Pickups starter just clicks

Tiny
OLDDODGETRUCK
  • MEMBER
  • 1986 TOYOTA PICKUP
  • 2.4L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 200,000 MILES
I have a 1986 toyota sr5 pickup and there is something wrong with the starting system. About a week ago it stalled in my yard, it seemed like the battery had died. I tried to start it and it just clicked. I hooked up the battery charger turned it on heard a loud pop, then I noticed the last person to put the battery cables on had put the red as negative and black as positive. I pushed it in my shop and replaced the big 80 amp fuse that protects the system. I connected everything and it just clicked, so I put in a different battery and it easily started. I turned it off and tried to start again an hour later and just clicks. I replaced the leads on the cables and still nothing. I pulled the starter and bench tested it, it worked but I when I put it back in it still clicked. I thought maybe there was something internal that made it not have any torque, so I replaced the starter and it still just clicks. I double checked and there is 13 volts going into the starter. I cleaned the connections again and tried again. This time it clicked twice then wouldn't click at all, even with a booster. I thought maybe it was possible it the engine was seized, but it easily turned with a breaker bar. Everything else electrical works. Ideas?
Tuesday, January 19th, 2016 AT 4:36 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,005 POSTS
FOR WHAT THIS IS WORTH

I'M SURE THIS MAY BE KICKING THE DOG AGAIN. SEE MY LINK

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/1996-chevrolet-tahoe-wont-start-sounds-dead-battery-jumpbox-get-same-reults

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOUR GROUNDS ARE SET UP

THE NEGATIVE CABLE REALLY NEEDS TO HOOK TO THE ENGINE DIRECTLY (LIKE I SAID, DON'T KNOW YOUR SETUP)

IF YOU HAVE A CABLE OR GROUND STRAP THAT GOES FROM THE ENGINE TO THE FRAME, CHECK IT'S CONNECTIONS (ON MY JEEP, THE BRAIDED GROUND STRAP JUMPS FROM THE ENGINE JUST ABOVE THE MOTOR MOUNT, OVER THE MOTOR MOUNT AND TO THE FRAME BELOW THE MOTOR MOUNT)

INSURE YOU ALSO HAVE A GOOD BODY GROUND

LEMME KNOW IF ANYTHING WORKS

THE MEDIC
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Tuesday, January 19th, 2016 AT 6:19 PM
Tiny
OLDDODGETRUCK
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  • 66 POSTS
Sorry for not replying I haven't had a chance to work on it. I checked the grounds and they all seem good. I did however find out that there is power going to both connections on the starter, the big connection that goes straight from the positive on the battery and the solenoid connection from the starter. Both of them have 12.62 volts, but when I turn the key to start the volts on the solenoid connection drop to 1. Is it supposed to do that? Is there supposed to be power going to both connections all the time?
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Friday, January 22nd, 2016 AT 4:55 PM
Tiny
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ANY PROGRESS ON YOURS?

I GRABBED A STARTING SYSTEM DIAGRAM FOR YOUR RIG FROM "PRODEMAND". KINDA A FLOW CHART "M/T" IS MANUAL TRANNY, "A/T" IS AUTOMATIC TRANNY

I HAD TO MAKE SCREENSHOTS, AS IT WOULD NOT ALLOW ME COPYING IT.

DIAGRAM 1, IS THE TOP HALF/ DIAGRAM 2 IS THE BOTTOM HALF (THEY OVERLAP)

I MADE PIC 3 SO YOU MIGHT SHOW WHAT VOLTAGES WERE WHERE

THE MEDIC

IT WON'T LET ME UPLOAD THE PICS?

I'LL TRY LATER
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Friday, January 22nd, 2016 AT 9:55 PM
Tiny
OLDDODGETRUCK
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I'll have time to actually work on it tomorrow. Is there supposed to be constant power, 12 volts, to the solenoid even when the key is off? And, when I turn the key to the start is the voltage supposed to drop to one volt? I've read about similar problems in 80's toyotas and a lot of people say putting in a start button and bypassing everything is easier and works better if you start to have electrical problems like this.
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Friday, January 22nd, 2016 AT 10:03 PM
Tiny
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I TRY AGAIN

KINDA SOUNDING LIKE THE IGNITION SWITCH

LOOK THE DIAGRAM OVER, IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE

PIC 1 IS THE TOP HALF (THEY OVERLAP) ALSO LOOKS LIKE THE 2nd ONE POSTED LARGER THAN THE 1st

THE MEDIC
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Saturday, January 23rd, 2016 AT 10:01 AM
Tiny
OLDDODGETRUCK
  • MEMBER
  • 66 POSTS
Turned out to be some bad wiring, thanks for the help!
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Saturday, January 23rd, 2016 AT 9:58 PM
Tiny
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YOU ARE WELCOME!

COME BACK TO SEE US!

THE MEDIC
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Sunday, January 24th, 2016 AT 10:30 AM

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