The Rusty Gear

Well, three years after buying my electric locker from Toyota, I FINALLY get the wiring finished. Now my truck ('88 4Runenr) won't start! Does anyone know of a good source for electrical troubleshooting? I'm not sure if them problem is because of something I may have crossed accidentally when doing my wiring, or because my truck has been sitting in a garage since September.

When on ACC, the radio and locker worked like a charm, but my problems started when I tried to start the Truck. I heard heard a few rapid clicks and everything went dead. ACC and power seemed to be intermittant. I tried the locker and it went on off on off rapidly, and the radio went on an off a few tiems quickly. Assuming the problem was the battery, I set up the battery charger, left it for 30 minutes and came back and cranked it up to start the truck. ACC and ON were great, except the lights on the dash seemed brighter than normal and the high pitched door buzzer seemed higher pitch (too much juice?) When I tried cranking it over, rapid clicking and nothing else. Tried it once more and the same. Pulled the charger off the battery and everything was dead again. I got the clock in acc, but when I turned to "ON" none of the dash lights came on. Now there was a whiny buzzing coming from something next to the kickpanel fusebox. This is where I took the negative teminal off the battery and decided I need help!

4RUNR

you need a new battery dude! (or at least try to jump start from someone else)

L33T35T 4Runner

yup. time for a new battery, or a trickle charge over night

that clicking sound is the starter solenoid not getting enough juice to turn the starter motor. i learned this here in school with the marine corps

MTL_4runner

Definately try another battery or charge that one again and have it load tested somewhere.

The Rusty Gear

I'm not entirely sure the battery is at fault because:

a) With a dead battery I've only ever had one click when I turned the key -- This time there are 5-10 clicks per second when I held the key.
b) With a dead battery I have been able to start with the charger before (there is a jump start setting)

I will probably replace the battery anyways (Crappy Motomaster - had another onle barely last past the 1 year warranty period)

L33T35T 4Runner

normally those 110 volt house charger systems with the starting option will only help, but wont jump an entirely dead battery. my battery had some juice but not enough to turn the motor over, i threw my charger on there and put it in start mode. cranked that truck over, but just barely.

those wires on most charging systems just arent large enough to deliver the amps needed to start a motor.

try jump starting it with another vehicle

if the battey is fine, its probably your starter solenoid.. or starter