wiring short - truck won't start

Hey TW,

Well, after successfully completing an entire motor swap, and 2 CV axle replacements on my '05 taco I tried to tackle the final step of my build - installing a stereo - and failed.
bought my truck without a stereo, btw.
Bought a new double DIN Kenwood unit from Pep boys, and a Metra toyota wiring harness adapter. Wired it up w/ crimp connectors in what I thought was the correct sequence matching wire colors.
put the stereo in the truck, went to start it up and the stereo started to illuminate and start up. went to crank it, heard a Click, then it shut down and so did my truck. wouldn't start back up.
Lights go on in the accessory ignition setting, but nothing illuminates in the Start position.

Bought a fuse tester and some extra fuses. Started testing fuses yesterday. none of em are bad from what I can tell.
Curiously after pulling fuses I was able to get it started yesterday and drove it around.
but when I went to plug the clock back in it shorted out again and wouldn't start.
I have an Ohm meter and just bought a test light today. am going to try and work on it again this afternoon. but, I hate chasing shorts.

any ideas on how to chase this down? thanks

 

Reverse engineer the stereo, it was the last thing in, disconnect it and go from there.
Easiest way to start the diag.

 

I agree. I did my stereo last year with crimps too and many did not hold when I tested them under tension. I recrimped until they could hold a few lbs of force.

If I did it again Id use shrink tubing or solder. If any short happens I told myself I'd start at the stereo and do it over with better connections.

Also check starter relay. Battery voltage in case a hot wire is draining your battery.

 

Thank you! Yeah, I pulled the stereo our first thing after the wiring shorted. Haven't put it back in. once I get the truck started I'm going to have a professional install the stereo!

 

Not necessary to have a pro do it, Kenwood should have the wire codes on the box or on the body of the unit, all you need is the Toyota wire diagram for the stereo.

You probably used a wire ment for something like navigation or factory amp.
It happens. It may not even be the stereo, you might have a plug in the wrong location or pinched wire. The stereo was the last in, so the logical approach is to work backwards from part to part.

The fact that it worked after you pulled fuses, tells me a hot lead is not connected in the right place.

I don’t trust the “kids” at install shops, one quoted me 1600 to do an amp and 8 hrs time......

 

Thanks! I used crimps. will do.
battery is definitely draining when connected.
I left the cables off the battery terminal last night, and when I cranked the key this am at least the lights came on in the ACC position.

 

agreed. thank you.
wiring for the unit I used attached

 

Looks right, just gotta make sure of the truck wiring.

 

Sorry but where is the starter relay? Is it underneath the plug w the green/yellow wire?

Just tested w a test light and the green/yellow wire is getting power when the ignition’s cranked...
Thanks

 

Does you fuse box have any labels or markings on it? The covers usually tell you what is what.

Gimme a bit, I will go look at my 15 fuse block. Should be very close to same.

 

Yes, the inside of the cover has a diagram. But starter is not listed..?
Unless it’s “STA”?

 

Could be the alternator. Called ALT. Don’t ask me how I know.

 

Also you have another fuse box in cab. It has an ignition fuse. I’d check all those.

As far as the pro’s. They are not that interested in fixing our mishaps. Just from personal experience.

 

Thank you! Looking at the wiring harness it does look like the red wire from the stereo is connected to the gray wire shown on the diagram on the right.
Yellow is connected to Blue/Yellow.

Ground is brown too.

 

Good call. Yeah the fuses all look fine. I’ve checked em multiple times.
Will check again though. Thanks

 

Yep. Been checking those too. All good.

Definitely.. I figure if I can get the runnin though, Hopefully it won’t be too much repair work!?

 

Sta should be the relay.
Check the firewall also, just to be sure there is not a remote relay someplace. Will look in the daylight tomorrow at mine, do you have the owners manual? There should be a picture of the fuses and what they are.

I would also unplug the stereo fully, see if it runs, then we can better advise you if it does run.

 

I think the stereo is a red herring. I know when people post issues that a lot of details get left out for the sake of being brief, but something like this probably needs to cover a few bases first.

1. You charged the battery right?
2. You verified the vehicle charging system is good?
3. How much driving around was done on the new motor?
4. How long between the motor swap and the stereo installation?

I'm thinking this is a harness ground/power issue because I've never heard of a stereo taking down an entire vehicle, just a blown fuse on the radio related circuits. I'd be looking through the fusible links and anything that could have been pinched or corroded (after verifying that the battery isn't dicked and you're getting charge from the alternator).

 

Check the Short Pin