I got my 86 4Runner back from the Toyota dealer on Monday where they replaced my head. The guy called me and asked me if I'd had any starter problems, or if I had ever replaced it. I told him no, it had always started at the first of the cranking process. I only had to bump it to start it. He told me my starter had gone bad too, and they had to psuh start it to get it running. Well, I figured, maybe it's just poor luck and the original starter had 155K miles, so it was due.

So I went and bought a new starter and put it on, and all was well from Monday evening until tonight.

I went to the shooting range and when I was going to leave, the truck wouldn't start. The starter is not turning at all. There is just a single click coming from the passenger side. It only clicks once when I turn the key, not a repetitive clicking. I checked all my terminals and they're clean.

I noticed some white electrical couplings at the starter, and I don't recall seeing them before. One of them has another end plugged in, but the other, larger one does not. I didn't see anything around it that should plug in to it.


If I can't find something tonight, the truck's going back to the Toyota place and they're gonna have to fix it and give me my money back on the starter.

Anyone have any ideas on what I should look at?

Probably not the starter at all, hopefully you can get your money back for the old one...

Is it a new toyota starter? If not, is it a rebuilt unit?
I have (the misfortune)of a lifetime one from advance auto and I have replaced it 4 times in the last year. I finally have gotten to the point that when it doesnt start, I 'll get out and tap it with a hammer. Right after that is fires right up. I wis I would have rebuilt the original one. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ignore.gif" alt="" />