I have a 1999 tacoma. Today i pressed the clutch down and it wouldn't start. Luckily I was on a hill and was able to jump start it. The battery is reading a full charge, but as soon as I push the clutch down and turn the key nothing happens. Any Ideas on what to check?
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays,
Tim

 

Do you have a clutch cancel start switch? If so, will starter engage with the button in?

 

2 probabilities:

1. no power to the starter because of bad wiring or bad clutch start switch.
2. power to the starter but starter not working due to bad starter contacts.

If you have an alarm with a starter kill relay, it's also possible you have an alarm issue.

1 is easy to diagnose, just bypass the clutch switch by running a wire to jumper the 2 contacts.

2 is easy to repair, just remove the starter and replace the two starter contacts. There's a bunch of writeups on how to do that, it takes a couple hours the first time you do it.

 

I have the clutch cancel switch. I will try that first thing in the morning.

 

No alarm system. Should I check the wires coming off the starter, mainly the ground? Or focus on the contacts?

 

Yeah, check all connections at the starter, alternator, battery, etc. Been off-roading lately where debris and mud might have caked itself somewhere?

My guess is the clutch cancel switch due to the fact that it does nothing, bad starter contacts would work intermittedley most likely or at the very least "click click".

 

the starter had gone. It was replaced today.. the battery cable also broke as I was checking the connections on the terminals, so I replaced that as well. Thanks for all your tips

 

Just so you know next time if you don't already, you can just replace the starter contacts inside the starter for a ton less unless your starter had catastrophic failure. BTW...never buy kragen or napa starters, you'll end up replacing it in less that 20K