New Member - 1996 Toyota Tacoma OEM grounding locations?

Hi Everyone

I'm going to start right off with requesting knowledge from some of you.

I have a 1996 Toyota Tacoma Extended Cab 2wd 2.4cyl Manual

The truck has 300k miles. My family has owned 250k of those miles. I recently pulled the truck out of storage a couple months ago and immediately began repairing a bunch of stuff. Replaced and repaired the following: Engine computer, engine coolant temp sensor, distributor, plugs, wires, engine oil, transmission oil, rear diff oil, deleted all emissions BS to eliminate vapor lock(except for PCV) inc cat, muffler, charcoal can bs, brake fluid, cigarette lighter(couldn't find the short so tapped into the ignition circuit), marine battery, cleaned MAF sensor and throttle body

I just ordered the shift ball and seat kit from Marlin Crawlers marlincrawler.com to try and fix the weird shifting issues.

Now to my question - where are the OEM grounding locations on my truck - like harness to grounding points?

I'm experiencing some strange intermittent issues that I think are electrical. For example the turn signal went out yesterday and came back today, also yesterday the truck started running terrible midway through driving lost all power and was shaking bad although still drivable would did not feel safe - i thought I blew a head gasket, or the entire exhaust system fell off, or that all my engine and trans mounts had deteriorated overnight. None of these were the culprit and now the truck runs fine.

I am ordering BlueDriver OBD2 scanner in the next week so I can start running codes. No idea if I have a engine light as I know for a fact the engine light bulb in the cluster went out years ago and needs to be replaced which I intend to do soon also.

 

Welcome to TW
I'm surprised that it would start much less run at all after removing all emissions. Which by the way is a felony. Good luck.

 

I don't live in a enforcement jurisdiction unlike you I'm guessing. God bless america - especially constitutional sheriffs who don't bend to Orwellian pressure. BTW Nice to meet you.

 

I would suggest getting a copy of Toyota`s Electrical Wiring Diagrams for your truck.

Working one circuit problem at a time.

How long did it sit ?? Evil Rodents love to explore and chew wires .

I am also surprised it runs

 

It sat for about 2 years. I'll see what I can come up with for a E diagram. ImOnI'm thinking the aftermarket engine coolant temp sensor may not be fitting the pig tail perfectly and noticed th plug wires behaving in the same way. I was hoping the issue could be a major ground. The left blinker briefly went out again today. Truck is running great otherwise today.

One has to know how to fool the computer into thinking everything is still there. I've owned probably 30 cars from 60s to modern and have done the similiar mods to every one. They just run better when you arent trying to recycle corn gas fumes back into the engine. Plus things stay cleaner longer. Better MPG and power also.

 

Can't fool the ecm on your truck very easy. New car emissions are nothing like they used to be.

 

For some reason it is super hard finding a good ground anywhere on Tacos, at least in my experience
Like above person said, a wiring diagram will help you alot. I’ve had luck with any exposed frame in the interior(ex behind the dash)

 

To get good ground connections it starts with the battery.

I run 3 main ground connections The inner fender the engine block and to the frame .

The frame just works for me after years of installing trailer light plugs allowing a good ground on the rear of the truck .

There are so many grounding points just for the turn signals left inner fender right and left door posts.

Problem with just one light check the socket and where the harness plugs into the pig tail .

 

Everyone thanks for all of your advice.

I found a few grounding points in the engine bay and cleaned those up. Also purchased some more heavy duty battery clamps as I've got some really generic weak pot metal ones that are started my to crack.

I tried crawling under the vehicle to locate some grounds but really need to lift the truck up as I didn't get very far or find any.

There's a couple aftermarket grounds inside the cab hooked to the car stereo that are really rusted and will hopefully get to those soon. I've got a double dinnradio and some dynamat and some front window tint and will tackle those grounds during that project/upgrade.

I also pulled every single brake light bulb and turn signal bulb and changed them. The inside of each bulb was rusted and although they weren't blown I changed them anyway.

So far the Tacoma is running great and the intermittent left turn signal failure has not returned.

Going to graphite the emergency brake pull and clutch pedal today as they feel tired.

So far very happy with the performance.

Happy labor day to all of you

 

Welcome, and Happy Labor Day!
I’m curious if the OBD2 scanner will work since it’s a ‘96??
Please keep us updated and post some pics.
Good Luck with the build.

 

I'll throw some pics up later today. We repainted it last year with a cheap paint job. I haven't cleaned it since pulling out of storage. So what I have read is that any tacomas beginning with 1996(even if manufactured at the end of 95) have obd2 interface.

 

Here's a few pictures

 

Looks clean, and unmolested!!

 

Clean looking beast there. Beware of leaving paper towels in there the mice will make it snow on you when turn on the AC or heater fan. I am following this as I am chasing an electric gremlin as well in the fuse panel under the hood. Looks like someone cut wires with a chainsaw and twisted em back together.

 

Welcome to The Forum!


Did I understand you correctly in that you "removed all of the emissions equipment to eliminate vapor lock?"

 

Here are the ground points.

 

Well I deleted the cat and muffler and the charcoal can and sensor are isolated and I ran a filter from the offgas line from the tank. The truck would run probably even better with a self venting gas cap. I left the pcv stuff all intact. I wonder if any of the older gas caps from the carbureted tacomas will interchange - if they are self venting

 

Upgraded battery clamps on my marine battery

 

I just want to say what a joy it is trying to pull a shift boot off thats has never been off on a 300k mile truck.

 

Welcome
Super clean for being that old!

OBD2 scanner works on 96 tacomas. I've had a few different scanners used on mine