89' Pickup- Sometimes it Starts, Sometimes it Don't

1989 Toyota Pup 2WD 4CYL- My truck will start 6 or 7 times without a
hitch and then I'll drive someplace and park and when I come back to
leave, the engine won't turn over. The battery is working, the guages
light up, the buzzer will sound if the door is open. But when I turn
the key in the ignition to crank it, nothing. The two times it has
happened recently, I let it sit for 1-6 hours, came back and it turned
over and cranked. No anomalies in the weather (rain, etc.) The one
similarity I noticed was that both incidents happened after the first
time I drove the vehicle and shut it off that particular day. Dealer of
course can't replicate the problem. Any suggestions?

I'd try cleaning the battery terminals first. A poor connection can
allow enough current to turn on dash lights and chimes (a few amps) but
not turn the starter (a few hundred amps). Bad connections often get
worse when hot. Good luck. Al
Malcolm wrote:[color=blue]
> 1989 Toyota Pup 2WD 4CYL- My truck will start 6 or 7 times without a
> hitch and then I'll drive someplace and park and when I come back to
> leave, the engine won't turn over. The battery is working, the guages
> light up, the buzzer will sound if the door is open. But when I turn
> the key in the ignition to crank it, nothing. The two times it has
> happened recently, I let it sit for 1-6 hours, came back and it turned
> over and cranked. No anomalies in the weather (rain, etc.) The one
> similarity I noticed was that both incidents happened after the first
> time I drove the vehicle and shut it off that particular day. Dealer of
> course can't replicate the problem. Any suggestions?[/color]

If cleaning the terminals does not help, sounds like the 'toyota
starter contact' problem. It is easy to repair after you get the
starter in your hands. The positive contact wears away until the
plunger cannot make good contact every time. Try
[url]http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks/Starter.shtml[/url]

Yup - starter contacts - cheap fix if you can do work yourself.

<ed_herman@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1166272162.740701.317210@j72g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> If cleaning the terminals does not help, sounds like the 'toyota
> starter contact' problem. It is easy to repair after you get the
> starter in your hands. The positive contact wears away until the
> plunger cannot make good contact every time. Try
> [url]http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks/Starter.shtml[/url]
>[/color]

Thanks for the advice everyone!

Malcolm wrote:[color=blue]
> Thanks for the advice everyone![/color]

I have to same problem with my 1990 4x4 pu with the 22re engine. I have
check everything from the battery to the starter. I have replaced the
starter twice, replaced the battery. I thought it might of been the
clutch over ride switch so I bypasses it and a month later it did it
again. When i use a volt meter I found a voltge drop of 4 volts between
the battey and key switch. When i check the battery it self it reads
12.89 volts. Once I hook an jumper battery it starts okThis has been a
ongoing problem for 2 years now. What I have done now is installed a
bypass switch, so when It won't start I just push the switch and it
starts everytime.
Gordon

A 4 volt drop between the battery and key switch is way too much!! You have
some bad connections somewhere that is degrading the electrical circuit.

Check both ground connections including under the bolts to the metal and the
positive wiring connections.

Re-hookup the safety switches before someone accidentally sends your truck
forward during startup.

Paul.

<gordon507@telus.net> wrote in message
news:1166822486.085971.53700@h40g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
>
> Malcolm wrote:[color=green]
>> Thanks for the advice everyone![/color]
>
> I have to same problem with my 1990 4x4 pu with the 22re engine. I have
> check everything from the battery to the starter. I have replaced the
> starter twice, replaced the battery. I thought it might of been the
> clutch over ride switch so I bypasses it and a month later it did it
> again. When i use a volt meter I found a voltge drop of 4 volts between
> the battey and key switch. When i check the battery it self it reads
> 12.89 volts. Once I hook an jumper battery it starts okThis has been a
> ongoing problem for 2 years now. What I have done now is installed a
> bypass switch, so when It won't start I just push the switch and it
> starts everytime.
> Gordon
>[/color]

<gordon507@telus.net> wrote in message
news:1166822486.085971.53700@h40g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
>
> Malcolm wrote:[color=green]
> > Thanks for the advice everyone![/color]
>
> I have to same problem with my 1990 4x4 pu with the 22re engine. I have
> check everything from the battery to the starter. I have replaced the
> starter twice, replaced the battery. I thought it might of been the
> clutch over ride switch so I bypasses it and a month later it did it
> again. When i use a volt meter I found a voltge drop of 4 volts between
> the battey and key switch. When i check the battery it self it reads
> 12.89 volts. Once I hook an jumper battery it starts okThis has been a
> ongoing problem for 2 years now. What I have done now is installed a
> bypass switch, so when It won't start I just push the switch and it
> starts everytime.
> Gordon
>[/color]
a few years ago I worked on a 22re, I don't remember the year. It had a bad
relay. the relay was under the dash near the steering column. the ign switch
and safety switches energized the relay, the relay sent power to the
starter.
Mike K