Recently I got my 96 4runner 5vz-fe into a pickle... We dropped it into a big hole and had to winch it out. It suffered some body damage on the passenger door and front quarter panel. After we got it back onto the trail it was chugging and dying and running really poorly. Then we blew the fuse for the dome lights, power locks, stereo, seat belt light and the clock resets to 1:00 every time I start it. When I replace the fuse it runs poorly again, it will only do about 30 MPH and backfires sounding like it's going to blow up, and just has no power. Then if you pull the fuse it runs fine again. I checked the ECU because that's what took the impact, but it doesn't appear to be damaged at all and all the plugs seem to be fine. I know there's a short somewhere but I just can't seem to find where. I can't find any wiring schematics online, does anyone have any they can post? Or any suggestions on where to look for a short? Wiring is not one of my strengths and the guy who had it before wired everything like a nightmare... I have looked everywhere where the impact occurred and can't find anything that disconnected or any exposed wires and I'm just stumped. Someone please help!

 

Did you get the ECM/ECU wet was there water in your hole??

Did you damage the harness coming from the right door causing a short??

Sometimes these things can be a real pain to find .

Crushed insulation allowing wires to short might not be visible looking real quick.

Is the system voltage dropping so low it is causing your engine to run poor??