Tacoma losing all electrical?

[DAA]

So, my buddy calls me a couple hours ago, '06 Tacoma wouldn't turn over.

Battery is only four months old. Truck had just been driven 30 minutes earlier, no indication of any problems. Goes to start it and it's completely dead - absolutely nothing, headlights won't come on, door locks won't work, radio won't play, no dash lights, nadda...

I'm on the other end of a phone, not with the truck, there isn't anything there to test the battery. But it sounds to me like maybe plates shorting or something just totally fried the battery all at once.

I get there and there are jumper cables, I put them on thebattery and touch the free clamps to see if they spark and get absolutely nothing. Battery appears to be as dead as a door nail. Pull the battery out, we take it to Napa, they exchange for a brand new one, no charge. Take new battery back, put it in the truck. Lights work, locks work, everything - obvious the new battery has juice. Goes to start the truck. One "click", and it's back to absolutely nothing again? Battery appears totally dead again?

I had not so much as a test light with me, nothing to do any troubleshooting at all. And had to bail (needed at home).

Where would you guys suggest going from here?

I can't believe a new battery just got fried. Could not test it, but am guessing it is actually okay.

My wild azz guess, is some sort of a breaker got tripped. That self reset while changing the battery, but it tripped again as soon as we tried starting the truck? But, what would that be? Where, exactly, under the hood?

Won't be able to get back to it until tomorrow, but can take a multi meter and all that good stuff with me when I do. Or if there is anything he can check tonight that I can tell him over the phone I will.

Thanks in advance!

- DAA

 

[DAA]

Could this be a theft prevention key deal gone haywire? Spare key will be there in about an hour, going to have them try it.

- DAA

 

[jeeper]

Simple bad connection on the cables. Clean them well, get them tight.

look for corrosion where the wires go into the terminal connections.

poor a coke on the terminals.. great acid cleaner

 

[DAA]

They tried the spare key but still no joy.

- DAA

 

[DAA]

Cables looked great? I tightened them good too.

- DAA

 

[jeeper]

Cables looked great? I tightened them good too.

- DAA

Bummer. It seems to me that it is the symptoms of bad connection. 2 of my trucks do the same thing about every 6 months or so..
Good luck!

 

[DAA]

I'll check them again, real good, when I get there tomorrow. Symptoms do match a loose terminal, and going for the simplest solution is usually the best path.

- DAA

 

[DToy]

Had the same thing happen on a jeep I owned a few years ago. Cables Looked good, no visible corrosion. Chased it for months. Sometimes it would have power, then other times completely dead. One day I took my dremel with a sanding drum on it and cleaned the inside of the terminal clamps. Problem solved. Never had an issue after that.

 

[DAA]

Good call Jeeper!

I didn't even have to go over. My buddy just tried moving the positive terminal and found that although I had the nut as tight as it would go, the terminal was still easy to move. And when he did move it, the interior lights came on and the truck started. He's going to put a new terminal on and call it good.

- DAA

 

[gijohn40]

Oh I though that Tacoma White lost his power.... hope all is well

 

[frieed]

If the terminal clamps are lead, they may have stretched. Pull the bolts out and run a hacksaw down the gap to remove a little lead and allow tighter clamping again.