Took apart my dash now it won't start!

Hey All,

I am a new member and new to being a home mechanic as well. So I took the dash on my '98 Tacoma apart to take a look at the heating system and when I put it back together and reconnected the negative on the battery the check engine light came on and it won't start. I thought I reconnected all the wiring harnesses properly but to be sure I took it back apart and reassembled it and same thing. It doesn't even try and turn over. Any thoughts on what I've done wrong and why it won't start?

Thanks!

 

Do you get power when you turn the key?

 

I Do.

 

How much of the dash did you take apart? Just climate control? Or lots more?
Just for fun, hit the clutch cancel button and try again.
For some reason its stuck in my head that I had to do that once
EDIT: with the clutch in. Just thought I'd say it

 

Lots more... Like the entire thing. I realize this was unnecessary but live and learn I guess. I just reassembled it again and when I hooked up the negative the hazards and all dash lights flash for a period of time and then stop. This happens even without the keys in it. Thoughts?

 

Do you have an alarm or something that might not allow it to start after its been "tampered" with?
Any blown fuses?

 

I was wondering about an alarm system. I recently bought it and am not sure. I got it from a used dealership and they got it at auction. I'll check the fuses and let ya know. Thanks!

 

Fuses look good. Definitely leaning towards alarm system. When the door is open there is a beeping noise with the flashing lights and if I leave it open the lights and sound will go on for a while then stop briefly and resume again. When I close the door the lights keep flashing for a bit then it stops and does not start up again until the door is opened. Any way to disable or bypass this?

 

It'll be alarm specific. You'll have to find out what alarm is in there then go from there

 

Cool. Would there be any kind of make or model of the alarm I could look for? I will also ask the dealership.

 

I'd start there, but there might be a box or something under the dash
I'm assuming that who ever installed it tried to do it subtly, so it might be tricky to find

 

something similar happened to me with another car. I was told to touch together the positive and negative battery cables together while disconnected from the battery. I did, it started. Don't know why.

 

I believe thats to drain all the power in the system to "reset" or kill the alarm so it can't disable the starter. Not 100% sure

 

Thanks for all the tips guys! Gonna try the dealer and the discharging tomorrow. Really appreciate the help and I'll let ya know how it goes!

 

So thus far I've had no success. I tried touching the battery leads together a few times to make sure I had good contact and nothing. I left the battery disconnected for three time intervals of 1 hr, 8 hrs and 11 hrs and nothing. I looked under the dash for a kill switch, found a small toggle switch but it did nothing. The dealer said they didn't install an anti-tamper/theft device so I am no closer to finding out what kind it is. Ideas? Anyone? I'll try anything at this point.

 

WooooooooHoooooooo! Found what looked like an alarm box hidden deep left in the drivers side foot well. Connected to it was a shock sensor with fuses in-line to the box. Pulled one of the fuses, lights stopped, fired right up. Thanks again for the help guys. Certainly pointed me in the right direction.

 

You have triggered your security system somehow. I did on a 2000 chevy s-10 one time when I was putting in a heater core. I called the service Dept and he told me how to resest it over the phone. For the chevy I had to turn the key on and not start it for 60 mins. Then turn it off and then it started. I would double check and see if everything is pluged in, the check all fuses, then call Toyota service Dept.