91' New Battery and No Response 2nd Gen

[tripmetal]

Hello everyone this is my first time posting.
This summer I purchased a used 91 gen 2 4 runner with a new battery and as I don't have my license yet it has been in my driveway for the past couple months. When I got the truck I took off all of the dash panels to look at how the stereo worked and how it could be replaced, then I re assembled the dash panels, I do not know if this could have anything to do with the problem I am experiencing however. After I did this I left it alone for the night, but when I came back the next day there was no response from the truck. When I put the key in the starter won't click and the headlights won't turn on. Literally nothing electrical or otherwise works. I am hoping someone who is experienced with 4 runners or has experienced this type of problem before is able to help me or point me out what happened, is there something i could have disconnected in the dash board that could have cause this?
P.S. Don't try to tell me my terminals are dirty or I need to try a jump start.
Any help is appreciated and I thank you!

 

[P-Town-503]

I’m no expert, but these are some good options to consider below.

Most definitely sounds like a bad or loose connection somewhere. I'd start with the steering column back through the firewall and then the main wiring harness. Have you checked the fuseable link, fuse box under the hood .. I believe its an 80 amp fuse? Have you checked all major grounds, should be 3 of them. One is right next to battery to body, next is on top of Plenum, and then the 3rd is to block near the oil filter. Also check near the battery there is a thick wire, it goes to the fuse box right off the left side of the positive terminal if you are facing the vehicle. If this wire is broken or is breaking down inside it can cause problems because it feeds ALL your power to everything even the 12 volt power to the starter. Replace that wire with your own thick wire. Also test your battery just to be sure and check if there are corroded battery terminals.

good luck! hope one of these options work for you... if not you might need to break out the voltmeter.

 

[giro]

You said nothing electrical works, but not to tell you to get a jump start. Why?

If nothing electrical works, it's either the battery or something really close to it. Like P-town said, a fuse able link or major wiring/connections. But with what you were doing, it seems most likely that you grounded something out and it drained the battery overnight.

OTOH, on my '98 I stopped to make a phone call and then tried to start again. Some things had power, but a swath of things didn't (like the radio, dash and inside lights) while some still did work (maybe headlights, turn signals, and door lights). It turned out it was a fuse able link under the hood that just needed to be reseated.

 

[77'911]

You might consider getting a hold of a volt meter and testing the battery first to see if there is above 12 volts. There might be a draw in the truck that has killed the battery (especially when it sits for a period of time). Best of luck with it.
regards

 

[Jayzero911]

like stated before, it sounds like you have a draw somewhere. I bought my 91' and it just got a new batt a few months before, it ran fine and everything.(except for the blown head gasket) The 2nd day I had it home the batt was dead. I got a volt meter on it and watched the volts drop, took the batt to AutoZone to have them charge and test it. It came back fine and is still holding a charge sitting on my workbench. Found out a few days later that the wires to the license plate light broke. Must of happen after I got into the back and swung the tire away. Doesn't take much to break old brittle wires.

EDIT: BTW a volt meter is cheap if you go to the right place. Mine all cost me like $5 or less with coupon at Harbor Frigate.