Electrical Issue, Need Help!

M

McLoven1t562

New member
Hey everyone, so this is the strangest thing to me that's been going on recently. (1996 SR5 v6 4x4 with little pioneer single din head unit and stock speakers)

Last week, I get to work and back into my parking spot. The moment I put the vehicle into Park, the entire vehicle (radio, lights, engine, windows, EVERYTHING) cuts off and will not come back on. The only thing that after numerous attempts started working again was the "open door" chime sound when the key is simply in the ignition but not turned at all.

It wouldn't do anything right after it happened, nor even a few hours later. Then I try yet again (roughly 4 hours after I get to work) to get it going so I can go eat lunch. Engine starts up first turn like nothing happened, BUT now the radio will not turn on. I left work 4-5 hours after that, and vehicle is acting perfectly fine once again with the exception of the radio. Radio refuses to turn on for the next several days.

Yesterday, I pulled the subwoofer connectors out the back (since I tossed the subs the minute I bought the vehicle) and then the radio came back on with no issues using only the oem connector and antenna cable. Everything was working great last night for a McDonalds run, but TODAY. I went to leave my place and we're back to square one....absolutely nothing has power. It's like putting the key into a car that has no battery connected.

My battery is less then 1 year old and it tests good with 12 volts, clamps are TIGHT with absolutely no corrosion on any connectors. The vehicle literally does NOTHING.

I desperately need some help because this is my daily driver and I can't exactly be calling Uber or Lyft at 5:30 in the morning on weekdays and actually get a ride lol

Thanks In Advance
 
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RandyBobandy said:
I’d go through and check all your grounds, make sure they aren’t loose or corroded
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where and/or how many grounds are there? I know the battery to the side of my fender one, but that's the only one I know anything about. lol - the wire does look a bit chewed up so I'll likely replace that regardless of if it's the actual culprit. Does need to be changed sooner or later from the looks
 
19963.4lsr5 said:
Do your headlights turn on when everything is dead?
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Click to expand...

No, like I stated in the OP. NOTHING works, not a single thing. No locks, lights, door chime, not a damn thing. Checked my grounds and they look fine, it's just really weird how it'll be like this for half a day and then run great for a week. Course that's likely electrical problems for you ><
 
If you haven't done it yet, perhaps pull some fuses and see if they are either corroded or blown.
 
I would verify the terminals are very clean and tight. Then I would verify the fuses are not green especially the bolted in main.

This everything all the sudden dead. Mostly its terminals issues or possibly iffy main fuse [ very rare].


At least thats were I would start to track down what's going on. :)


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brillo_76 said:
I would verify the terminals are very clean and tight. Then I would verify the fuses are not green especially the bolted in main.

This everything all the sudden dead. Mostly its terminals issues or possibly iffy main fuse [ very rare].

At least thats were I would start to track down what's going on. :)
Sent from my SM-A505U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

as stated in OP, I already verified the battery is good, alternator is good, terminals are tight and spotless, zero corrosion/dirty/grime/dust.

I did go through all the fuses appear to be in good condition from what I can see, nothing looks burnt out or a distorted color.

Thanks though
 
If your loosimg all power it has to be at the source. If your loosing some power it can be be anywhere.

Are you or are you not loosing all power?

As you ignition can be dead along with a several other circuits and you still have power to some circuits

Do you know how to use a meter?
Do you know how to verify wires are good?

Do you know how to verify fuses are working properly besides looking at them?

When everything is dead does the dome light, stop lights and horn still work?

If you tell me or anything else it's stated in the opening Op again. I am done even trying to help you in this thread or matter. :)

Because people are trying to help you fix your issue.

Lots of times the simple things are overlooked and dismissed when they are actually the cause of the issue.

This is why folks are having you double check these things.



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brillo_76 said:
If your loosimg all power it has to be at the source. If your loosing some power it can be be anywhere.

Are you or are you not loosing all power? Zero electrical power when I go out to vehicle

As you ignition can be dead along with a several other circuits and you still have power to some circuits

Do you know how to use a meter? I do, sadly my tools are locked in storage 20 miles away so I'll likely need to call parts store or take a pricey Uber ride

Do you know how to verify wires are good? I do

Do you know how to verify fuses are working properly besides looking at them? Not really, gonna have to youtube that one

When everything is dead does the dome light, stop lights and horn still work? No, absolutely nothing functions

If you tell me or anything else it's stated in the opening Op again. I am done even trying to help you in this thread or matter. :)

Because people are trying to help you fix your issue.

Lots of times the simple things are overlooked and dismissed when they are actually the cause of the issue.

This is why folks are having you double check these things.
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Click to expand...

do appreciate the help n yea I get double checking things, i've definitely gone over a few things more then 3 or 4 times. Just want my rig to magically be perfect again! lol
 
McLoven1t562 said:
do appreciate the help n yea I get double checking things, i've definitely gone over a few things more then 3 or 4 times. Just want my rig to magically be perfect again! lol
Click to expand...
I get it. If your 100% sure you loosing all power it has to be at the terminals or fuse box.

As your battery terminals can be tight yet completely full of oxidation and not conducting at all.


Do you happen to have a picture of these terminals?

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brillo_76 said:
I get it. If your 100% sure you loosing all power it has to be at the terminals or fuse box.

As your battery terminals can be tight yet completely full of oxidation and not conducting at all.

Do you happen to have a picture of these terminals?

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Click to expand...

Just went and snapped a few pictures.

<a href="https://ibb.co/wWW23jb"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/wWW23jb/20220905-102041.jpg" alt="20220905-102041" border="0"></a> <a href="https://ibb.co/85yq35h"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/85yq35h/20220905-102052.jpg" alt="20220905-102052" border="0"></a> <a href="https://ibb.co/TWYZ7yB"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/TWYZ7yB/20220905-102046.jpg" alt="20220905-102046" border="0"></a>
 
Ok. What does those post look like with terminals off. Chalky or shining lead?




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brillo_76 said:
Ok. What does those post look like with terminals off. Chalky or shining lead?
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Click to expand...

Feel like they could use a cleaning, but doesn't look bad to me.
<a href="https://ibb.co/L8YnL7L"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/L8YnL7L/Pos.jpg" alt="Pos" border="0"></a> <a href="https://ibb.co/mvYnXc3"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/mvYnXc3/Neg.jpg" alt="Neg" border="0"></a> <a href="https://ibb.co/FDLfc76"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/FDLfc76/c.jpg" alt="c" border="0"></a>
 
McLoven1t562 said:
Feel like they could use a cleaning, but doesn't look bad to me.
<a href="https://ibb.co/L8YnL7L"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/L8YnL7L/Pos.jpg" alt="Pos" border="0"></a> <a href="https://ibb.co/mvYnXc3"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/mvYnXc3/Neg.jpg" alt="Neg" border="0"></a> <a href="https://ibb.co/FDLfc76"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/FDLfc76/c.jpg" alt="c" border="0"></a>
Click to expand...

They need a good cleaning. They also make good grease that keep them from oxidizing. I agree they don't look bad enough to not conduct properly Though.

Why are you loosing power? Are the wires under the terminal caps shiny clean?

Any issues starting clicking?

Everything needs to be super clean and shiny for good conduction.. When I see terminals looking like that I kinda cringe...:/

Maybe those were on it before you got the rig but you can see how the copper is turning brown from being exposed to the oxygen. The wire should look like a new copper penny...

Do those terminals get warm when the vehicle is running? As that is another way to tell too much resistance is building up.
 
brillo_76 said:
They need a good cleaning. They also make good grease that keep them from oxidizing. I agree they don't look bad enough to not conduct properly Though.

Why are you loosing power? Are the wires under the terminal caps shiny clean?

Any issues starting clicking?

Everything needs to be super clean and shiny for good conduction.. When I see terminals looking like that I kinda cringe...:/

Maybe those were on it before you got the rig but you can see how the copper is turning brown from being exposed to the oxygen. The wire should look like a new copper penny...

Do those terminals get warm when the vehicle is running? As that is another way to tell too much resistance is building up.
Click to expand...

Went ahead and scheduled a rental car for the next couple days so I can actually go and buy some products plus goto my unit and pick up tools (and get to work in the morning)

The connections to the terminals are very clean, but agreed that the terminals themselves could use a good scrubbing and greasing. I've only had the rig for a little over a year now and the battery itself is from March 2022 straight from Interstates wholesale factory, so it was on the shelf for a couple weeks before given to me.

I have no idea why the power is just gone, it's not that I'm losing it in a performance sense or anything. It simply starts when it wants to, and then times like this, not a damn thing has any power to it, no dome lights, gauges, door chime sound, lights, nothing.

When it does start, not a single issue. It turns immediately over once I turn the key, never heard any problematic sounds or had it hesitate. and yea I guarantee the positive & negative wiring is 100% OEM from 1996 so I can definitely try to brush off the exposed wiring best I can as I'm not sure if I have the length to cut and strip some of the wiring

No clue about them heating up as I've never tried to check that portion. Honestly it began as a "1 bad day" type issue and then the past week it started/ran perfectly so I figured it was no big deal.
 
McLoven1t562 said:
Went ahead and scheduled a rental car for the next couple days so I can actually go and buy some products plus goto my unit and pick up tools (and get to work in the morning)

The connections to the terminals are very clean, but agreed that the terminals themselves could use a good scrubbing and greasing. I've only had the rig for a little over a year now and the battery itself is from March 2022 straight from Interstates wholesale factory, so it was on the shelf for a couple weeks before given to me.

I have no idea why the power is just gone, it's not that I'm losing it in a performance sense or anything. It simply starts when it wants to, and then times like this, not a damn thing has any power to it, no dome lights, gauges, door chime sound, lights, nothing.

When it does start, not a single issue. It turns immediately over once I turn the key, never heard any problematic sounds or had it hesitate. and yea I guarantee the positive & negative wiring is 100% OEM from 1996 so I can definitely try to brush off the exposed wiring best I can as I'm not sure if I have the length to cut and strip some of the wiring

No clue about them heating up as I've never tried to check that portion. Honestly it began as a "1 bad day" type issue and then the past week it started/ran perfectly so I figured it was no big deal.
Click to expand...

Its an odd one. I am just saying from my experiences, 95% of the time, when you have absolutely no power, you are loosing it the connections at the terminals. Or its the battery. ( I highly doubt the battery in this case ) Could be either terminal t
he positive or negative.

The main engine ground is right by the oil filter.. Lots of times this gets covered with oil. Mostly this effects starting only though.. :-( So I doubt its the cause in this case.


This one is maybe one of these that you super clean those terminals and connections and see if the issue is resolved. If not, you just keep tracing.

I would go after a conductive grease in these connections over a die electric grease as you already have connectivity issues. :-)

I can tell you that both your terminals are not 100% OEM. Toyota doesn't use lead terminal posts clamps. They use copper clamps. :-)
 
Last edited:
brillo_76 said:
Its an odd one. I am just saying from my experiences, 95% of the time, when you have absolutely no power, you are loosing it the connections at the terminals. Or its the battery. ( I highly doubt the battery in this case ) Could be either terminal t
he positive or negative.

The main engine ground is right by the oil filter.. Lots of times this gets covered with oil. Mostly this effects starting only though.. :-( So I doubt its the cause in this case.

This one is maybe one of these that you super clean those terminals and connections and see if the issue is resolved. If not, you just keep tracing.

I would go after a conductive grease in these connections over a die electric grease as you already have connectivity issues. :-)

I can tell you that both your terminals are not 100% OEM. Toyota doesn't use lead terminal posts clamps. They use copper clamps. :-)
Click to expand...

I think I may just buy some new terminals since they're inexpensive and ya I meant the actual positive/negative wires. Terminals are most definitely aftermarket....and two completely different terminals for each post too lol. The guy had subs and crap in the rig when I bought it so there's tons of audio wiring through the vehicle which I'd LOVE to eliminate altogether since I just run speakers & stereo.

I'ma go buy a new terminal brush since they're like a dollar, grease, terminals and see what happens after that. Figure it's an easy/cheap under $20 attempt to see if anything happens.
 
Oh wow....... so I had checked the battery the other day and it tested good.

Just took it to Advance and it's at 7.9 volts and NINE, NINE CCA

Guess I need to look up Interstates exchange process since it's only 6 months old and replace my alternator while I'm at it.

Still got new terminals and grease while I'm at it, but I hope it's just replacing the alternator if they cant save the battery....told em to put it on the charger just to see what happens. They claim its recoverable
 
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