2010 4Runner - Car Suddenly Dies and......

S

skippystang

New member
Hello Guys

I was just wondering if anyone would know what would cause the new 4 runner to just die and come back in afraction of a second. WHen it first happend I was thinking it was probably my mind playing games on me. Today as I was driving the radio went out and came back in afraction of a second. Later during the day the whole car shut down and came back in a fraction of a second. It is as if the car just lost all curretn and then boom it comes back. I am will trying tracking the problem but I am getting kind of scared to drive it this way....cab you imagine me driving down the highway in a tight corner and this happend to me. Please if anyone has some ideas of where to staring looking or what to look out for please let me know or shoot me an email... [email protected]
 
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skippystang said:
Hello Guys

I was just wondering if anyone would know what would cause the new 4 runner to just die and come back in afraction of a second. WHen it first happend I was thinking it was probably my mind playing games on me. Today as I was driving the radio went out and came back in afraction of a second. Later during the day the whole car shut down and came back in a fraction of a second. It is as if the car just lost all curretn and then boom it comes back. I am will trying tracking the problem but I am getting kind of scared to drive it this way....cab you imagine me driving down the highway in a tight corner and this happend to me. Please if anyone has some ideas of where to staring looking or what to look out for please let me know or shoot me an email... [email protected]
Click to expand...
You should take it to a Toyota dealer ASAP! That is not normal and as you stated could potentially be very dangerous.
 
I had a similar thing happen to me in a 2002 TransAm, turns out I had a loose battery terminal. Tightened it back up and viola! No more dying car.
 
Update On Strange Problem

Hello Guys,

Thanks for the post. What I did is this morning when the car was cold I popped the hood and checked all the electronic connectors making sure they were all making good contact. I revised the battery both termials were loose so I tightend them up. I brought the car to work today and I am testing it again..if ti acts up one time it will go to the shop per Harpers good advice. I will keep you guys posted.......

Thanks Guys!!
 
Problem Solved

Hello Guys,

Just posting an update. After pushing in all the eletrical snap connectors in towards each other in the engine bay and tightening up the battery terminals I have not had anymore incidents with the vehicle.


Thanks Guys!!
 
It still strange to me. as i understand after the engine start it no longer need the battery in oder to stay on, because it get the power from the alternator, so even one side or both battery terminals came off it still shouldn't die. I am afraid that might be something else involve.
 
Circuit

I'm no electronics or engine expert, but in our motorhomes if you disconnect the battery while the engine is running the power that the computer is expecting to see in the circuit drops. The battery in the circuit acts to adjust or smooth the power in the system, accepting excess current (to charge) or making up for deficient current. When this is gone it causes the computer to shut the system down. It was explained to us that it was a failsafe to protect the engine and electronics.

They also said NEVER to remove the battery while the engine is running as it could damage the electronics in the system. Once again its what I was told... so real mechanics either correct me, fill in the blanks or refute.

Thanks
Dave Bane
 
Snowfox said:
It still strange to me. as i understand after the engine start it no longer need the battery in oder to stay on, because it get the power from the alternator, so even one side or both battery terminals came off it still shouldn't die. I am afraid that might be something else involve.
Click to expand...

I'm not an expert but it seems logical to me that vehicle gets all power from a battery, alternator just charge battery as we go. I remember that once I got serpentine belt broken in my old minivan so alternator was out as well as power steering , but i was able to drive to mechanic and all electical stuff was fine, just battery light on dasboard was on.
 
Had the same thing happen to me in my GC. Happened alot and when it happened it would all flicker on and off 20-30 times real fast. Had a very corroded negative battery cable. I know, too little to late. Hopefully this makes my post worth it though :girl:
 
From what I think I know, the battery does supply/regulate the output of electrical power. The ECU needs to be in circuit with the battery to function properly. Lose that connection and it can cause havoc on any number of systems.

When my terminal connection was loose, as long as I kept my RPMs up the alternator would genereate enough power and my car wouldn't die. It was a standard transmission of coruse, that drive home was...difficult...

Like needing a foot on the brake, gas and clutch all at the same time, feathering use of all of them. The worst was coming to a stop...which meant brake pressure, clutch pressure, and gas pedal pressure all at the same time. Crash course in heel-toeing it!
 
Very glad the OP managed to fix the issue - I suggest they do report it to Toyota since it is a safety issue although I do wonder if this was a fault in PDI at the dealer (do they ship with battery disconnected?)
 
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