Sometimes get no response when turning key to START

That sounds like something else. All my lights worked, except the clock would turn off when I moved it over to START. Must be a Toyota thing. Maybe your ignition switch is bad? I would check the continuity at the pins.

 

Would a bad ignition switch cause the truck as a whole to have no power? Even stuff that's unrelated to the key being in the ignition? For example, I'll unlock the truck with my key just fine, press the lock button and the doors will lock, then try to start the truck and nothing... then if I press the unlock button, or try to turn my headlights on, etc. nothing will happen - even though the doors will normally lock/unlock regardless of the key being in the ignition.

I should also mention that (only sometimes) when my truck does this, the clock resets, the radio presets reset, and the disc is ejected from the cd player, just like if you were to disconnect the battery.

 

Ironically, I had something similar happen today. I haven't had a hint of trouble before this. Went into a store and came out and turned the key and nothing. Dash lights came on but nothing but a few clicks when turning the key to start. Headlights wouldn't even turn on. I pulled the battery and took it to be tested. Tested good. I put the battery back in and inspected connections. The terminals looked pretty good but I took them apart and brushed them off really good and put it back together. Truck fired right up. There were no signs of corrosion on the battery terminals.

Even if your terminals look good, remove them and brush them really good. Might save you some trouble.

 

Refer to this. Sounds similar to what I was dealing with...
Sometimes get no response when turning key to START

 

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Hopefully it's a simple fix. I'll try to remember to let you know when I figure out what it is.

 

Truck did this to me again yesterday. After a long day at work, came out to start the truck and BAM! Nothing.
Funny is after i get a jump from coworker, it started right up. Battery checks out, new alternator, starter passes test, really clean terminals. Not sure what the heck it is.

 

Starter contacts and battery terminal connections can cause intermittent starting problems.

 

Maybe you have a bad ground somewhere? Check your starter connections..

 

Would bad contacts in the starter pass a test??
Ive been thinking of upgrading the ground cable, seems small and thin.

 

Not sure how a starter can be tested unless done on a bench. See this:
Not super mobile friendly since this was in the olden days, but still a useful article on replacing the contacts

http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenance/starter/

 

It's funny, but my '03 Honda Accord has started doing the same thing. I thought it was the neutral safety switch, but I have found that if I hold the key at the start position, it will usually crank after a second or so.

I'm going to have a look at the starter if we get a warm day, or it stops completely.

 

Starter solenoid contacts. A jump start gives slightly higher voltage to solenoid and it's able to overcome the uneven worn contacts.

These contacts are really wear items, and it's worth proactively inspecting and replacing them if it's been over 100k depending on how often you use the starter, short trips vs. long trips.

Same goes for inspecting/replacing the alternator brushes. They generally last 120-140k miles, and will wear out at some point, maybe leaving you stranded.

 

Mines been doing this for 5 years. Very seldom, but it does happen. 90% of the time it'll fire right up after one cycle of the key, but the other 10% it won't, so I just hit the "clutch start cancel" button and it'll fire right up and then I forget about it until several months later when it does it again.

 

So today on my 1996 5speed V6 I went to start and the dash lights came on and when I turn to crank it over no sounds are made, and I noticed the clock light dims. I tried it a couple times and then I tried it with the ClutchStartCancel button and it worked somehow.
Took it to the gas station to fill up and the same thing happened when I went to start it back up, but the ClutchStartCancel button did not do the trick. No noises, just the dash lights stayed on and the clock dims.

I did not pop the hood as my neighbor was there and just wanted a ride home to get my other car to get to work so I left it at a gas station in a parking spot. When I recently did my spiral cable I noticed the battery terminal wire lead was probably overtightened by previous owner to where it does not hold the battery terminal post as well as it should. I'm guessing this connection is loose and can give enough of a connection to get the lights working and maybe randomly enough connection to get the engine to turn over. When the engine turned over it took a normal amount of time, maybe two seconds, to start the truck up.
Can anyone give me some advice?
I plan to bump start or jumpnit when I get home to get it to my house as well as check the wire leads to the battery.

 

trying to start the truck a second time and it working is usually a sign that the contacts are worn out.

 

I'm assuming when you mean "a second time" that you mean really just anytime after the first try? And would I be able to see any noticeable wear in the actual contacts or I just gotta get a test light down there and hook it up to see if it's worn out?

 

yes, generally, that's the first sign of worn out contacts. In order to really know, you'll have to pull the starter and take it apart to see the contacts. I believe there is a link in this thread to 4x4wire about it.

 

You definitely have to have good clean connections at the battery. Spotty connections there can cause intermittent starting issues. The terminals need to be clean and the battery cable/terminal connector has to grab it nice and tight and not have crap coating it and keeping it from good contact. I like hot or boiling water in a pot or whatev just poured straught onto the battery posts with cables attached and everything. Cleans up really good

 

So I just grabbed my truck from the gas station. Didn't start with just the clutch depressed. Tried twice and then hit the ClutchStartCancel and it started up no problem.
Bad starter connections? That's what I'm thinking after reading all this and some other such.

 

check your clutch switch.