Sorry in advance for piggy backing your thread but it seems that I have a starter motor problem too and I don't want to start yet another thread about it.
After sitting this cold winter, my FJ40 would not start. I was barely cranking, so I suspected the battery being dead. I ordered and installed a new one. I tested the old battery and it was fubar.
After installation, the engine started up, but cranking seemed sluggish. I though it might have been that the new battery was not fully charged so I put it on a charger for a couple of hours.
I spent today springtime cleaning up the FJ40, so I had to move it. When I was done cleaning, I wanted to park it back but I could not start it anymore. It is like the battery is completely dead. It does nothing when I turn the key, no solenoid or relay clicking, no starter motor sound, nada. I checked the wires and the fuses (maybe I overlooked one?) I charged the battery again and even tried to boost it.
What I did notice is that the moment I put my key in the ON position, my clock dims and my amp meter goes to the left and even leaves the scale, almost as if something is pulling al lot of amps, but I hear nothing. When turning the key to the starting position, everything sims (clock, interior light) but like I said, nothing happens.
Should I buy in a new starter motor? And if so, would
this one be the one (it needs to be shipped to Canada, so I want to make sure)
** UPDATE **
I've solved the problem.
The Fusable link was shot. The Ammeter ultimately gave it away. I disconnected the starter motor and the ammeter still went negative. So it could not be a short in the starter motor. I followed the wiring and stumbled into the broken fusable link. It probably went when I was working on the winch. I don't use it much and I was really fighting me.
