Complete electrical failure
 

So I hopped in my '98 4runner, it started normally, I drove it home. When I got home I turned off the truck and all the electrical stuff completely failed. Won't start (or click or anything), power locks don't work, lights, nothing. I popped the hood and jiggled the battery around (it's late and poorly lit), closed the hood, electrical stuff all works, went to start it, complete electrical failure again, no clicks, power doors out, lights, etc. I tried this a couple times, each time the electrical system would come back on after opening the hood, then fail when I try to start it. Any ideas what's going on here?

Thanks for any help.

Bad connection at the battery terminals or loose ground.

Thanks for your reply, that's kind of what I was suspecting. For whatever reason my truck has nothing holding the battery in place. Is that normal, or should I get some kind of after-market bracket to hold it firmly in place?

There should be a bracket so the battery does not move around.

It doesn't appear that there is a bracket, I probably need to get one...

Yes a battery hold down might be a good idea.

Now take a close look at the battery terminals and the cables they might have some damage from the battery sliding around your lucky it has not hit the fan.

makes quite a lot of noise when your sleeping on the way to work.

Thanks for your help, guys. Do you think they'll sell the appropriate battery bracket (and cables) at autozone or pep boys? Or am I better or rigging up my own? Will it be obvious if there is damage to a cable, or will I have to test them in some way?

Not probably. SHALL. :)

That's a common item. Should be off the shelf.

Yes, check ALL connections and cables. Do not underestimate this.

Pep boys and autozone will only have aftermarket poor fitting brackets. You can get the right one that fits perfectly at the dealership. They aren't that expensive