TS86

So... I think I may have done some damage last night. I did my regular oil change and decided to pull my fuel pump out to clean the small filter on the bottom. I think my gas tank must have some crud in it as it tends to get quite dirty. Anyway, I decided to disconnect the battery before I did this and this morning when I went to start the truck it was dead. I am able to boost it to get it running but once I turn the truck off I cant restart without another boost. Did I fry my alternator or is it just the battery that is toast? Any ideas?

Elton

try cleaning the treminals on the battrey

jimbo74

look for corrosion on and in the battery wires.... i dont think your oil change or fuel filter cleaning had anything to do with it... batteries can fail without warning... especially since it is summer... battereis dont like hot climates shcoked to cold climates or vice versa.... my boss actually had his battery on his TA go last night... there was soooo much corrosion the terminals fused themself to the battery and i had to cut it off with a sawzall and then strip wires, install some cable lugs and a new clamp

4ROMPER

Be sure its in Park

Rick F.

Since you're able to start it simply by a boost or jump-start, I concur that it's either the battery or the cables. It doesn't take much corrosion or a loose clamp-to-cable connection or even just a clamp loose on the battery terminal to kill the power. Always clean the batterry terminal post and the inside of the clamp ANYTIME you remove them.

TS86

I will double check that tonight. Hopefully it is just a bad connection. Here is a newbie question for ya. If I am taking the positive wires off of the battery I should be unhooking the negative wires first? Correct? Or can I leave the negative attached.

Thanks for the replies.

Lt. Dan

Negitive first as a general rule, but since you are disconnecting both terminals, don't loose any sleep over which one is first.
Just be carefull not to short across the terminals(can you say 'fried computer'?).

TS86

Thanks for the help...
One of my battery terminals was broken. Bought a new set hooked it back up and it will now hold a charge again. Glad that it was a cheap fix.

Now I just need to fix my stumbling problem on acceleration. Not sure what is happening.

Tacoma Dude

Since you have an older truck have you tried looking at the fuel filter?
I noticed a little more power from mine when I swapped out the nasty FRAM the previous owner had installed.