Engine won't crank over

CLC

MEMBER
2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER
115 MILES

2000 4 runner 2.7L. Intermittent no start when cold. No click or anything. After a few tries, it finally will turn over. When it turns over it does so normally and starts normally. Its out of town and I have to go tomorrow to diagnose and hopefully repair intermittent no start when cold. It seems to start ok when car is warmed up. Connections at battery are good, and the battery is new. Would you look at the starter, ignition switch, or the neutral safety switch? This vehicle is at school with my son, am trying to have what I need when I go tomorrow. Also do you know what mm the starter bolts are? Where is the neutral safety switch is located? Oh yea it is an automatic trans. Thanks guys, appreciate the help

1 Reply

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,874 POSTS

I think you said it doesn't click but things get lost in translation. This vehicle uses the little silver Nippendenso starter which has a real common intermittent problem caused by worn solenoid contacts. You'll get one rather loud clunk each time you turn the ignition switch to "crank". After trying it a few times, it will crank normally. The problem will get worse over the next weeks and months. It takes a real long time for the problem to become permanent.

The contacts can be replaced for 20 bucks but most people just replace the entire starter. Some farm and hardware stores have kits now for even less.

Neutral safety switches can be intermittent too but you'll have to move the shift lever a few times to make them work. The clue it's the starter is it will work intermittently by doing nothing other than turning the ignition switch.