89 Toy PU starter problems... Please help!

I own a 1989 Toyota Pick up. The engine is a 22re w/ a manual trans. The My problem is that the starter doesn't want to work have the time. I've replaced the starter twice with no luck. I even added a universal starter switch that bypasses the ignition section (Battery straight to starter). Most of the time it works. When it doesn't, all I hear is the ECU clicking. I've heard of others having this problem but have no answers. Please help!!!!

Ignition switch?
Poor ground from started to beel housing i.e. oil soaked
relay?

its not the ECU clicking... its the starter solenoid clicking. either hit the starter with a hammer or take it off and try and clean it out. a common problem with the starter is debris building up in the starter causing the brushes to make a bad connection to the armature. I usually hit it with a hammer, its crude but its quick.

possible you have a bad ground . make sure the ground has good connection to the motor.. hope this helps

HI there, Your frustrations with starter problems sound familiar, I have a 89 v6 auto (3vZe) with the same issues involving the starter motor not working all the time. I turn the key and just hear the solenoid click but no cranking. The truck has gone through a few starters over the years and I cant seem to solve this problem. I was reading in my repair manual (haynes) to try connecting a jumper wire from the battery to the soleonid terminal, and if the starter motor operates than the problem is in the neutral start switch or the ignition wiring. And I have tried this and it is not a solenoid problem. The last time this happened to me I put the trans in Neutral and cranked the ignition rapidly to start on and off and finally the motor cranked the engine. But I think that the problem could be in the ignition wiring because there has been an auto start installed in the past and a whole bunch of other junk to the rats nest of wires under the dash. I was thinking of starting over under there and install a new ignition wiring harness, does anybody know how big of a job this is to do?

I seem to be having the same problem like the rest of you with my 91' toyota p/u. I will have it running fine one day and then turn it off for a minute or two to run into the house and grab something and come back out to find out it won't start up. All I get is the click and no cranking. Usally to solve my problem is that I stand by my car for about 30 minutes and get back in and start it right up. I have been trying to find a better solution with no luck.

i've got the same deal on my 91 v6 manual tranny, i wired a 12 gauge wire from the battery into the cabin, then to a manual light switch, (yes like the one in your house), then to the remote wire on the starter..... turn the key to run, flip the light switch then when the truck starts to run, remember to flip the switch back off