Engine electrical problem

[jcpaoli]

Hi,
on a 4wd 2007 4runner, i´m having the following problem. Randomly, sometimes while driving the engine lost electrical power and shuts off ( with no service engine light on the panel ). I shift to neutral and try to start. Some times it does (only if the service engine light turns on while turning the key). If it doesn´t i stop and wait, some times hours, until the service engine light turns on while turning the key so it will start.
Sometimes it hapens before starting engine.
I´ve been to the dealer shop and diagnose computer shows no error code. All relays and fuses are ok, and the problem doesn´t occur while at the shop.

Any clues???

Many thanks

 

[chaz]

are you saying the dealer couldnt tell you what the problem was?

 

[jcpaoli]

The problem didn´t happen at the shop. And the diagnose computer showed no error code. But the problem still happening randomly

 

[cabowally]

This smells a little fishy. Dealers make a sizable portion of their profits fixing cars. At $100/hour, diagnosing a proplem like this is nirvana. Whatever.

Your description could be a lot clearer. Are you saying that while driving the car you lose all electrical power and the engine shuts down and then when you attempt to restart it sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't and it only resarts when the service light is on?

1. When you say the engine loses electrical power is it the "engine" or the entire vehicle, i.e. radio, fans, lights, gauges....?

2. What do you mean when you say it wont start? Does the starter engage? Does the engine turn over and not fire? Or is it just dead? And if it's just dead, what about the radio, fans, lights, gauges....? What works and what doesn't?

Tighten the battery cables for starters.




.

 

[superman3043]

Just out of curiousity... Does this happen on hot days when you're running the A/C fairly hard or no?

 

[DC runner]

Sounds electrical.

I wouldn;t be shocked if you have some loose or corroded wires around your wiring harness. Since it isn't just with starting, it isn't your battery..


Check.

 

[TNTramair]

first thing i would do is check your battery connections..is it corroded?? ive had instances where the customer had this problem and the battery terminal was corroded to a point where it wasnt getting power from the battery post.

other than that, has it been to the body shop for any work recently?? it could be a bad ground which can also cause this issue.

typically anything else like a sensor malfunction should in theory trigger a code and make it relatively easy to track down...but if there are no fault codes...its a crap shoot.

unfortunetly dealers cant perform miracles...if the vehicle isnt doin what the customer says it is when they are lookin at it than it makes it very difficult to track down and repair. ie: intermittant stalling concerns that dont trigger fault codes....electrical complaint like "when i use my radio the wipers come on" etc.

 

[jcpaoli]

1.When I say engine looses power. It´s just the engine. Radio stays on, lights on, AC on. Everything but the engine.

2. Won´t start I mean dead. No cranks at all.

Battery cables OK

 

[jcpaoli]

Here´s always hot.

 

[jcpaoli]

went to the shop for this problem and as you say. If it doesn´t occur there is very difficult to track.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

If only the engine is I would rule out charging, starting, and power supply issues. It sounds like a possible ground issue, check all your grounds from engine to frame. Also if you can, jiggle the harness with the car at idle to see if there is a loose connection and or broken wires. It is a little strange you're not getting codes, but I would try those things first. Also try to make a list of conditions that occur around the time it diea, next time.

 

[timon]

Symptoms are the same with what happened to my other car, ignition on- everything got power except that engine wont start, no cranking sound, nothing happened. Quick fix but not guaranteed, Try to move your shifter, make sure that its in the right spot.

In my other car, when the shifter is not on the right spot (sorry, dn't know the exact term) my car wont start bec the car computer senses that it is not shift in park.

But your case is totally diff especially when it happens during driving. Just my 2 cents