key slipped while starting - now it's dead!

[jkmcrg]

Interesting thing happened after I took my friends out to lunch. We all got in the hot car, I put the key in, turned it to start it up, and just as the starter barely got a chance to start turn, the key slipped out of my hand and it sprung back to the off position.

Immediately, all electrical went dead in any key position. Battery is at 12.8v, tried to jump it with no change. With the key is in the ignition and the door is open you can hear it intermittently sort of starting to ding ding indicating open door, but it's just little chirps as it tries to play the sound. :wtf:

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1999 3rd gen T4R 2WD Limited

 

[jgue467]

Certainly unusual. Have you checked the 'big' fuses in the engine bay? There are a couple/three high amperage ones that may be involved here or even some of the smaller ones.

Only other thought that comes to mind right now, is perhaps disconnect battery for a good 5 mins then re-attach and try starting. Otherwise...

This sounds like a job for 'The Durk', call him out.

Luck. :cowboy:

 

[nevada]

sounds like a dirty, or poor connection at the battery. remove and clean the cable ends. try again.

 

[jkmcrg]

Thanks for the quick responses! Y'all were right! Key-flick was a complete red herring (even though this was the first time this has happened!!)

Turns out it was the problem of an aftermarket ground terminal - it was the style that you clamp a bare wire in, but the toyota ground is a crimped ring terminal, and they just stuck it on one of the clamp bolts. The entire aftermarket terminal was PAINTED except for where the bare wire goes. The car was grounded THROUGH PAINT for the entire 3 months I've owned it - how has this even been starting!!! :rofl:

 

[19963.4lsr5]

The Toyota terminals are expensive but worth it.


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