Turning on issues. Can anyone help?

hey guys so I have a 2001 4 cyl Tacoma that was working perfectly. The truck had a bit of corrosion on the negative side of the battery so I unhooked it cleaned it put it back together I’ve done this a few times on all of my other cars and it’s been fine until this one the truck won’t start now and just has a ticking sound when the key is not even in the ignition It just ticks and when I put the key in the ignition the lights turn on everything turns on but that’s it. Does anyone know why it’s doing this?

 

I don't have a technical answer to why it's ticking but it's likely related to not having good enough contact at the battery posts there. I would disconnect them and clean them and double check them. I usually use a pot of boiling or very hot water and that removes all corrosion very well. Don't even have to disconnect the cables. But that's where I would start if I were in your shoes. And I say it from experience, not questioning your ability

 

If you had heavy corrosion on your battery terminal clamp, perhaps cut/peel back the insulation at the clamp on that cable and see if corrosion has intruded into the cable conductor.

BTW: use a baking soda and water mixture to remove battery corrosion.

 

You sure the terminal cable got reattached correctly/tightly?

 

Yeah good call. Pour baking soda on the battery and then the hot water. That way the soda neutralizes any of the acid that can be there. Good suggestion

 

I was told that it might be the security alarm that’s not letting it turn on does anyone know how to deactivate that ?