Not starting

[Tylerbailey]

I have a 1998 limited 4runner and it is not starting. I put a new alternator on a few days ago and the battery has tested fine but everytime I turn the key nothing comes on. No dash lights. Nothing. But when I jump it it starts and runs fine until I turn it off then the same thing. Any ideas on what's wrong or has anyone else had the same problem? Thanks for the help!

 

[the great him]

sounds like you have a bad connection somewhere... sounds like a ground to me, but im not sure without looking at the vehicle or doing some tests. but thats where i would start is your ground wires

 

[Tylerbailey]

sounds like you have a bad connection somewhere... sounds like a ground to me, but im not sure without looking at the vehicle or doing some tests. but thats where i would start is your ground wires

That's what I was beginning to think. Thanks for the help!

 

[nissanh]

The battery is bad. When you jump, it starts. Try to attach both jumper wires onto battery posts. If it starts then your ground is fine. Get a new battery from Walmart (avoid autozone, as their batteries are not reliable). Also where did you get your alternator? Autozone?

 

[the great him]

The battery is bad. When you jump, it starts. Try to attach both jumper wires onto battery posts. If it starts then your ground is fine. Get a new battery from Walmart (avoid autozone, as their batteries are not reliable). Also where did you get your alternator? Autozone?

no if he is jumping it, he is using someone else ground at their battery... im not saying that the battery is good, again as i can not test it, but even a bad battery would give off enough power to have dash lights, unless it was dead dead dead, but he said the battery "has tested fine" so even a battery with a bad charge bad cells could run dash lights. this screams ground issue to me. and as soon as he hooks up the jumper cables to another batter or vehicle the cables transfer that ground, just like they do the power.

 

[nissanh]

Kid, correct me if I am wrong. If OP's ground is bad and with a jumper he was able to start it, I am sure he is attaching the jumper wire negative wire to somewhere in the engine. I want OP to attach the negative wire in the jumper wires right on to his battery's negative post. If it starts then the ground in his truck is fine and the problem is the battery.

 

[Tylerbailey]

The battery is bad. When you jump, it starts. Try to attach both jumper wires onto battery posts. If it starts then your ground is fine. Get a new battery from Walmart (avoid autozone, as their batteries are not reliable). Also where did you get your alternator? Autozone?

No the battery is not bad I had it tested and everything is fine on the battery

 

[Tylerbailey]

no if he is jumping it, he is using someone else ground at their battery... im not saying that the battery is good, again as i can not test it, but even a bad battery would give off enough power to have dash lights, unless it was dead dead dead, but he said the battery "has tested fine" so even a battery with a bad charge bad cells could run dash lights. this screams ground issue to me. and as soon as he hooks up the jumper cables to another batter or vehicle the cables transfer that ground, just like they do the power.

Thank you for clarifying that. Do you know how to solve the ground issue?

 

[the great him]

Kid, correct me if I am wrong. If OP's ground is bad and with a jumper he was able to start it, I am sure he is attaching the jumper wire negative wire to somewhere in the engine. I want OP to attach the negative wire in the jumper wires right on to his battery's negative post. If it starts then the ground in his truck is fine and the problem is the battery.

Nope he then would still be using the other vehicles ground. Electricity is lazy it will take the path of least resistance. So as long as he gets a ground he is fine. And using the other vehicles ground will suffice.