Tree Monster

Hello all 1st post here and i'm in sort of a bind.

A week ago I had changed the thermostat and belts on my 88 4runner 3.0, not anything to do with wiring or electrical. On the way home from the shop I thought the truck was running funny but paid it no mind, it is an old truck after all. Well I looked down and noticed that no guages were working and the clock had shut off like the truck had died but it was still running. after I parked it it will not turn back on. The dome light, clock, everything in the cab has no power, when I turn the key to run the heater fan and the passnger heater will work but nothing else, the headlights and hazards work also the horn but nothing else. I think if I were to push start it the truck would run like it did the entire ride home, which was with little to no problem at all. I have tried tracing the wiring diagram but with the heater working it lost me somewhere. Any help would be appreciated.

drkgypsy

Double check and make sure you haven't lost a belt somewhere, and they have the correct tension. Replace/adjust accordinly.

Check the engine,charge, and ign fuses.

Check the alt wiring. Make sure they wires are making a good contact, esp. the ground.

that should get ya started

Tree Monster

Thanks, but I think I didn't specify the problem. The truck acts as if there is no battery in it at all the only signs of life are the heater fan and the headlights. The fuel pump doesn't kick on no startup guages no nothing like the computer was blown, does the computer control the interior lights? the light wont even come on when i switch it on. I checked the fuses and the Fusible links(I think the squarish box? that looks like a giant fuse?) and everything checks out.

drkgypsy

MMM shot in the dark, but is your voltage regulator playing well w/ the rest of the engine? How was your rig running before the n tstat and belt swap-outs? Where all the guages and everything working then? Prolly shoulda asked that first, but it's asked now...

hillbilly

Might want to check your ground wire (negative) too. If its severely corroded, clean it up with a mixture of baking soda/water. Use a dab of anti-corrosion gel when reconnecting it. If the grounds broken you can replace or re-terminate it...

Rick F.

Sounds like the battery isn't charging. You may have enough juice in the battery for low power stuff that will work on low voltage. Try recharging the battery and/or have it and the charging system checked. Sounds like you may have done something to the alternator.

the_supernerd

Try checking all of the fuses, especially the big ones near the battery. If one of those has blown then a lot of things would not work, but there would still be things that work. Look at a wiring diagram and find what everthing that is not working has in common, like a fuse, ground, or switch, and then check it.

Tree Monster

Hrrm I've checked all the fuses, but I think im just a half-wit when it comes to wiring diagrams all the paths I traced are interwoven as far as I can tell. Brand new battery and connections to the battery. I think I might have lost a ground somewhere. When I stopped drving the truck initially the guages would flicker for a second then go off then flicker now they are just dead. Thanks for the help everyone here.

the_supernerd

Pull a fuse to one of the things that is not working and check the power at the fuse socket with a test light. If there is power, then it narrows your problem to being past the fuse box. If there is no power, then it might be the connection to the fuse box or possibly something with the ignition circuit. Post back here and I will look at a wiring diagram and help you figure it out.

Tree Monster

Awesome will do thanks!