Gary Blake
New member
I have had an electrical gremlin in my 2000 4R, SR5, 5 spd.
Factory alarm system installed from new and may be part of the problem.
The glitch was first noted almost 5 years ago when I changed out the original stereo for a Pioneer AVH X2500BT. I first thought there was an issue with the stereo because it would keep resetting all the settings to default. The stereo shop replaced the unit twice and the problem persisted. They deemed the problem was obviously somewhere else in the vehicle electrical system and went no further.
The glitch only happened maybe once or twice a year so I just put up with it.
Now it seems to be happening almost every other day so time to look in to it.
I have also discovered that the trip odometer is also being reset as well as the check engine light (The code, catalytic efficiency that has been on since I bought the 4R in 2005 still shows on my OBD reader, just the light is being turned off)
So obviously the stereo guys were right the glitch is in the vehicle.
There just seems to be a very momentary complete power loss that resets the stereo, trip odometer, and check engine light.
Once or twice everything in the vehicle was dead, no lights anywhere, no electric door locks, no power at the ignition, like a totally dead battery.
Opening and closing the driver’s door resets this and everything is good to go again.
Power loss glitch is very momentary as the original Toyota digital dash clock is not losing any time and also does not seem to be affected by the power glitch as it is not being reset (probably just how the electronics work in the old style clock?)
So I am thinking the problem is somehow tied to the door lock, alarm system and ignition in order to be able to kill power.
Battery has been tested is good at standing voltage and running voltage.
All the main battery, engine and chassis ground wires have recently been upgraded to #1 gauge with freshly cleaned contacts.
Looking for suggestions on where to start looking, whether I am looking at a bad ground somewhere else, relay etc.
The headlight auto shut off has been glitching occasionally as well leaving the headlights on after engine shut off and key removed, not sure if this is a separate issue though.
Thankful for any suggestions, have a multi meter and just enough electronics knowledge to be dangerous
Factory alarm system installed from new and may be part of the problem.
The glitch was first noted almost 5 years ago when I changed out the original stereo for a Pioneer AVH X2500BT. I first thought there was an issue with the stereo because it would keep resetting all the settings to default. The stereo shop replaced the unit twice and the problem persisted. They deemed the problem was obviously somewhere else in the vehicle electrical system and went no further.
The glitch only happened maybe once or twice a year so I just put up with it.
Now it seems to be happening almost every other day so time to look in to it.
I have also discovered that the trip odometer is also being reset as well as the check engine light (The code, catalytic efficiency that has been on since I bought the 4R in 2005 still shows on my OBD reader, just the light is being turned off)
So obviously the stereo guys were right the glitch is in the vehicle.
There just seems to be a very momentary complete power loss that resets the stereo, trip odometer, and check engine light.
Once or twice everything in the vehicle was dead, no lights anywhere, no electric door locks, no power at the ignition, like a totally dead battery.
Opening and closing the driver’s door resets this and everything is good to go again.
Power loss glitch is very momentary as the original Toyota digital dash clock is not losing any time and also does not seem to be affected by the power glitch as it is not being reset (probably just how the electronics work in the old style clock?)
So I am thinking the problem is somehow tied to the door lock, alarm system and ignition in order to be able to kill power.
Battery has been tested is good at standing voltage and running voltage.
All the main battery, engine and chassis ground wires have recently been upgraded to #1 gauge with freshly cleaned contacts.
Looking for suggestions on where to start looking, whether I am looking at a bad ground somewhere else, relay etc.
The headlight auto shut off has been glitching occasionally as well leaving the headlights on after engine shut off and key removed, not sure if this is a separate issue though.
Thankful for any suggestions, have a multi meter and just enough electronics knowledge to be dangerous
