Starter problems help please !

[bowwow]

I have left my Hi Lux outside my mum's for THREE YEARS !! was v impressed that after sitting for that long jumped started and drove to garage and passed MOT and ready to go...however week later would not start thought most likely old battery so got a new one and all seemed fine. Drove for 2 days all great but this morn put key in and just clicking sound, all lights on , radio and headlights etc all work just nothing but a clicking sound...is it my starter motor, Starter motor contacts, alternator or imobiliser ???? imobiliser light saying it is off...few other problems rear window electric motor (needs bit of a hand to shut), sun roof stuck shut,rear window washer and not sure heating really works but other than that not bad for a 23yrs old car. If I can get her started think due for a good service and fix those odd bits.
JIC my truck is a 1991 jap import 2.4 diesel automatic grateful of any advise thanks.

[andyverran]

Clicking rather implies battery...

Does it have 2 batteries and did you change them both?

[bowwow]

battery /batteries ?

Clicking rather implies battery...

Does it have 2 batteries and did you change them both?

1 battery...seemed to holding a charge ? Just put key in turn and click then nothing at all no starting sound, no turning over...all lights etc working that's why wondered about imobiser too ?

[andyverran]

1 battery...seemed to holding a charge ? Just put key in turn and click then nothing at all no starting sound, no turning over...all lights etc working that's why wondered about imobiser too ?

I would have thought if it was the immobiliser you'd get nothing...certainly with my alarm it won't even try starting...

Have you done a discharge test on the new battery or tried starting it with a jump? They can fail at any age...If you have tested then the next step would be to take the starter out and check it over.

This might be handy down the road:
http://www.roughtrax4x4.com/?doc=16&cid=609&vid=1240

[bowwow]

Thanks

thanks will have a go tomorrow...

[Bogus]

If you are tight or poor or both try this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TOYOTA-HI-...item43bc9827f0

[bowwow]

Starts in neutral ????

Ok so just got in truck thought I would give another go if I put in neutral starts first time ? Ring any bells ? Might save me hours of stress ?

[bryanisaoldgit]

dew dew

they are designed not to start unless they are in park or neutral
while in gear all starting power is off

[bowwow]

neutral safety switch then ? or dirty ?

Drove all day today and intermittently she wouldn't start in P sometimes if I pushed the stick forward she would and if not started in neutral fine..popped into local garage he said "just start it in Neutral then ?" (also said " I love these cars they are the best")
As she had sat for 3 yrs was a bit green inside when I got her back so maybe it is dust ? NOT sure if it is a problem or not ?
Thanks for help though will see how she goes.

[ToyotaRon]

Maybe there's a corroded/loose contact somewhere in the gear selection gubbins? I imagine there has to be a switch that tells the car what 'gear' position it's in, so it can decide to let it start or not?

Only other thing I can think is that the starter motor contacts have gone, they did on my old Liteace, and resulted in intermittent clicking when attempting to start. Sometimes it would go after a few tries, or if I rocked the van, jumped up and down a bit... Replacing them was easy, cheap and cured the problem.

I'd be inclined to check the gearlever interlock switch first, might well be corroded if the interior has got damp.

Good luck with it, Ron.

[bowwow]

Sounds like contacts

Your description " Sometimes it would go after a few tries, or if I rocked the van, jumped up and down a bit... " seems to pretty much hit the nail on the head..drove all weekend and the few times it didn't start always worked in neautral but today wouldn't start in either..tried numerous times in both gears, prayed, rocked and jumped up and down and started...thanks for help will check out both tips.