a gas station i.e. extremely quick failure.

Turned out that I had a bad battery-a cell or two failed just as I was trying to start and leave the station.

Anyway, how do you know your battery is good? Perhaps you are seeing the results of a failed cell.

Turn your lights on before trying to start. See what happens after a couple of tries i.e. lights dim?

Just a thought. I would have NEVER thought that the battery was my cause considering I drove to the gas station and never had any starting issues prior.

Could also be a worn out ignition switch.

 

[pilot]

Thanks for the help, YOu are probably right, It maybe a new battery, But I did have a few REALLY tough pulls on the winch a few months back, that may have been detrimental to the battery, I will try your test, and see if it is that issue. Then the next thing to try would be the actual key ignition switch in the steering column.. I didn't think about that. THanks for the help.

 

[inkpot]

Howdy! Could be a bad battery cable. I have seen them corrode in the middle, under the rubber sleeve, where you could not see it. There was a low spot in the cable routing, and water/snow was following down inside. Try running a jumper cable from the battery to the starter next time. John

 

[baja2oy]

hi have you check ur coil, that happend to a friend, we out wheeling his truck stop and he try to turn it on it had the same thing a click but nothing we sap the coil with my truck it turn on gave it a shot see if it works

 

[Jukelemon]

Thanks for the help, YOu are probably right, It maybe a new battery, But I did have a few REALLY tough pulls on the winch a few months back, that may have been detrimental to the battery, I will try your test, and see if it is that issue. Then the next thing to try would be the actual key ignition switch in the steering column.. I didn't think about that. THanks for the help.

Cool.

I will say this. Of all of the posts I have read here (which total 100's and 100's) I find that a failure in the Toyota electrics is rare i.e. a relay or solenoid or ECU is rarely the cause of anything. I find Toyota's electronic parts to be of extreme quality and durability.

That is why I point you towards other things. Not saying it can't be a failure in the electronics...but I feel that is rare.

Just my .02.

 

[pilot]

INKPOT YOU ARE THE MAN.... Thanks for all the suggestions, and you are right about the TOyota electronics being bullet proof, It was a corroded Pos. wire that INKPOT had mentioned. I honestly would not have thought of that one, and you actually have to dig into it to even notice. THanks again for all the help. I would have been struggling with that one for awhille. Thanks again for all the help.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

I replaced my cables using something like single 0 cable from these guys:

Genuinedealz

They did a great job on the cables (positive, negative and starter).

 

[inkpot]

INKPOT YOU ARE THE MAN.... Thanks for all the suggestions, and you are right about the TOyota electronics being bullet proof, It was a corroded Pos. wire that INKPOT had mentioned. I honestly would not have thought of that one, and you actually have to dig into it to even notice. THanks again for all the help. I would have been struggling with that one for awhille. Thanks again for all the help.

Howdy!I had to learn this one the hard way. I had been out busting snow drifts in Cheyenne, and the engine bay was packed solid. The darn thing would go dead, and then after I had been gropping around in the engine, it would work again. I had to have it thawed out so we could see in there. The mechanic says "oh, here's the problem" , after looking down and seeing some little bumps at a low spot in the cable. He grabs it, snaps it off, and showed me all the cottage cheese inside the cable. $10 for a new cable, $40 to park my rig in his shop long enough to melt all the snow out!! It's been over 30 years since then, and I can still hear him being a sarcastic SOB, just to give me a hard time. Always waterproof your electricals, and route your battery cable so it will be up high, and it will drain down towards the end. I still do this here in the Sonoran Desert, even though, as we all well know, "It Never Rains In Arizona"!!! John

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

This is a fairly common issue, and the problem is always too low of voltage getting through the system. The relay clicks, but it's not delivering enough voltage to activate the solenoid, thus the starter does not turn....