Start Problem

Have great '99 4Runner - six cyl. w 170K miles. Sat in my garage for a month or so while away on business. Upon attempt to start, lights, etc. were dim and it wouldn't start. So, sat for another month or so before I found time to buy battery from aftermarket and now lights, interior, all electrical very strong BUT won't start. Only get a click?

I hate to tow car to Toyota for what must be a simple problem. Anybody have any ideas?

Check your battery connection and chassis ground. Clean the chassis ground to bright metal on both the connector and the post or bolt hole. Current necessary to start your car is way more than that needed to make your lights look bright.

If the connections are good, might be the starter solenoid.

It also could be as simple as a fuse or as bad as a dead alternator

By the way 170k on a 99? do you work in Antarctica?!?!?!

U may have the contacts in the starter that are bad this happens at the mileage u are at . If u have good battery power to the starter and all it does it click then the contacts in the starter are worn out and need to be replaced. It is better to replace the contacts then to buy a aftermarket starter!! please people buy oem parts for your vehicle they will last longer!!

I will not generalize over the entire product line, but some Toyota starters are not reliable. The author of this thread may own one. So many people have trouble with these contacts (that I referred to in my first response) that it is a likely problem here. If an OEM part dies on many people at an early age, it is nature's way of telling you something's wrong.

Even though 170 K is great life for a starter (specifically the solenoid contacts), many (including two I have worked on) have died at 40-50K. Much too early. There are alot of reports on internet pertaining to this problem.

That being said, many OEM parts are superior, but not all - particularly when the price is taken into account.

Starter contacts are about 10.00 dollars and are easy to replace. If you start and stop ur car alot then I can see that contacts will wear more than normal but I would replace the contacts than install a non oem part anyday of the week. remember 1 year unlimited mileage on all parts with Toyota.

NAPA has lifetime replacement warranty on their best quality parts.