Girlfriend got up to go to work this morning, car wouldn't start. She has intermittenly had problems with this. Sometimes the battery is weak, other times its not. I go outside while she is trying to start it, and I think I hear a click, I think it is a dead battery. I start my car and put on the booster cables , still does not turn over. I am beginning to wonder if the click I heard wasn't a spark from an unsheathed wire when the system is energized.

I have 3 other possibilities.

1) Bad ignition switch. It has had service work for this before.
2) A shorting Park/Neutral start switch. Which by the way will not start in Neutral.
3) Short somewhere.

Can someone shed some light on possiblities.

I would start with checking all the contacts. Especialy the battery and grounds. If that looks OK, I would check batteries voltage. Suppose to be around 12.5 volts. The same voltage suppose to be on the starter contacts. Sometimes a whack on the starter with a hammer solves the problem. Then you know that this is your starter that gives you problems.

Good luck,

Sam

If a load test on the battery turns out okay, then check the alternator and the connections between it and the battery. Poor charging will also drain the battery eventually.

It sounds like bad contacts in the starter solenoid. Here's a link on how to repair......
http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenance/starter/

See also the FAQ thread on this topic.