Intermittent Starting Issues

Hi All! I have been having some issues with my First Gen Tundra (2006, DC, V8) and was hoping this forum has some insights. Here are the issues I am seeing:

1) When I turn the key, the truck will make many fast-clicking noises, and the lights on the dash flash quickly but the engine does not crank.

2) I can do this 2 times before on the third try the vehicle is completely dead. No electrical at all.

3) I have found that disconnecting the quick disconnect on the battery and reconnecting seems to reset the truck and it will start and run just fine.

I initially thought it might have been some bad corrosion on the battery terminals so I cleaned them up and that worked for a couple of weeks before the issue started again. I have also taken it to the local Yota dealer and they ran an electrical system check that came back fine so they told me nothing is wrong with the truck. Don't really feel like paying them again to tell me I am crazy so I was wondering if any of y'all might have some insight. Thanks!

 

I think you're on the right track: Electrical issue. Specifically related to battery and/or ground.

If you don't have a battery test tool that checks for both voltage and cold cranking amps (CCA), regardless how new or old your battery is, take it to your friendly local auto parts chain store and asked them to test it. Most places will do for free, and ruling out bad battery as a possibility is an important step, anything you can rule out of your suspects list for free is a win-win all day long.

If not the battery itself, check the ensure both battery clamps are in good condition and fully tight.

I would then assess grounds and power: Check grounds from engine to cab, engine to frame, quick sanity check could be adding a ground, I suppose. The flickering you mention could be indicative of a positive battery cable that's shot, or there's something wrong with the smaller positive cable running from your positive post to the main relay/fuse block in the engine compartment.

 

Agreed. Clicking usually means you're not getting the amperage you need to spin the motor.

 

Dad used to hammer a startup checklist into my head when I was just getting started driving -

Rapid clicking/flickering: Low CCA or loose connection.
Everything dies at key turn: Insufficient voltage.
Loud click at key turn, no turnover, pwr stays on: Bad starter or solenoid.

I'm sure there's probably a boatload more, and these modern cars probably have very different elements at play, but the above has yet to fail me.

 

Remove the quick disconnect and report back. They can go bad.