1989 Toyota 4X4 Pickup won’t start.

[Syberfinder]

I went out to my 1989 Toyota 4X4 Pickup to go to work this morning and it wouldn’t even turn the starter over. It’s got a 22RE engine. I put a new starter in it during the summer, the battery was checked out last week and it is fine, the terminal connectors are both new, spark plugs were changed out during summer, the rotor and the rotor cap were changed out last year.

I turned on the dome light and it was shining bright. When the key is put into accessories all of the lights on the dash and the stereo come on just fine, but when I turn the key to start the vehicle everything goes almost completely out. Is this a sign of a bad ignition switch? If someone could point me in the right direction I would be very thankful.

[fourwd1]

Could be something as simple as a bad connection. Make sure both battery cables are clean and tight at both ends. Still could be a bad battery, what is the battery voltage when the problem occurs?

[Syberfinder]

Thanks fourwd1, you were so right. I got a day off and under the hood everything looked good but this red stuff all over each of the terminals and the connectors. It seems the shop that checked my battery wanted to make sure no corrosion set in and sprayed the terminals when they got done testing the battery. They did not get the positive connection very tight and I live on a bumpy hill so…. When I went to go to work the next day I got nothing. I believe some of that red stuff got down between the terminal and the connector too. It’s all cleaned off and tightened to my specs and my ride is back on the road.

Anyone that comes across this feed, if your vehicle clicks when you try to start it the battery is either so low that you can’t get your starter to crank or your battery connection is bad. Sometimes it’s a good idea to check the work of the professionals, what might be tight to them may not make it in your driving conditions.


Thanks again for your help fourwd1

[fourwd1]

Great, glad it was something simple.