I went to brake and stop today and my dash lights/headlights dimmed when i tapped the brakes.....also the rpm dropped and almost died. I did this a few more times with the same results and was listening very closely and heard a 'clicking" noise coming from the gear shifter area. upon further investigation whenever i tapped the brakes this click was coming from that area and you could feel it click if you put your hand on the shifter. 95 toy runner 3.0 auto. any ideas?? if i hold the brakes down my truck dies now, but if i just tap thjem quickly it will click/dim etc and i can quickly do this a couple of times and if im careful can stop the truck without it dieing?? please help if you can!!!!!

 

any ideas at all what to look for or check?

 

That is normal operation...its called the shift lock...you have to hit the brakes to shift out of park, and every time you hit the brakes the locking pin will click open.

 

can't say about the clicking, but I think Team420 may be right.
as for the engine dying when you step on the brake, most likely the brake booster.

 

yes...I would also say brake booster...didnt see that part earlier

 

so is that also why i lose almost all electrical power while hitting the brakes too? (ie all lights dimming). if so how can i check my brake booster?

 

also i understand about the shift lock and how it works but it just starting clicking loudly when my truck started this dieing stuff.......it clicks loud and hard enough you can feel it in the shifter! that can't be normal can it, esp since it just started when all of this braking/dieing started up???????

 

clicking is normal, shift interlock. Its so you cant just flip it into reverse or park while going 70, I would check out brake booster.

 

I never noticed a clicking with mine.

 

somebody is paying way too much attention to their vehicle. I'd have to agree with everyone it is a shift lock solenoid. You have to step on the brake to release the vehicle from park. NORMAL!

 

what's your opinion on the dying when the brake pedal is pushed in?

I'm taking a survey.

 

disconnect the vacuum line from the brake booster and plug the line. start the engine and step on the brake. if the engine doesn't sputter and die like it was, the booster isn't the problem. if it does... well...?

 

how low is your idle if you dont mind me asking??? i'd have to lean toward a booster also.

 

according to my factory tac about 550 when warmed up. back to the shift lock.......i understand how it works and why but it started clicking VERY LOUD and you can actually feel it clicking through vibrations in the shifter when you rest your hand on it. it NEVER did this before i started having problems with all this........thats why i am kinda worried about the clicking......however tomorrow morning i will check my booster and let you know the result......will it die alltogether or just sputter some????

 

Clicking, no matter hoe loud is completely 100% normal in this case.

As for the dimming check out this thread

It could be that or the brake booster.

 

I'd check the torque converter bolts myself, to make sure one isn't backing out.

 

I had an issue a couple months ago, with my truck dying and the p/s pump making some noise when I hit the brakes, turned out to be some little vacuum solonoid thingy(cant remember the name) on the p/s pump itself, this may be your problem...but I doubt it, maybe replace the wire going from the pos batt terminal to the fuse block with some heavier guage wire...Its cheap and it might help, and if not its a good thing to do anyway.

 

i'm in the process of changing my 10guage pos wire to fuse block to a 6 guage........i'll let yall know if this is the culprit.!!! thanks for the responses guys!!!!!!! yotatech rules!

 

Just to clarify, there is a solenoid that allows the shifter to move when the brake pedal is pressed. It can get loud with age, but it's normal.

 

Oh, now this thread is starting to make some sense to me. I'll have to listen for that click and see if I notice it, thanks.