I turn the key and there is a loud clicking noise. The lights work but the engine is not turning over. Why won't my 1998 4Runner start?

Answer 1

Chances are that the battery does not have enough power to start the vehicle. The battery can be next to dead and the interior lights and some dash lights may come on, but a fully charged battery is necessary to start the vehicle. Have someone use a DC voltmeter to determine if you have the necessary voltage to start the vehicle. The battery should normally read 12.6 volts. If the vehicle has been sitting for a while, chances are it just slowly drained. This is called parasitic drain, and is usually a result of the clock keeping time, saving your radio station presets, etc. Normally, such a small parasitic drain does not affect the battery's ability to start the engine. However, if the battery was weak to begin with, then a minor parasitic drain could weaken the battery to the point that it cannot start the vehicle. First determine the current voltage of the battery. Determine how much voltage is currently in the battery (0v-12.6v). Try charging the battery and see if it holds the charge over the course of a couple days. If it does, then the battery probably has some life left in it. If it does not hold its charge very well, such as not even overnight, then you will definetily want to replace the battery as soon as possible. Hope this helps!