2003 Tundra Starting Issues

My 2003 4.7 Tundra is having starting issues and im starting to feel like im chasing ghosts. When I first got the truck, (about 6mo ago) she had a bad starter which I replaced. Within the last 2 weeks she is not wanting to start up. I will crank and all I get is a single click and a electrical buzzing noise that is coming from the starter. I started with the 5a fuses and the starter relay. My multi-meter shows that all fuses and the relay read strong at 12.7v. Battery terminals have been replaced and the battery itself reads 12.7v. I have even removed the starter and bench tested it and it works fine. Before I replaced the starter the battery was always being drained, but now it doesn't ever loose life and stays charged so the battery is not the issue. So not the fuses, starter relay, battery, battery connections, starter, or starter connection. Please send me your ideas so I can lay this issue to rest. She has 300,000 miles and runs like a dream, I just cant get her to start. If I have to take the intake manifold off much more I might just go get a MOPAR....NOPE! Boys lets get it done

 

I wouldn’t dismiss the battery. Mine had a dead cell on it and the voltage wasn’t off. Only went down when it was cranked. I suggest at the very least to get it tested. It’s free at your local auto store as you probably know.

Another area might be corrosion of battery cables which can cause poor contact and enough resistive drop to give you issues.

 

Replace the battery post connectors and trimmed the pos and sad cables to secure a better connection. I have not replaced the cables entirely, just "refurbished". I do however have shims on the posts because the new connectors weren't as snug as I wanted them. No corrosion tho. I also have 2008 Sequoia so maybe I will try that battery and see if its any better. Would a load test diagnose a bad cell?

 

I believe that’s what they typically do when they test it. It wouldn’t be useful otherwise.

 

Well that why Im a chef not a mechanic. Gatta ask questions to learn. You can get a good look at a T-Bone by sticking your head up a butchers ass.......

 

What brand of starter did you buy. Denso is the only way to go.

 

This. Dude, we've already had one person this month fuck around and find out with using store-brand starters. ANOTHER dead-out-of-box part showed up last week.

Store brand starters (at least for these trucks) tend to have a lifespan of 2 days to 3-4 years. If you didn't replace with Denso brand (and DO NOT purchase it from scAmazon or fleaBay, knockoffs galore), you should start by replacing the starter again, with the correct part that will last another 15-20 years.