Hey fellas, Never had a problem with my Runner at all before, I keep up on all the maintenance/ services etc.

Today I was driving into a parking spot at work, and the car cut off completely. No power to Dash Headlights ignition, anything. I tried jumping it and as soon as the terminals are on Sparks went flying. I did it again with the terminals off the battery and almost same re-occurence. I checked the alternator fuse all the main fuses all seem good under the Hood. I changed the alternator about a year ago, so i figured maybe the alternator internally took a dump on me so i disconnected the alternator and try jumping it and no luck.

When i put the jumper cables on to the battery after the spark the car STILL does NOT get any power, no lights, dash etc.

Only thing I can thing of is the Main power wire is grounding out some where? and my grounds are good i had an 4awg grounding kit on it for about 2 years.

Please help, Thank you.

 

probably a stupid question but you are puting the cables on the right terminals, right? other than that i would check all main wires leading from the battery to see if they might be melted together and shorting out.

 

Yessir, Terminals are on Correct.

 

fried or broke a grounding strap??

 

Could this be a shorted battery?
Maybe disconnect the battery cables from 4runner and attach jumper cable to the 4runner cables directly?
Good luck.
Let us know what you find.

 

I disconnected the terminals from the battery and tried powering the terminals, but no power inside the car either. Their was still a little spark with the terminals together. I dont think its a broken ground strap or it wouldve not sparked with power connected to the batt/ terminals.

I checked the power wire to see if it got melted, but does anyone know if the power wire to the started passes the exhaust manifold area? I dont think it does.

 

Did you connect the black side of the jumper vehicle cable to metal on your engine (or some other ground) and the other to the red cable (battery still disconnected).

 

No I tried jumping it with jumper on intake manifold bolt, but i did not try jumping it with the terminal off the power and the ground on the engine, should I try that aswell?

 

gotta be a fusible link if your not getting anything, got a voltmeter? start probing i would

 

sounds like an internal short. Possibly a short in the PCM.

 

When you say sparks just what do you mean???

There are sparks and there are SPARKS you will get a little arcing when hooking up the ground side of the jumper cables.

I had a starter short out once caused the same sort of symptoms

A intake manifold bolt is not the best place for your jumper cable.

Do You have a multimeter at all trying to trouble shoot without one is next to impossible.

There could be any number of things caused this you should start with the battery and go from there one step at a time till you find it.

Good luck

 

Found the Problem a few days later! I went to inspect to the starter grounds/ section and noticed the backplate of the Starter missing!! It was a refurbished starter from an autoparts store, the Bendix/solenoid blew right out of the backplate housing causing the short in the starter and the truck.

Got it replaced with an OEM one. Who wouldve thought!

Thanks again guys!!