What have you done to your Tacoma today? 1st Gen Edition

Engine just cut out. I know how a low fuel stall is, I experienced it several times in the 5-lug. Low fuel is accompanied by abnormal engine performance as I’ve noticed.

 

I’m pretty sure it’s original, so maybe it’s time to change it.

Doesn’t explain why my gas gauge was reporting inaccurately when I got home. It read 1/4 tank when I parked, and when I restarted it read full tank.

 

I don’t know what to tell you, that’s what happened. One moment I’m pulling away from the curb, next moment I lost my engine.

 

Considering it swam in poop water I’m surprised you’re not having any more issues.

 

No, it died instantly and suddenly. Electrical system stayed on which leads me to believe it’s a fuel delivery issue.

 

Sounds more like an electrical issue. Grounds are always a good place to start

 

Really? Wonder where. I replaced the dinky fender ground with a 6 AWG battery cable, and I never touched the engine or firewall grounds. I know there’s far more that that, but those are what come to mind.

 

What about your kill switch wiring? I think I remember you wired a switch to your fuel pump relay or something?

 

I ripped it out because I couldn’t find anywhere to mount the cheapo switch, and then it broke. I bought a better aircraft switch with the safety cover, but haven’t installed it yet.

I also made the critical mistake of wiring it inline with the fuel pump power wire on the circuit opening relay which draws a lot of current. @mechanicjon mentioned using an ECU signal wire with virtually zero amperage versus the fuel pump wire is a much wiser decision and achieves the same result.

 

You confident you wired the fuel pump wire back securely? Something to check cause it could be at fault. Just a thought.

 

I doubt they’re the connectors being cracked. I only have about 100k miles on the truck. The spark plugs and wires were replaced about 25k ago.

 

I wired it with quick disconnects originally and made sure it wasn’t going anywhere. I used heat shrink and crimped it well.

My truck ran fine the 26 miles I drove it home.

 

Good question. I'm a solder guy but I don't oppose crimps & in many cases crimps are better if done properly.

 

I don’t like soldering on cars. Car MFG’s mostly use crimp connections, which are perfectly fine.

 

Both are perfectly fine, but I use crimp because it’s faster. I don’t see many solder joints on factory car harnesses.

 

Trust me, I’ve crimped hundreds of quick disconnects, terminal pins, and butt connectors. Remember I also manufacture wiring harnesses.

I took extra care when working on the circuit opening relay harness.

 

It doesn't make sense to solder terminals & pins in mass production. Over soldering can also create stress points. There's no need for manufacturers to solder wiring harnesses.

Me personally I rather solder for rejoining wires unless you get into 10ga & bigger. I hate those colored butt connectors.

 

Can you imagine butt conns on 20 gauge haha

 

I learned that the hard way. I used to mass manufacture wiring harnesses by soldering. I wasted a lot of time and flux paste doing that. Then I switched to butt connectors and I never looked back.

Only soldered wires on my truck are for the audio system. I soldered to the spades on the speakers.

Also, heat shrink butt connectors are amazing.

 

It’s probably original so I’ll assume that it’s worn out. Doubt it’s clogged.