No crank no start

[4thgenrunning]

I have been having a no crank no start situation going on for a couple months now and trying to get to the bottom of what it could even be, before I start throwing parts at it. The symptoms have been a completely random no crank no start. The lights come on the dash and when I turn to crank it does nothing but the lights on the dash go off and the center console lights go off. All times I have went into the fuse box and taken the starter relay out put back in checked all fuses still nothing, tried starting in N also nothing. All times totally lost on what to do I leave it for 5-10 min and come back and it starts like nothing was wrong.

Is this related to the immobilizer? From what I've read it would still crank from that fault.
If my starter is bad I would think it would gradually get worse and not happen be fine for weeks then randomly happen again right?
The connections on my battery could probably be replaced not horrible for any means but definitely not new but also seems weird that it would be so random seems like jostling the connections would cause a crank at least.

Where would you point me to start looking? Am I missing tests to boil it down? Thanks

 

[BullElk]

Others here will know more.......but first I would make sure the battery posts and cables are perfect in condition and fit. Second, I would make sure the battery is good. I have had one act crazy off and on because just one cell was bad.

 

[4thgenrunning]

Battery is good, 2 years old and volts show good. I’m really lost at what to check here, unless it is just a starter? But it seems so infrequent and once it works it works great to be that. But sitting here stranded not able to go to work is making me about to post the cruiser for sale

 

[Eyedaho]

If you listen closely with the hood open while someone else turns the key, do you here any clicking noises?

 

[4thgenrunning]

If you listen closely with the hood open while someone else turns the key, do you here any clicking noises?

Yes getting the clicking noise which from one video of a guy on YouTube his solution was take the starter relay out and put back in tried that no luck. I think replace the relay? I can’t believe the starter is under the intake manifold that I can’t just tap it to see if it starts.

Hard to be getting a ride from someone to work, never had a Toyota let me down

 

[whitec13]

When it happens, drop the truck into neutral and see if it starts. When I was having this issue, it worked every time. Unfortunately, I have no other answers for you, as my issue just stopped one day and has been fine since
I did buy the starter relay, but never had to use it.

 

[4thgenrunning]

No luck with putting in neutral. I’m guessing the starter relay must be toast. All the other times it’s happened it will start after about 5-10 mins of trying/leaving it. This morning it’s been an hour and nothing still.

 

[4thgenrunning]

Update: Got the new starter relay from toyota still no crank no start. I got it to start using the paper clip in the starter relay contacts so the starter is good and was replaced by previous owner 50k miles ago.

My questions now are my battery is 2 years old and my ground cables could be upgraded/replaced to thicker gauge. But just for the problem of no start if I can get it to start by a paper clip that should mean the battery and grounds are fine at least for diagnosing this problem correct?

I also checked if the security light in the center console went off when I put the key and it does so that rules out immobilizer right?

 

[Import Driver]

Wait, you got it to start by removing the starter relay and sticking a paper clip in? Can you repeat that? I mean will it always start up like that?

Maybe someone intelligent can chime in. But I think from there you can start tracing back to find out why start signal is not getting sent to the relay.

 

[Import Driver]

Have you checked the fuses?

 

[4thgenrunning]

Yes got it to start and run by removing the relay and using a paper clip. I saw that from a video of a guy with a 100 that was having the same issue but his was fixed by removing the relay and replacing. It continued to run once and when I tried it again it would start but shut off once I took the paper clip out.

After a couple hours last night I just went out to try starting just for chits and giggles and it started right up with the new relay in. Drove it around the block parked it turned it off and started it back up. This morning it started up fine but I heard an electronic chirp/alert noise from under the dash. Saw this weird box which I'm guessing is some security system installed. When I unlplugged it and tried starting again nothing click no start. So I'm thinking this thing is what is the culprit of what you said the signal of ignition to the starter.

Anyone have experience with adding security systems on these? Are the wires going straight to the ignition barrel?

 

[4thgenrunning]

Update: That little box was the culprit. It’s a passtime gps/ remote kill switch. I called the company and they said they don’t even offer reception for that model anymore. Wired into the ignition. Took that out by undoing their splicing and started no problem.