I was getting a check engine light on my 87 4runner. I did the paper clip trick and found that I needed to replace my o2 sensor. I replaced the o2 sensor, and started it up. Well I forgot that the paper clip was still in the diag port, and turned off the car right when I realized that. When I tried to start it again it wouldn't start. In fact, it loses all electrical power after trying to start it(it click's once, then loses power). I then have to wait about 5-10 mins for the electricity to come back. I've checked all the fuses, took the relays out and banged them around a bit to make sure they were not stuck. I'm not sure what to try next, haven't been able to find someone else with this issue. Any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks

 

One other thing I noticed, when I try to start it and it fails, the volt meter on the dash goes to zero and stays there.

 

Any ideas? I'm at a complete loss here and I can't find anyone else with this specific problem, I hope it's just my lack of internet searching skills

 

Sounds to me like a shot battery. Hook some jumper cables to it and try that...only takes a second.

 

I will give that a shot, good thought. Though isn't it strange that it loses all power, then comes back 10-15 mins later?

 

Yeah...I work at a car dealership in the shop and I have had a few cars lose all power while they're on my rack and do the same thing. So I jump em and let em run for a while to recharge the battery.

But yeah sounds like a battery to me....it is possible for them to take a crap out of no where.

 

Sounds like you are a little worried about starting it with the paperclip in, if I am understanding you right? You didnt do any damage with the clip in, it is how you set the timing.

Dont see where you are from, but with the heat in some parts of the country it is very possible your battery is toast.

 

Id check your battery cables. The battery might be fine it sounds like you have a bad ground. Clean the battery terminals and try again. it can happen suddenly like that and its just a coincidence that it happened while you were working on something else.

 

Ah, you guys are good. I jumped it and it started up! Thanks a ton! I'm glad it was simple and not a serious electrical problem.

 

No problem! Glad its all fixed.

 

Glad you got it goin. Those strange coincidences will definitely make you nervous haha..."oh hell what did I do now?"