Well this morning I went to crank my 4 runner up for work it didn't start. I checked all the normal things connections grounds etc. I found the battery was somewhat dead. I brought it to the parts store it had a tested it had a bad cell so I bought a optima red top. I put the red top in it still does the same thing. It sounds like it is trying to turn over make a little noise but not a full starter turn over noise. I tried jump starting it still the same. I got a used starter relay from a taco still nada. I can crank the egine by hand so it's not seized so what could it be? Could the starter have a flat spot in it? I am a little frost bitten and frustrated at this point since it is about -18 deg with the windchill.

Have you checked the voltage at the starter? Perhaps the cable is bad.

Nope it's fine I tested the battery too it's putting out 12.5 v so it's good.
I guess I have to look at doing this I assume:
http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenance/starter/

I am finding a BFH (actually a LFH) is needed occasionally for my starter, though when mine poops out....all I hear is an electrical noise when turing the key over. A few taps with the hammer, and she turns right over. Doesn't sound like this is your problem, but it may help.

replace the copper contacts inside the starter...it just click right?...when you pull the starter out pull the cover off with the 3 8mm bolts with philipps heads on it...pull out the plunger,,,its the round thing with the spring on the other end...youll see the contact thats worn out...usually the batery side goes first..when you put it all back together its a good idea to dip the bottom of that spring in grease first...it lubricates the lower bearing for ya...........travis

aaahhhh....dont hit it with a hammer...its not a chevy...its a gear reduction...it dont have a silinoid...its internal....dont wanna damage it..

well, it works everytime for me, no lie. i tap it lightly and all is well. if it has no solenoid, then i'm stumped as to why tapping it works, but....its keeping me going. i keep a spare starter with me too.

hmm...its posible you may have something loose...but it souds like you may have the same problem...when it gets warmed up it fires everytime right?...when those contact get warm they expand alittle bit..maybe enough for the plunger to make a slight contact...wont be long befor it wont start at all......i used to rebuild starters and altonators for a living.....a crapy living at that <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shame.gif" alt="" />...good thing im out of it now...but the knoledge comes in handy sometimes

i'm thinking something loose with mine. doesn't matter whether truck has just been shut down with warm motor or its been sitting for a week, it seems very random. however, it all began when i had to start the truck IN GEAR because my clutch MC went out. never gave a problem before that, but at first attempted restarted after this was the first time it did it, so i guess i boogered it up doing this, somehow.

Your starter will handle starting in gear just fine- in low range it works great. Do it all the time.

Sounds like your solenoid contacts are worn. $12 from the dealer. The FSM details much (but not all) of the disassembly; removal is the hardest part. Roger has information on his site:
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks/Starter.shtml

I had my starter and our 2WD starter go on the fritz in one day. $12 fixed them both, I used one contact per.