Electrical problem

Went out to start my truck this morning and just heard a click and nothing else - no starter. Multimeter reads 12.6 on the battery. I turn the key, I get nothing, no dash lights, no headlights, no radio, nothing, and no more clicks. Is there a master fuse I should check?

 

There are two fuse boxes in a 2nd gen (V6). One in the cab, left and below of the steering wheel. The other is under the hood. Mine is the box just behind the battery.

 

Corroded cables.

 

Yes - check all fuses in both boxes. Do not rely on visual examination. A12.6V reading is nice, but it says nothing about load. Ensure battery cables are intact and cables/posts are clean - connections snug. If that checks out - pull the battery and take it to a shop and have it load tested.

 

Turn the headlights on and see what the battery voltage drops to.

 

What is the voltage while cranking?
It shouldn’t drop below 10v
This isn’t the “right” way to check a battery.
But it gives you a good idea of the state of the battery.

 

There is no master fuse that will shut off everything as you've described. A defective battery with the problem you are describing will not show 12.6 volts - ever. You may have checked the voltage on the posts themselves and not on the cables.

Your vehicle has a connection problem at the posts and cables themselves.

Turning on the headlights to watch for a voltage drop will show nothing because the headlights aren't working. edit: nothing works.

The voltage will not drop while cranking because the vehicle doesn't crank. edit: nothing works

 

People need to listen to you more and this isn't the first time I've noticed it. Have a great day.

 

Sometimes it could be the starter, as I have seen this on a few of my cars and it just happened to my son's Toyota. Lucky for him he had a free replacement. My 2013 Tacoma does not have that many miles that the starter would go out "knock on wood" but I had the same thin happen on a jeep.

One thing to try is to jump it and see if the starter turns at all, if not it could be the starter solenoid that caused the starter to crap out. Depending on the miles on your truck it could be the cause but not sure.

 

so many times this problem has presented itself on the forum and dudes have torn their vehicle apart to find a fuse or short only to find that undoing the clamps, giving them a quick wire brush, and ensuring they are clamped down sufficiently is all it takes to fix the issue

don't just look at the cables @Timbo66 and say, "yup they are attached". Actually remove them, scrub the inside with a wire brush or a green scrotchbrite pad, do the same to the posts, clamp them down securely, and give it another shot

 

Not suggesting to tear it apart, but yes terminals need to be clean, I found a good battery terminal spray that keeps the corrosion down and the terminals looking clean. Certainly driving on the beach like in his build thread could add an additional layer of corrosion potential.

 

Good thing is that battery has a four or five year warranty

 

It isn't the starter because nothing works.

The quickest and simplest check is the done light and how brightly it shines - IF it shines. If nothing works it's the connections on the post. <-period

 

Yep, DIRTY BATTERY CONTACTS. They looked clean and tight but weren't. Wire brush to the rescue. Thank you all.

 

Yeah sorry I tend to exaggerate in my posts, apologies

 

WOOOOHOOOO!!!!!

 

Timbo66 I'm happy you got it taken care of.

 

Bad ground?

 

You're a little late to the party.