Strange Push to Start Failure on Limited

So this evening something odd happened when I went to start my 2016 Limited which has the push to start button. But a similar occurrence happened a couple of weeks ago..

First instance, one morning I went to start the vehicle to warm up and I basically half stepped into the vehicle pushed brake and wanted to start it to let it warm up, I wasn’t fully in the vehicle but hitting the start button it basically clicked and just completely dead. I figured maybe something with the immobilizer and the key being too far, so I closed door, went fully in and started the truck - chalked it up as a fluke and immobilizer.

Well fast forward to earlier on the day.. I got in the vehicle fully ready to leave, push the brake and basically I hear a click like last time and then the entire vehicle does nothing, no other sounds or noises. Completely dead. I figured maybe I pushed the button too fast or didn’t press the brake properly so I tried again and nothing from the vehicle.

Figured maybe it was something with the anti-theft? So I stepped out of the vehicle, closed door and back in. Same thing. At this point I’m thinking it’s the battery, being in my driveway I went to grab my voltmeter to see what the voltage reading was and maybe too low. Popped the hood, as I took the leads to the battery terminals a slight spark occurred and the entire vehicle woke up.. not started but basically went into accessory mode, lights on, radio on, dash lit etc. So I was like okay…

I took the vehicle to get the kids, then the obligatory Costco run and it ran and started without issues 3-4 times. Anyone encounter or know of this similar issue?

the closest I could find similar is this thread.

 

1. Are the battery terminals corroded?
2. Are the cable connections tight?
3. Do you have a loose ground connection?
4. Any frayed wires or missing insulation on wires connected to the battery?

Just spitballing...sounds like a ground issue if the battery tests good.

 

How old is your battery? You might want to have it tested, could have a dead cell.

 

I will check today. I do know the terminals looked good and clean.

what surprised me was the spark as I put the multimeter on the batt posts - I’ve done this before on other vehicles etc and that never occurs..

I’ll have to loosen it and move it over seems the label is on the side facing the windshield which is hard to see. But I do see it says ACDelco on it - were these OEM batteries? If so it may be from 2016..

 

If it's the original battery, I would start there. You can stop by a reputable shop and have it tested, most will do it for free. Autozone and O'Reilly both test for free, but I don't know if I would necessarily trust the person doing the testing. Is your Toyota dealer decent? My daughter took hers to the dealer while away at school, they replaced it with a 7 year Toyota battery for $193 . Toyota of Murray Kentucky, if your close.

 

Regardless of how the terminals look, I'd take them off and clean them. The idea of a spark seems to tell me the issue was a bad connection.

 

Factory battery is Panasonic. Toyota dealer batteries are Toyota branded, usually made by Clarios (nee Johnson Controls). Your General Motors battery is likely a replacement. The battery may also have been disconnected and reconnected while the vehicle sat on dealer lots.

This is probably a loose battery cable at the battery posts. The spark occurred when your meter probe bridged the gap between the post and the clamp collar.

 

Just came in- positive terminal clamp I was able twist around the post a bit. Loosened it up and pushed it down as far it would go and then re-tightened it.

Negative side was solid, no movement.

I’m confident this was the issue fellas! Good calls on the battery terminals! Thank you for your assistance!!