1998 Crazy Starting Problem - Part 2

[dbunnell]

Our '98 4Runner finally wouldn't restart at our mechanic's place. They immediately had a technician start some diagonostics. While leaning under the hood, the tech heard a 'click' somewheres in the back of the engine, maybe on the firewall or maybe the other side of the firewall, under the dash. He immediately tried the key and it started. He kept the truck the rest of the day, and got it to fail a number of times by driving around the block, stopping at the garage, three to four times, until it wouldn't start. Each time after hearing the 'click' it would restart. Trouble is, the temperature that day wasn't as hot as it had been, and apparently whatever was re-setting itself, the 'clicking' would happen too quickly to get much diagnosis done.

The tech believes he's got it narrowed down to somewhere's between the ignition switch and the starter relay. What exactly he means by that, I'm not sure .... a wiring or device fault of some type ????

Anybody know where I can get wiring diagrams for this truck ? All I have is a Haynes manual which only includes diagrams for the Tacoma & T100 pick-up. Anyone know how the factory security system works for this year 4Runner ? Where the "black box" or other devices are located ?

All help is greatly appreciated.

[Brian R.]

You can buy an Electical Wiring Diagram from these guys:

http://techinfo.toyota.com/public/main/mdc.html

[alex4dawgs]

I was having a similar problem with my 99. Finally it would not start at all one day until I banged on the starter with a wrench. That is where I would start first.

[toyomechanic421]

If it clicks once while u hold the ignition and then nothing, almost always it means your starter is bad. Now it could be intermitten like your case or all the time but it still means that the starter is bad. What is really happening is the starter solenoid contacts get worn or may corroded, causing not enough electrical current going to the starter to make it turn the engine. Heat increases the resistance to so if you run your engine all day then try to start it u may get the same thing. Now thats only if your sure the battery is good. If you turn the key and it clicks multiple times , chances are your battery is bad your somthing leading to your starter solenoid is bad. which one is it? hope this helps.