Ratchet shorted + terminal, now NO power...HELP

dgoll75

dgoll75

New member
Yes, I am a DUMBASS. Now that we have covered that, here is the low down. I have a new battery as of a few weeks ago. Today I was giving everything a once over to make sure the connection bolts were still properly torqued down. Heres when the bad stuff happened. I was on the positive terminal with a ratchet, paused to answer my phone and looked away. Ratchet spun down and hit the top of the intake with a spark. No biggie... or so I thought. Stop working and realize there is no power to ANYTHING at all. Checked EVERY fuse and the big ones too (twice), and they all look perfect. I thought the fusible link 100amp took a surge so I replaced it. After I reconnected the battery I used a Voltmeter and have over 12 volts of power into fusebox under hood. However, still nothing. Not a click, flash, alarm, locks, nothing. I am freakin out. Battery is new, Alternator is GM 144 and 2 years old and charges at 14v, starter is rebuilt and working perfect. Truck ran absolutely perfect all day today until this incident. Did I cook my ECU? Is there a relay or fuse that is hidden somewhere that I may have missed? I have searched here for a couple hours with no solution. I am super lost.
 
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dgoll75 said:
Yes, I am a DUMBASS. Now that we have covered that, here is the low down. I have a new battery as of a few weeks ago. Today I was giving everything a once over to make sure the connection bolts were still properly torqued down. Heres when the bad stuff happened. I was on the positive terminal with a ratchet, paused to answer my phone and looked away. Ratchet spun down and hit the top of the intake with a spark. No biggie... or so I thought. Stop working and realize there is no power to ANYTHING at all. Checked EVERY fuse and the big ones too (twice), and they all look perfect. I thought the fusible link 100amp took a surge so I replaced it. After I reconnected the battery I used a Voltmeter and have over 12 volts of power into fusebox under hood. However, still nothing. Not a click, flash, alarm, locks, nothing. I am freakin out. Battery is new, Alternator is GM 144 and 2 years old and charges at 14v, starter is rebuilt and working perfect. Truck ran absolutely perfect all day today until this incident. Did I cook my ECU? Is there a relay or fuse that is hidden somewhere that I may have missed? I have searched here for a couple hours with no solution. I am super lost.
Click to expand...

Did you do more than just look at them? Here is the power distribution for the 2002, yours might differ, but not by much. Does ANYTHING function at all? Dome lights? Park lamps?

If not my money is on the cable connection itself. Too many variables for one fuse to kill everything. But you have to check the fuses with a voltmeter, or remove them and check for continuity.

http://tacoma.site40.net/4Runner_96-02_Repair&Wiring/techinfo.toyota.com/ileaf/ewdtmc2/ewdtmpdf/ewdsourc/2002/024runne/systemci/012ps.pdf
 
IBallEngineer said:
Did you do more than just look at them? Here is the power distribution for the 2002, yours might differ, but not by much. Does ANYTHING function at all? Dome lights? Park lamps?

If not my money is on the cable connection itself. Too many variables for one fuse to kill everything. But you have to check the fuses with a voltmeter, or remove them and check for continuity.

http://tacoma.site40.net/4Runner_96-02_Repair&Wiring/techinfo.toyota.com/ileaf/ewdtmc2/ewdtmpdf/ewdsourc/2002/024runne/systemci/012ps.pdf
Click to expand...

Removed every fuse and inspected them through a led light.
 
Sounds like you smoke the ground cable. Try replacing it. Then start following the power from battery to block and see where it goes.
But my money is on the ground issue. DC needs ground to function.
 
Bad_Vision said:
Sounds like you smoke the ground cable. Try replacing it. Then start following the power from battery to block and see where it goes.
But my money is on the ground issue. DC needs ground to function.
Click to expand...

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!! I never touched my ground cable originally so I never thought it to be the suspect. I went out as soon as I read your posts to troubleshoot some more and remembered I had added an 8 gauge ground wire extension to it some years ago. From the zap it must have gotten smoked like you said and it also looks a bit corroded. I replaced it with a brand new 4 gauge that I had and the truck fired right up. Thanks for all the input gents. This really is a great forum.
 
Ladies and gentlemen still reigning champion Bad_Vision!!!!!!

Lol glad it worked out for you nothing more tedious then wire tracing!
 
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