starter motor/solenoid problem?

[travelbug]

1984 sr5 pickup. Erractically at random won't start after driven 30 miles or so. Clicks at turn of key--engine doesn't turn over. Starts with jump-start and runs okay. Then may start okay for a week or even a month or more, but then same thing happens. Has new battery. Mechanic says it could be starter motor but that starter motor looks all right. Help, please.

[ballinjefe22]

my brothers 4runner used to do that...we took the wires off the starter and just cleaned them up a bit to make sure the connection was good and he never had another problem... my buddy also had the same problem, but his was the starter solenoid...we had to beat it with a bar every once in a while on our campin trip to keep playin in the mtns. just start trouble shootin, man. if it doesnt start, hit the solenoid real quick and hard with a bar or something and see if that does anything. then clean the wires up a bit. if you disconnect it, you can take it to autozone, schucks, checkers etc. and usually get it tested for free. good luck

[fourwd1]

If you hear the starter solenoid click, but the starter doesn't turn, it could be a bad connection or the solenoid as above. Check connections (including grounds) first.

[Brian R.]

Usually fixing the solenoid is just a matter of replacing the contacts and cleaning it.