View Full Version : my 4Runner won't start
calrockx
09-29-2008, 02:30 PM
Yep, my truck won't start.
Drove it around early Saturday morning, everything was fine. Then started it late Sunday night...nothing but a fast clicking sound. The alarm is working just fine, as are the lights - not even dim.
Tried giving it a jump start with a Rav4...no go.
I didn't get to investigate it much last night, but I'll call over AAA later today I guess. From some threads on here, seems it could be the alternator.
I've got an Optima Blue Top battery. Only difference in driving lately is that my truck has gone from being driven daily to as of this month only on weekends now.
We'll see what the problem is tonight or tomorrow.
YotaFun
09-29-2008, 02:33 PM
fast click, not just a click then nothing,
Does it even try to turn over or are you just burning the starter out?
check all fuses?
Cause I blew almost all of mine today and had to replace them to get the truck to move...
corax
09-29-2008, 02:40 PM
check your ground cables and the big thick power cable going down to the starter. also might want to remove the battery terminals, clean them and the posts
4Runner202020
09-29-2008, 02:51 PM
mine did this and it was the starter...
YotaFun
09-29-2008, 02:54 PM
mine did this and it was the starter...
yours did fast clicking?
usually fast clicking is associated with the battery being dead.
at least I thought.
cause mine I will just turn and click once then do nothing.
I really need to get the new one in...
check the ground wire going from the rear of the engine (i think its on the pass side if i recall correctly) to the body panel. mine wore out on my 01.
MTL_4runner
09-29-2008, 04:42 PM
check the ground wire going from the rear of the engine (i think its on the pass side if i recall correctly) to the body panel. mine wore out on my 01.
Yep, it is the pass side. Check all your cables and connections because a fast click on the starter could either be too much resistance in the connections or that that starter itself is bad. Do them in that order because the starter is not as easy to do.
calrockx
09-29-2008, 06:10 PM
just checked all the connections, everything seems okay and tight. i'm thinking starter too now. stupid starter.
tho the alarm now sounds faint, so maybe it is a battery thing.
corax
09-29-2008, 06:28 PM
one last quick check to eliminate the starter cable (big wire going down there from the battery). if you can, take your jumper wires and go from the lug that the starter cable attatches to on the starter (+ red clamp, beware of big sparks and a short to ground, that would be bad) and the engine itself (- black ground clamp), preferably something without paint on it for the black clamp. if it starts now, but not with the battery jumped, you have a bad starter cable
hope I didn't confuse you with all the commas . . .does that make sense? basically eliminate the starter cable with your jumper
calrockx
09-29-2008, 07:06 PM
oh okay. busy tonight, but may give that a shot in the morning, before i call for a tow. good idea.
Bob98SR5
09-29-2008, 07:12 PM
chuck,
if there's a harbor freight near you, there's a cheapy battery and alternator tester. you might be able to find it at an auto parts store.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=46972
or this one
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=92571
MTL_4runner
09-30-2008, 05:27 AM
chuck,
if there's a harbor freight near you, there's a cheapy battery and alternator tester. you might be able to find it at an auto parts store.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=46972
or this one
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=92571
Those are just cheap voltage testors which you can do easily with an inexpensive multimeter from Walmart.
If you really want a good/cheap battery tester then one of these would work much better:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90636
or this:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93784
Cebby
09-30-2008, 05:34 AM
I vote battery.
I just had to replace the Optima Red in my Jeep after only 13 months. It had enough juice to run the alarm and lights, etc, but when it came to delivering some serious cranking amps, it struggled.
Clicking but no start has always meant battery issues to me. Starter issues are usually no click / no start.
MTL_4runner
09-30-2008, 06:14 AM
I vote battery.
I just had to replace the Optima Red in my Jeep after only 13 months. It had enough juice to run the alarm and lights, etc, but when it came to delivering some serious cranking amps, it struggled.
Clicking but no start has always meant battery issues to me. Starter issues are usually no click / no start.
X2
Try taking a battery out of another vehicle and replacing the 4runner battery with it and try cranking the engine. I was able to start my 4runner with a battery out of my Civic (it was in there pretty ghetto but it doesn't matter because it's just for diagnosis) so if the battery is the issue, you'll know right away.
optimas seem to be really crappy now... my red top died after a few months, seems to be the trend.
Cebby
09-30-2008, 10:09 AM
optimas seem to be really crappy now... my red top died after a few months, seems to be the trend.
Good thing they have a 3 year free replacement warranty. Sams Club FTW...
check the date with optima... i did and it was 2 yrs, 5 months old when i bought it... it lasted just long enough to let the warranty expire.
MTL_4runner
09-30-2008, 11:44 AM
check the date with optima... i did and it was 2 yrs, 5 months old when i bought it... it lasted just long enough to let the warranty expire.
Wow, that's dirty pool. :chair:
Cebby
09-30-2008, 01:13 PM
check the date with optima... i did and it was 2 yrs, 5 months old when i bought it... it lasted just long enough to let the warranty expire.
WTF, why should that matter? As far as I'm concerned, the clock starts ticking from when it's installed in my truck. (That's the argument they'll get if I ever get any static - not my problem they're sitting on old stock)
calrockx
10-01-2008, 12:27 AM
yep, turns out it was just a dead battery.
i was thrown off because 1) i expected better from an optima, and 2) that's the first time for me a jump start (from a regular car) hasn't fixed a dead battery.
took a AAA truck to do the trick.
oh well. it's back in the garage now. i'll deal with the possible battery replacement later.
check the date with optima... i did and it was 2 yrs, 5 months old when i bought it... it lasted just long enough to let the warranty expire.
WTF, why should that matter? As far as I'm concerned, the clock starts ticking from when it's installed in my truck. (That's the argument they'll get if I ever get any static - not my problem they're sitting on old stock)
good luck with that one
its from manufacturers date, not date of purchase :(
Rock Slide
10-01-2008, 06:49 AM
check the date with optima... i did and it was 2 yrs, 5 months old when i bought it... it lasted just long enough to let the warranty expire.
WTF, why should that matter? As far as I'm concerned, the clock starts ticking from when it's installed in my truck. (That's the argument they'll get if I ever get any static - not my problem they're sitting on old stock)
good luck with that one
its from manufacturers date, not date of purchase :(
Lee, for what it's worth, Optima goes by the orginal date of purchase...not the manufactured date. Here's a statement I copied from their website:
The battery will be replaced free of charge, within the free replacement period from date of original purchase. The orginial battery sales receipt must be maintained for any further claims.
It'd be highway robbery if they went by the manufactured date and not the original purchase date...that'd be just bad business.
Here's a link to the full warranty: http://www.optimabatteries.com/_media/documents/Optima_Warranty.pdf
On a side note, it sucks to hear all the issues you guys are having w/ your Optimas. The 1st Optima I ever owned lasted 2 vehicles and about 8yrs or so (and it was a red top at that). I've run every color top of optima ever since and they have always performed flawless. :D
what the hell
that must be a change then because they didnt do that with me.
Rock Slide
10-01-2008, 08:33 AM
Lee, where did you buy yours? Directly from Optima, local dealer, retail store or online retailer? Either way, it seems you got ripped off.
I want to say Optima's free replacement warranty has been in effect for quite some time. That was one reason I went with them in the first place.
online retailer. maybe they did it by date the retailer purchased it or something.
Rock Slide
10-01-2008, 09:52 AM
Maybe so...or they just simply didn't know the policy.
Either way, sucks you got bent over on that one!
mysticzt4r
10-02-2008, 12:46 AM
Good news it's was only your battery and not the starter. If you have that problem again and need a jump just give me a call.
yep, turns out it was just a dead battery.
i was thrown off because 1) i expected better from an optima, and 2) that's the first time for me a jump start (from a regular car) hasn't fixed a dead battery.
took a AAA truck to do the trick.
oh well. it's back in the garage now. i'll deal with the possible battery replacement later.
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