Help ! 4runner electrical

I have an '88 4runner. Went out to start it yesterday and all I got
was a click sound that seemed to come from the right side of the engine
compartment. The radio, rear window, and the dreadful key-buzzer sound
all work fine. Battery looks old but has clean posts. SO I tried
starting it some more and just got the "click". Drive or neutral, no
difference.

Borrowed a car and ran some errands, then came back and thought I'd try
to move the 4runner to where I could jump it. These things are heavy
and it's sitting on uneven ground so after a few rocks back and forth I
gave up.

Then I tried to start it again and it turned over very weakly and then
started right up !

So...it doesn't make any sense that this is a battery problem, a dead
battery does not come to life. Any ideas ?

Thank you. (Sorry for the cross-post, it's out of desperation)

In article <1152026813.070633.179960@b68g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>
[email]roger61611@yahoo.com[/email] writes:
[color=blue]
> I have an '88 4runner. [symptoms of starting problems][/color]

Sounds like an intermittent electrical contact: loose, dirty &c.
--
Andrew Stephenson

In article <1152026813.070633.179960@b68g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>,
[email]roger61611@yahoo.com[/email] wrote:
[color=blue]
> I have an '88 4runner. Went out to start it yesterday and all I got
> was a click sound that seemed to come from the right side of the engine
> compartment. The radio, rear window, and the dreadful key-buzzer sound
> all work fine. Battery looks old but has clean posts. SO I tried
> starting it some more and just got the "click". Drive or neutral, no
> difference.
>
> Borrowed a car and ran some errands, then came back and thought I'd try
> to move the 4runner to where I could jump it. These things are heavy
> and it's sitting on uneven ground so after a few rocks back and forth I
> gave up.
>
> Then I tried to start it again and it turned over very weakly and then
> started right up !
>
> So...it doesn't make any sense that this is a battery problem, a dead
> battery does not come to life. Any ideas ?
>
> Thank you. (Sorry for the cross-post, it's out of desperation)[/color]

The solenoid on your starter is bad.
The click was it trying to engage.
Try wacking the starter with a wood stick, while a friend turns the key,
and see if it engages.

The solenoid is part of the starter.

Also have your alternator checked for output.
If your battery isn't fully charging then it underpowers the starter.

If you have a 22R in your forerunner, the starter motor has to come out
through the passenger side wheel well.
There is a panel that comes off to allow access.

Starter motors cost around $90.

--
Welding Instructor - South Seattle Comm. Coll.
- Divers Institute of Technology
CWI/CWE
WABO Examiner

On 4 Jul 2006 08:26:53 -0700, [email]roger61611@yahoo.com[/email] wrote:
[color=blue]
>I have an '88 4runner. Went out to start it yesterday and all I got
>was a click sound that seemed to come from the right side of the engine
>compartment. The radio, rear window, and the dreadful key-buzzer sound
>all work fine. Battery looks old but has clean posts. SO I tried
>starting it some more and just got the "click". Drive or neutral, no
>difference.
>
>Borrowed a car and ran some errands, then came back and thought I'd try
>to move the 4runner to where I could jump it. These things are heavy
>and it's sitting on uneven ground so after a few rocks back and forth I
>gave up.
>
>Then I tried to start it again and it turned over very weakly and then
>started right up !
>
>So...it doesn't make any sense that this is a battery problem, a dead
>battery does not come to life. Any ideas ?
>
>Thank you. (Sorry for the cross-post, it's out of desperation)[/color]

It's most likely the power contacts in the starter solenoid - where
the battery cable bolts to the back of the starter. Easily
replaceable, the parts are under $10, and your local Dealer Parts
Counter /should/ stock them. Whether they /do/ is another thing...

Any good starter shop stocks the contacts and can swap them out for
you on the bench for a nominal fee. Take the whole starter motor in,
and they can check it over for other potential problems like worn
bearings or brushes - if it doesn't need rebuilding, don't.

And till then, just keep trying. Click. Click. Start.

But check the battery cables and posts for clean and tight
connections first. A battery going bad can cause odd stuff, too, but
this sounds much more like the contacts.

How old is the battery? Batteries are perishable just from elapsed
time, if it's out of warranty, it can develop an open cell and go dead
suddenly at any time. And if it goes open and makes an arc across the
cracked spot inside, it can make a hydrogen explosion and pop the top
off the battery.

--<< Bruce >>--

--
Bruce L. Bergman, Woodland Hills (Los Angeles) CA - Desktop
Electrician for Westend Electric - CA726700
5737 Kanan Rd. #359, Agoura CA 91301 (818) 889-9545
Spamtrapped address: Remove the python and the invalid, and use a net.

Thank you for the responses. I am always impressed that if you find
the right group you can get darn good answers.

Battery is an Autotrend Pro-Cell, with a 50-month rating. I just
bought my 4Runner a few months ago and it didn't come with any info on
the battery. The battery doesn't have anything on it that says when it
was made. Posts look ok.

The Autotrend Pro-Cell was distributed by Wholesale Merchandisers of
Grand Rapids, which is Meijer stores.

When the rain lets up I will get underneath and see about that
starter/solenoid.

[I used to drive old Fords (Fairlane and Mustang) and the solenoids
were right on the fender well, you could replace one in no time. Which
helped since the electricals on old Fords rivaled those of the British
manufacturers.]

[email]roger61611@yahoo.com[/email] wrote:[color=blue]
> [I used to drive old Fords (Fairlane and Mustang) and the solenoids
> were right on the fender well, you could replace one in no time. Which
> helped since the electricals on old Fords rivaled those of the British
> manufacturers.][/color]

Ford - fix or repair daily.

Not sure i know of any GB cars that have electrical problems, except
maybe the early new-model rangerovers or TVRs?

"Coyoteboy" <coyoteboyuk@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1152037496.178618.192930@l70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
>
> [email]roger61611@yahoo.com[/email] wrote:[color=green]
>> [I used to drive old Fords (Fairlane and Mustang) and the solenoids
>> were right on the fender well, you could replace one in no time. Which
>> helped since the electricals on old Fords rivaled those of the British
>> manufacturers.][/color]
>
> Ford - fix or repair daily.
>
> Not sure i know of any GB cars that have electrical problems, except
> maybe the early new-model rangerovers or TVRs?
>[/color]
I used to have a MGB. Probably the biggest POS I EVER owned. I spent more
time under the hood than in the drivers seat. It had a Lucas electrical
system. When I finally had to bring it into the shop, the mechanic would say
"Oh yeah, Lucas-- the price of darkness".

Alas, I knew Lucas all too well having had the headlights go out on me twice
at 55 mph.

I do own an 89 4 by 4 sr5 pickup. It had all the symptoms that the original
poster stated. It WAS a bad battery. Once replaced and equipped with new
terminals all was well.

[email]roger61611@yahoo.com[/email] wrote:[color=blue]
> I have an '88 4runner. Went out to start it yesterday and all I got
> was a click sound that seemed to come from the right side of the engine
> compartment. The radio, rear window, and the dreadful key-buzzer sound
> all work fine. Battery looks old but has clean posts.[/color]
[color=blue]
>snipped<[/color]

Before you go changing the starter (a PIA to r&r) you should pull the battery cables
off the battery and clean the connections. It's a fairly common problem with a
dirty
connection on the battery cables.

Keyser Soze wrote:
[color=blue]
> "Coyoteboy" <coyoteboyuk@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1152037496.178618.192930@l70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>[color=green]
>>roger61611@yahoo.com wrote:
>>[color=darkred]
>>>[I used to drive old Fords (Fairlane and Mustang) and the solenoids
>>>were right on the fender well, you could replace one in no time. Which
>>>helped since the electricals on old Fords rivaled those of the British
>>>manufacturers.][/color]
>>
>>Ford - fix or repair daily.
>>
>>Not sure i know of any GB cars that have electrical problems, except
>>maybe the early new-model rangerovers or TVRs?
>>[/color]
>
> I used to have a MGB. Probably the biggest POS I EVER owned. I spent more
> time under the hood than in the drivers seat. It had a Lucas electrical
> system. When I finally had to bring it into the shop, the mechanic would say
> "Oh yeah, Lucas-- the price of darkness".
>
> Alas, I knew Lucas all too well having had the headlights go out on me twice
> at 55 mph.
>
> I do own an 89 4 by 4 sr5 pickup. It had all the symptoms that the original
> poster stated. It WAS a bad battery. Once replaced and equipped with new
> terminals all was well.[/color]

Nope, no known GB cars with electrical problems... :>))

[url]http://www.gomog.com/articles/lucas.html[/url]

[url]http://www.gt40s.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18294[/url]
--
Tom - Vista, CA

"TOM" <tomjc@catz.org> wrote in message news:ABAqg.852$Gv.485@fed1read09...[color=blue]
> Keyser Soze wrote:
>[color=green]
>> "Coyoteboy" <coyoteboyuk@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:1152037496.178618.192930@l70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>>[color=darkred]
>>>roger61611@yahoo.com wrote:
>>>
>>>>[I used to drive old Fords (Fairlane and Mustang) and the solenoids
>>>>were right on the fender well, you could replace one in no time. Which
>>>>helped since the electricals on old Fords rivaled those of the British
>>>>manufacturers.]
>>>
>>>Ford - fix or repair daily.
>>>
>>>Not sure i know of any GB cars that have electrical problems, except
>>>maybe the early new-model rangerovers or TVRs?
>>>[/color]
>>
>> I used to have a MGB. Probably the biggest POS I EVER owned. I spent more
>> time under the hood than in the drivers seat. It had a Lucas electrical
>> system. When I finally had to bring it into the shop, the mechanic would
>> say "Oh yeah, Lucas-- the price of darkness".
>>
>> Alas, I knew Lucas all too well having had the headlights go out on me
>> twice at 55 mph.
>>
>> I do own an 89 4 by 4 sr5 pickup. It had all the symptoms that the
>> original poster stated. It WAS a bad battery. Once replaced and equipped
>> with new terminals all was well.[/color]
>
> Nope, no known GB cars with electrical problems... :>))
>
> [url]http://www.gomog.com/articles/lucas.html[/url]
>
> [url]http://www.gt40s.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18294[/url]
> --
> Tom - Vista, CA[/color]

Thanks for the link Tom. I had a good laugh. Believe me I wasn't laughing
over 30 years ago at the "Prince of Darkness." or at the British Leyland
Group.

On Tue, 4 Jul 2006 17:31:59 -0400, "Keyser Soze"
<faradayincxxxspam@hotmail.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>
>"TOM" <tomjc@catz.org> wrote in message news:ABAqg.852$Gv.485@fed1read09...[color=green]
>> Keyser Soze wrote:
>>[color=darkred]
>>> "Coyoteboy" <coyoteboyuk@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>> news:1152037496.178618.192930@l70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>>>
>>>>roger61611@yahoo.com wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>[I used to drive old Fords (Fairlane and Mustang) and the solenoids
>>>>>were right on the fender well, you could replace one in no time. Which
>>>>>helped since the electricals on old Fords rivaled those of the British
>>>>>manufacturers.]
>>>>
>>>>Ford - fix or repair daily.
>>>>
>>>>Not sure i know of any GB cars that have electrical problems, except
>>>>maybe the early new-model rangerovers or TVRs?
>>>>
>>>
>>> I used to have a MGB. Probably the biggest POS I EVER owned. I spent more
>>> time under the hood than in the drivers seat. It had a Lucas electrical
>>> system. When I finally had to bring it into the shop, the mechanic would
>>> say "Oh yeah, Lucas-- the price of darkness".
>>>
>>> Alas, I knew Lucas all too well having had the headlights go out on me
>>> twice at 55 mph.
>>>
>>> I do own an 89 4 by 4 sr5 pickup. It had all the symptoms that the
>>> original poster stated. It WAS a bad battery. Once replaced and equipped
>>> with new terminals all was well.[/color]
>>
>> Nope, no known GB cars with electrical problems... :>))
>>
>> [url]http://www.gomog.com/articles/lucas.html[/url]
>>
>> [url]http://www.gt40s.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18294[/url]
>> --
>> Tom - Vista, CA[/color]
>
>Thanks for the link Tom. I had a good laugh. Believe me I wasn't laughing
>over 30 years ago at the "Prince of Darkness." or at the British Leyland
>Group.
>[/color]

I had a 'bug eye' Austin Healy Sprite....I feel your and my pain...


--

Scott in Florida

"Scott in Florida" <askifyouwant@mindspring.net> wrote in message
news:13rla21eghnqn4de4pe95rad7kcgkks5us@4ax.com...[color=blue]
>
> On Tue, 4 Jul 2006 17:31:59 -0400, "Keyser Soze"
> <faradayincxxxspam@hotmail.com> wrote:
>[color=green]
>>
>>"TOM" <tomjc@catz.org> wrote in message
>>news:ABAqg.852$Gv.485@fed1read09...[color=darkred]
>>> Keyser Soze wrote:
>>>
>>>> "Coyoteboy" <coyoteboyuk@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:1152037496.178618.192930@l70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>>>>
>>>>>roger61611@yahoo.com wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>[I used to drive old Fords (Fairlane and Mustang) and the solenoids
>>>>>>were right on the fender well, you could replace one in no time.
>>>>>>Which
>>>>>>helped since the electricals on old Fords rivaled those of the British
>>>>>>manufacturers.]
>>>>>
>>>>>Ford - fix or repair daily.
>>>>>
>>>>>Not sure i know of any GB cars that have electrical problems, except
>>>>>maybe the early new-model rangerovers or TVRs?
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I used to have a MGB. Probably the biggest POS I EVER owned. I spent
>>>> more
>>>> time under the hood than in the drivers seat. It had a Lucas electrical
>>>> system. When I finally had to bring it into the shop, the mechanic
>>>> would
>>>> say "Oh yeah, Lucas-- the price of darkness".
>>>>
>>>> Alas, I knew Lucas all too well having had the headlights go out on me
>>>> twice at 55 mph.
>>>>
>>>> I do own an 89 4 by 4 sr5 pickup. It had all the symptoms that the
>>>> original poster stated. It WAS a bad battery. Once replaced and
>>>> equipped
>>>> with new terminals all was well.
>>>
>>> Nope, no known GB cars with electrical problems... :>))
>>>
>>> [url]http://www.gomog.com/articles/lucas.html[/url]
>>>
>>> [url]http://www.gt40s.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18294[/url]
>>> --
>>> Tom - Vista, CA[/color]
>>
>>Thanks for the link Tom. I had a good laugh. Believe me I wasn't laughing
>>over 30 years ago at the "Prince of Darkness." or at the British Leyland
>>Group.
>>[/color]
>
> I had a 'bug eye' Austin Healy Sprite....I feel your and my pain...
>
>
> --
>
> Scott in Florida[/color]

I also owned an Austin America. Cute little car a little more reliable than
the MGB. But also painful.

Oh the dreaded Twin SU carbs!!! Sisters to the Prince of Darkness.

On Tue, 4 Jul 2006 18:54:12 -0400, "Keyser Soze"
<faradayincxxxspam@hotmail.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>
>"Scott in Florida" <askifyouwant@mindspring.net> wrote in message
>news:13rla21eghnqn4de4pe95rad7kcgkks5us@4ax.com...[color=green]
>>
>> On Tue, 4 Jul 2006 17:31:59 -0400, "Keyser Soze"
>> <faradayincxxxspam@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>[color=darkred]
>>>
>>>"TOM" <tomjc@catz.org> wrote in message
>>>news:ABAqg.852$Gv.485@fed1read09...
>>>> Keyser Soze wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> "Coyoteboy" <coyoteboyuk@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>>>> news:1152037496.178618.192930@l70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>>>>>
>>>>>>roger61611@yahoo.com wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>[I used to drive old Fords (Fairlane and Mustang) and the solenoids
>>>>>>>were right on the fender well, you could replace one in no time.
>>>>>>>Which
>>>>>>>helped since the electricals on old Fords rivaled those of the British
>>>>>>>manufacturers.]
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Ford - fix or repair daily.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Not sure i know of any GB cars that have electrical problems, except
>>>>>>maybe the early new-model rangerovers or TVRs?
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> I used to have a MGB. Probably the biggest POS I EVER owned. I spent
>>>>> more
>>>>> time under the hood than in the drivers seat. It had a Lucas electrical
>>>>> system. When I finally had to bring it into the shop, the mechanic
>>>>> would
>>>>> say "Oh yeah, Lucas-- the price of darkness".
>>>>>
>>>>> Alas, I knew Lucas all too well having had the headlights go out on me
>>>>> twice at 55 mph.
>>>>>
>>>>> I do own an 89 4 by 4 sr5 pickup. It had all the symptoms that the
>>>>> original poster stated. It WAS a bad battery. Once replaced and
>>>>> equipped
>>>>> with new terminals all was well.
>>>>
>>>> Nope, no known GB cars with electrical problems... :>))
>>>>
>>>> [url]http://www.gomog.com/articles/lucas.html[/url]
>>>>
>>>> [url]http://www.gt40s.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18294[/url]
>>>> --
>>>> Tom - Vista, CA
>>>
>>>Thanks for the link Tom. I had a good laugh. Believe me I wasn't laughing
>>>over 30 years ago at the "Prince of Darkness." or at the British Leyland
>>>Group.
>>>[/color]
>>
>> I had a 'bug eye' Austin Healy Sprite....I feel your and my pain...
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> Scott in Florida[/color]
>
>I also owned an Austin America. Cute little car a little more reliable than
>the MGB. But also painful.
>
>Oh the dreaded Twin SU carbs!!! Sisters to the Prince of Darkness.
>[/color]
OMG yes....

....but they were sweet when working correctly

I never got my dream car at the time

The big Austin Healy 3000

[url]http://www.web-cars.com/Healey3000/[/url]


--

Scott in Florida

I was thinking modern cars guys n gals, not back in the days when we
had hamsters running round in the rear diff to keep it going.

On Tue, 04 Jul 2006 17:21:47 +0000, Bruce L. Bergman wrote:
[color=blue]
> ...
> It's most likely the power contacts in the starter solenoid - where
> the battery cable bolts to the back of the starter. Easily
> replaceable, the parts are under $10, and your local Dealer Parts
> ....[/color]


yepyepyep