I'm having a starter issue with one of my 4Runners. It's a '00 3.4L 4x4 LTD. Sometimes you can hear the starter motor turning but it won't start the engine. Sometimes you just hear a clicking noise, sometimes nothing at all. Battery is fine. Didn't touch it yesterday at all. Day before it was doing everything mentioned above. Just tried it 3 times and it fired up each time without any problem. This issue started last Sunday. Any ideas of what it could be? I'm hoping I can just get the OEM repair service kit and starter kit and not have to replace the starter itself.

Probably just the contacts worn out like you said. Mine did some funny things like that before it went out.

Have fun working around the exhaust manifold! Might be easier if you unbolted it.

Maybe check ground connect at the starter (dirt & crud too) and the bolts holding the starter to the motor (ground). Things loosen up. My '79 Ford bolts need it about every six months. Just a maybe. I hate intermittent. Good luck...-d

My 93 Runner was doing the same thing for a while. It turned out to just be a damaged wire.