Tacoma won't start

My Neighbor has a 96 or 97 tacoma and it will not start. the lights work and when he puts the key in the chime starts because the key is ignition and the door is open, but when he turns the ignition to start there is nothing. no lights in dash, no clicking.. really nothing. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
THANK YOU!
-Doug

Doug. You don't say what happens to the headlights when trying to start the truck. I would check the battery cable connections at the battery. Check for corrosion and tightness. Check both cables and make sure the battery posts and inside of the cables are clean. Use a small wire brush to remove any crud. If that doesn't work have the battery checked by a shop that sells batteries, Advance or Auto-Zone are two that will test a battery free.

Clifton

i agree
the battery what i have had problems with
if that dosent work i had a ground wire come out on mine it is under the kick pannle by drivers left foot. it acted the same way as yours.

Assuming you've already had the fortitude to check the battery... take an ohmmeter to the "neutral safety switch, (NSS)" circuit. The symptoms you describe are what a properly functioning NSS is designed to do when the vehicle is left in gear (or not in park or neutral in the case of an automatic trans) A faulty circuit or bad NSS will read infinity - no continuity, thus preventing power to the starter solenoid, so you won't even hear a "click" Same goes for the clutch switch on a manual trans if equipt. Starting issues are normally "very simple" to trouble shoot. The tricky ones are computer related and the almost famous vehicle alarm systems that incorpoate ignition cutoff circuits when activated. Good luck!