2004 4Runner Ignition Problem
Good morning. I am new to this forum. I am here for a reason. I'm looking for suggestions on what my problem might be (easy now). I have a 2004 4Runner SR5, about 65K miles, that has an intermitent ignition problem. On occasion, usually after driving the car for an hour or more, I will stop and turn off the engine. When I go to restart the engine I get nothing. No power to the starter, although the dash is lit up like usual, when turning the key to engage the starter I get nothing. No clicks, no nothing. Last time this occurred I has driven for about 2 hours on the Interstate and stopped at a rest area. Turned off the engine and when I came back to start it again. Nothing. I have had this happen for about 1-2 years, usually occurring more often in the summer. Maybe happened half dozen time over the period, always at an inopportune time. Usually the car would start after some period of time, ranging from 15 minutes to 10 hours or so later, seemingly while it has had time to cool down. My mechanic installed a test light that he wired to the starter (in front of the solenoid?) so that when the igition was engaged I had a little indicator light that came on in that I could see in the cabin, indicating that I was getting power to the starter. When the condition occurs, the test light does not come on in the cabin, which we think indicates that the cause of the condition is not the starter or solenoid itself, but something further up between the battery and the starter. I am going to replace the starter relay to see if that makes a difference. Won't be able to tell if that was the cause until the car doesn't start again. If I never have the problem again, that must be it. Anybody have any other ideas before I start replacing stuff? Does the anti-theft system have anything to do with it? Intermitent is tough to figure out. It never manifests itself at the dealers or at my regular mechanics. Anybody have any similar experience?
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