Need Help!!

[Siberian Worm]

I just bought a 1990 v6 4runner last week and the other day the battery on it went dead. I was able to jump it and drive back stopping and all no problem, but it wouldn't start when I got back to my house. Since I could stop and drive in town I didn't think it was the alternator. I replaced the battery today since the other one was done, then went to start it and it turned over but wouldn't catch and is now dead again. The 4runner has a choke sensor thing I need to replace which makes it hard to start when it's even slightly cold (like it is today), so I think that was why it wouldn't catch, but why did it go completely dead again? Did I blow a fuse or something?

 

[fourwd1]

Since you replaced the battery and still have the problem, either the alternator is not charging properly or you have something draining the battery when the engine is off.
The V6 is EFI, so there is no choke.
You could connect an ammeter in series with the battery + terminal and check the current drain when the engine is off. If it's more than 50-75 mA or so you could have a problem.

 

[Siberian Worm]

Well now I feel like an idiot. When I bought it the guy told me the check engine light was for a sensor that had to do with the choke which is why I thought it had trouble starting if it was a tiny bit cold. Is there anyway to read the codes without paying some mechanic to do it? Or do you have any idea what that would be?

 

[T?@\7]

Is there anyway to read the codes without paying some mechanic to do it? Or do you have any idea what that would be?

autozone, discountautoparts........ for free.
sometimes, I know on newer cars (obd2) you can use a paperclip and get the ecu to put out the code in a series of light flashes in the guage cluster, somethine like SLOW BEEPS translate to ten seconds, and the quick BEEPS are the single units. i used that technique on my 00 honda prelude a few times.... but going to autozone is easier still
Just dont be a d1ck about it, and throw that nukka a dollar or two

Woodini

 

[Rix]

autozone, discountautoparts........ for free.
sometimes, I know on newer cars (obd2) you can use a paperclip and get the ecu to put out the code in a series of light flashes in the guage cluster, somethine like SLOW BEEPS translate to ten seconds, and the quick BEEPS are the single units. i used that technique on my 00 honda prelude a few times.... but going to autozone is easier still
Just dont be a d1ck about it, and throw that nukka a dollar or two

Woodini

autozone will probably be lost on this, as their code reader is probably obd2, and won't work.

You find your diagnostic box under the hood.
use a paper clip or a piece of wire to jumper te1 and e1
then you count the check engine light flashes.