2011 Sienna randomly won't turn over

[idaboui]

I have a 2011 Sienna. Runs great starts immediately almost all the time. However every week or two it will just click like the battery is drained to low to turn the car over.

I will then jump it and it will start right up.

It is my wife's car and numerous times I have to come to her rescue. On a couple occasions, I put the key in and it started right up.

I have bought a new battery and it still does this. The dealer says it is due to the electrical connectors on the power door being dirty. This is not the case as I have cleaned them numerous times and still get the same problem to occur.

Surprisingly the exact same thing happens to my mother on her 2008 Sienna. She has also been stranded because it will not turn over. Sometimes when I show up it will just start. Other times, with a jump it will start right up.

She also has a new battery and the same thing happens.

Any idea's?

Bob

[LoviesAutoRepair]

check for an intermittent battery drain or parasitic draw. also check your power & ground connections. make sure they are clean & have good solid contact

[Brian R.]

Probably the starter solenoid contacts need to be replaced. It is a cheap fix and will solve this issue most of the time. This is a common problem in Toyota starters.

Bring your VIN to a Toyota dealer and get the part numbers (2) for the contact sets. I suggest you buy them from Toyota. If you do, you will get the entire kit, including nuts, O-rings, contact, etc. The two kits are different for the two sides of the starter solenoid.

See the post here

Get them fixed. They will not fix themselves and they will get worse over time.

[idaboui]

Thanks for the replys LoviesAuto and Brian.

Brian, I checked out your link to previous posts and noticed that if it is the solenoid it will only click once. Mine does multiple clicks like an extremely low battery. It will do this, then an hour later it may start right up without a jump.

One time my wife started the car in the morning. Fired right up. Drove 2 miles to the school. Dropped of one of the kids lunches and when she got back in the car 3 minutes later. Click, click, click dead battery sound. I jumped it and it fired instantly.

I will check the battery connections on both ends and make sure they are clean and tight.

[Brian R.]

There is no firm symptom which shows the solenoid is faulty. They can click more than once. This fix is the first to try after the connections have proven to be tight. You will not find a cheaper potential fix.