2006 Tacoma Starts then Dies and Restarts Fine...

I have a 2006 Tacoma DCSB with about 98K miles. All regular maintenance and services have been performed. I also replaced the battery about 3 months ago with an AutoZone Gold battery. Beginning this week, in the morning when I start my truck it immediately dies, as If I let go of the key to early. Its a full power loss, in that my radio loses saved channels, radio loses stations etc. However, it restarts immediately with no problem.

Yesterday, after arriving to work, My key fob would not lock my truck. I opened the truck and it had no power, no lights, wouldn't start etc.. I came back out at lunch and it cranked fine. No problems.

When I got home I noticed a lot of corrosion on the negative battery terminal, which I then removed and properly wire brushed clean and reinstalled. Truck started fine after cleaning.

HOWEVER, this morning it did the same start and immediately die scenario again. Does this sound like a battery issue or some other kind of issue? I did some research on the site and didnt find the same scenario from another member..? Maybe replace the negative cable since it was corroded?

Thanks for any advice,
Patrick

 

Sounds like a battery issue to me. Autozone batteries are garbage. Go with an O'Reily's or Interstate battery (I recommend Interstate because they last upwards of 7-8 years). Clean the terminals and wires really well with a wire brush. If the problem still persists, come back on here. On a side note, have you changed the spark plugs recently?

 

Was the terminal cleaned when the new battery was installed? Or did this accumulate while driving? The corrosion could have taken over the terminal which you'll need to replace if that's the case.

 

Try simply reseating both terminals. I had it happen once where I jumped off a buddy's Silverado and we bumped the positive lead just a hair. I mean literally barely anything. The truck did what you're describing. I couldn't figure it out; when I went and completely removed both terminals and reinstalled, it's been fine since then. I think in that case there's an infinitesimally small gap between the ring and the battery making a super small arc, making the truck go into its panic mode because it thinks it's shorting. Readjusting both terminals got rid of that gap.

 

It had corroded with the old battery, and when I replaced the battery, I ire brushed and cleaned the terminal. Not sure why this one terminal keeps getting corrosion (greenish white). I'll try reseating both terminals after cleaning them both well. If that doesnt work, Ill have Autozone check out the battery or swap/return it.

I replaced my spark plugs at 55K, so about that time again...

 

You know, I only really focused on the negative terminal because it was corroded. Didn't really look hard at the positive terminal.

 

Haha, yeah, I was the same.