Please advise- Truck not starting after battery install

Hello all,

I have a very frustrating mystery going on here...

It is a 2012 Tacoma, V6, 6-speed manual, base model.

I left the dome light on (draining the battery), and since I knew that I needed a new battery anyhow, I got one.

I installed it, and I am literally not getting power to anything at all..no lights, no horn, etc...

• I have had the battery voltage checked, a very strong battery.
• The terminals are installed tightly and correctly.
• The terminals have been cleaned.
• No visible issues with fuses.
• I don't have any sort of alarm system (base model, but it is also a manual haha)

Any ideas here? Would be much appreciated! I'm trying my best to avoid towing it to a shop.

 

Headlights work?

 

Did you arc the new battery installing it? Check your fuses.

 

You sound like you checked the right stuff. Just to safe, I would use a multimeter and check main fuses

 

When you replace or disconnect a battery....ALWAYS negative off 1st and negative back on last. This will eliminate the possibility of an accidental arch. Sometimes it doesn't take much to toast a fuse

 

I’d go straight to the ALT Fuse. See if you have power there.

 

Did you accidentally swap negative with positive?

 

Did you remove the plastic caps on the terminals before installing the battery terminals?

 

no, as I said, no lights at all

I don't have a multimeter atm, but my cousin (also a tacoma owner) tested all the connections, and didn't seem to think there was anything wrong with the fuses.

yes

def not

I guess it is possible that I didn't do this...but no fuses appear to be blown...

 

Gota be a blown fuse or relay

 

Easy way to get an idea of what is going on p, is to press the brake and see if the brake lights come on.
They don’t go through the ECU, you either have no power, no ground, or a bad bulb.
I really hope they come on.

 

Did you check the fuse box in the engine compartment?

 

yes, they all seemed fine

I'll verify that now...but like I said, I'm not getting any lights whatsoever, so i'd be surprised if this is anything different.

 

Has to be before the fuse box, he has no lights, isn’t the main fuse off the battery a 150A then goes to the alternator

 

None of the fuses look visibly blown, could they bad without "looking blown"?

 

A lot of it is off the ALT fuse, but there are also a lot straight off the battery.

 

yes, but with all that you say is not working, the should be pretty apparent.

If absolutely none are blown, look at the ground wire. Black battery cable.

Again, check those brake lights.

 

yep, ground wire was multimeter checked

brake lights don't work

Truly a mystery....

 

Check the Alt (fuseable link) in the fuse box in the engine bay. Power goes through that before any other fuses receive power.

 

If you have a multimeter check the battery itself.
Maybe it’s just totally bad?