Help! Stranded with toyota truck starting problem

[TRW]

We are at work and my friends' Toyota truck will not start with the key. We can push it and it will start. When the key is turned on, there is a noise under the dash that sounds like a emergency flasher clicking. We suspect that it is a relay failing but need help. We have power to everything, lights are bright-nothing happens when you try to start it with the key. we jumped the neutral safety switch-still nothing-any ideas?

[signu]

There is a starter relay in the fuse box, you could try replacing that. You can probably get a replacement at a nappa or kragen.

[Supra Spider]

Signu is right about the relay, allthough it is a bit pricy.
Heres what you should do before droping cash into it; First pull the starter relay out & remove its cover then put it back in without the cover and watch to see if it clicks on and off if it dosnt work dont go rushing out for a new one just yet.
the clicking you hear in the dash is most likely the ecm relays and circuit breakers coming on an off. Next, that modle truck is famous for black wire disease, so remove the battery and strim the outer coating off of the battery cables and I mean all of it, just one small spot will stop enough current flow from reaching the starter since you can build that voltage on the resistance. Once it is striped down, clean any and all corosion off the cable with mild to light emry paper (about 400-600 grit) NOT sand paper, and do the same to any area that has a black oxadised look to it. Now you want to use denatured alcahol, like break clean and spray all exposed wire with it and whipe off any residue and dirt. Now see if it wont turn over. If it dose go ahead and get some Wire insulator, just that plastic/rubber shring wrap for wiring and use a hair dryer or something of the sort to shrink it tight around the wiring (No open flames, thats bad) go ahead and make a nice even cover on both ends of it with some electrical tape, and go ahead and use a bic lighter to slightly heat (but not burn or melt) the tape and you should be better sealed than before.
Now this part is NOT recomended but I do it for myself is tape the shit out of the battery cable fittings so that only the actual round part of the fitting is exposed, I just dont like to see any corosion on them.

[koco1]

When my 87 P/U and my 86 4runner did what you described, it turned out to be the ignition switch in the steering column housing. I took the housing off and jiggled the plug and it started working again. They get worn out over time.

[justin22]

what happens when you leave it in gear on a flat surface and turn it over

[texas12]

My '86 Runner did the same thing. Ran a fuse protected starter switch from battery (+) to dash mounted switch back to starter solenoid. Just turn the key to 'ON' and push the starter switch. Starts very time now.

[92ToyPickUp]

My starter just ticked everytime I turned the key before. It was a combonation of 2 problems. My starter contacts were worn, but the ground at the battery wasn't very good either. I had much better results after cleaning up the ground, but the problem wasn't totally solved till i took the starter out and replaced the 2 little contacts (which was very easy and cheap!) The only part a little tricky was just getting the starter in and out.
I can almost gaurantee this is your problem. Once ur ground is good, try tapping the starter with a hammer anytime it gives u a hard time. That will give u atleast another month or 2 out of it.
Good luck! BLAKE

[Hossy]

Take a test light and probe the solenoid wire at the starter, turn the ket to crank position, if the light illuminates then you have power to the solenoid, next check the battery wire at the starter, its the one held on by the nut if you have power at both these points then the starter is bad.