Sometimes Taco won't start, bad accessory wiring??

Last year I installed a front facing camera, reverse camera in tail gate handle and a new mirror with an LCD screen for the cameras.

I wired these with the piggy back fuse harness and use the Windshield wiper 10a and the Accessory 7.5a fuse slots. I also have 2 new lighted toggle switches that are all connected to these as well. I put 1 camera and 1 toggle switch on 1 (not sure which), and the LCD mirror and the other switch powered on the other fuse. The reverse camera is connected to the reverse wiring for power, so that shouldn't be an issue.

(DO I need to use the same 7.5 and 10a in the new piggy back slots matching the original fuse amp, or can they be higher amp fuse? Maybe this is an issue???)

Sometimes the truck will crank and just not turn over. Today, it took a few hours of messing with things, thinking its the fuel pump, and looking for new FP relays and still nothing. I ended up unplugging these accessories and the truck started (though it hadn't before when I unplugged the accessories). SO I am not sure if the accessories wiring are shorting out something, or what is going on.

I grounded each accessory on all separate screws under the dash, so I am not sure if those are conflicting either.

Really dont want to sell the '05, but this is annoying already and I am not experienced enough to do serious electrical troubleshooting!

Any help or constructive advice would be much appreciated!

 

Considering that you are not experienced enough to troubleshoot it even after you installed it.

I am truly baffled.

This statement " (DO I need to use the same 7.5 and 10a in the new piggy back slots matching the original fuse amp, or can they be higher amp fuse? Maybe this is an issue???) " is why you should remove all of the added on modifications. Each item should be properly fused by the rated current draw of that item. You could do some real damage by not fusing items properly. Including burning the truck to the ground.

I will say this:

If the engine turns with the starter, but just doesn't start up and run. It probably isn't your modifications causing the problem.

 

There is also a non-factory security alarm on the truck that I've read the dealerships installed. Its a small red button near toggle switches. Is it possible that may be malfunctioning and not allowing the vehicle to start, like the immobilizer? Or possibly even a bad (old) key the chip is going bad? I do notice that the key light near the radio stops flashing when I insert the key, so I believe the truck is reading the key fine and the key has never jammed and not turned, so my only guess would be that it is either the security alarm system or a failing fuel pump (hopefully not!). I just had the alternator replaced and the starter doesn't seem to be the problem either.

 

Op did you check the battery or the battery cord. Sometimes those are the issue. If it is the fuel pump or cps then does the car run bad or feel like it is going to stall?

 

It could be the dealer system I suppose. It sounds like the immobilizer is working though. I wish I could help more...

 

Battery cables are good, no corrosion and they are on properly.

Truck doesn't run hard like it has bad gas, or ever stall, or feel like it chugs trying to start. It just cranks but sometimes just won't completely turn over/

 

Thank you, I appreciate the replies.

 

Dealer installed alarm. No way to help you with that cause I cant tell how they installed it. I would try to get someone that know what they are doing to help you disconnect that. Also check battery with volt meter.
My guess if it is your fuel pump or cps then you would be stuck on the road already.

 

Does a fuel pump gradually go out and cause the truck not to start randomly like this? I haven't noticed a lack in power and the truck hasn't sputtered or just died and doesn't seem to be fuel related. I took it to the dealer and from what I can tell, this is what they may think is the problem (of course the most expensive thing, right!) .. but I am skeptical of their diagnosis!!!

 

I had this issue with my 05' too.

First off, go have the battery tested!
As much as you may think it's okay I would still stop off at your local auto parts shop and have it tested. Better to know for sure now than to spend time on other stuff. Ask me how I know.

Sounds like the Gulf States Alarm, I removed mine. Write-up here.

I also thought it was something to do with my fuel system but after I pulled that alarm it was starting properly. I did end up needing to replace my battery as well, I thought it was in good shape but ended up being toast.

If your battery is bad but it's old that may be your answer, if it isn't that old then you could possibly have a tiny draw on the battery from one source or another. As long as you have proper earthing and power sourcing for your camera install it should be alright. Double check the fuse slots you used, are they switched or constant? Check your camera and switch wiring with a multi-meter (or one of these things) while the truck is off, no key in at all. If you have current pull anywhere that could be causing issues.

Whatever fuse goes in the slot originally is what you need to use in the jumpers. 10 for 10, 7.5 for 7.5 As well as the proper fuse for the modification in the piggyback slot.

 

THATS WHAT I KEEP THINKING THAT ITS THE GULF STATE ALARM THING!!!!!! STUPID DEALERSHIP RTYYING TO CHARGE ME $900 FOR A NEW FIUEL PUMP WHEN IT DOESNT SHOW SIGNS OF A BAD PUMP!

Also, your link is broken but would love to have a look at your write up!!

 

Doh! The link should be good now, if not it's in my signature too.

I'll tell you what man, that thing was not my friend. It doesn't help that nobody seems to know anything about it. GST couldn't even give me information on it.

 

So I was talking with the tech while he was looking at my truck and he said the ECM wasn't communicating. The check engine light also wasn't coming on, which he said would indicate that the ECM isn't communicating. Originally, there was no fuel pressure because of that.

He unplugged one of my accessories and the check engine light came on. He said "Watch, I bet it will start now", and it did. So we came to the conclusion that it was my wiring that was maybe shorting out the ECM (hopefully I didn't fry it to where it will freak out sometimes).

So I am not sure where I went wrong. I thought it was pretty straight forward to wire.

I have a small front facing camera and 2 lighted toggle switches on 1 pig tail which I believe was plugged in to the 15a accessory power outlet fuse. Then on the windshield wiper 10a fuse, I had an after market LCD mirror on 1 pig tail. I also found 4 random bolts under the dash to separate all of the grounds for these. I also didn't splice into any existing wires. This is why I went the pig tail route.

What did I do wrong that would maybe be shorting the ECM to make the truck crank but not start some of the time?

 

It doesn't sound like you did anything wrong with the install.

Neither of those fuse locations should have anything to do with the ECM. Double check one of your earth wires isn't connected to a bolt that's connected to something electrical.

Using the pigtails and not splicing into anything factory kept those circuits "seprate" (for all intents and purposes) so there's no reason for them to directly affect the truck systems, unless there's an unusual power draw maybe.

No blown fuses?
Did these issues just start or have they been happening since you installed the cameras?

I'm still leaning towards your battery if this is a recent development.

My OBDII port gave me issues too, I had my scan - gauge plugged in and it wouldn't boot up. When I unplugged it the truck would start. I believe that was related to the alarm.

 

As I said in post # 2 remove all those mods...

And please tell me you aren't using wire nuts to connect stranded wire and in your truck.

You shouldn't do that, it's a no no. Get rid of those wire nuts! Use a proper crimp or solder and heat shrink.

 

Hmm, well let's see, you have a problem with your truck that started after you messed around with a well designed and engineered electrical system. And it worked after you disconnected them. I'd suggest you find a qualified auto electrical shop and have them fix whatever you broke. Then anytime you are tempted to play electrician again, sit down and call the shop that fixed this mess.

 

I agree with the wire nuts, if you're using them ditch em' for some more crimp connectors. Although it doesn't look like the wire nuts are even hooked up to anything in those pictures so you're looking good.


Aside from not doing any modifications at all, an add-a-fuse is probably the least intrusive way to add a circuit for a mod. Loads of people do that every day without issue, with more ridiculous mods to boot.

Your setup is just having a problem with some aspect of the electrical system, as was mine. Just start eliminating the possible problems until you find the one that fixes it. It may well be that the camera circuits are causing the problem, but it could just as well be that they are suffering from another area that is the problem.

 

So the wire nut is just capping end wires, don't recall what the go to right now, but I know they aren't powered or go to anything important, and I am not using a wire nut anywhere to connect 2 wires.

I went to start my truck again this morning and noticed that the check engine light wasn't showing. The Toyota tech said thats the ECM not communicating. So I am not sure if that got shorted and is just not working randomly.

And as far as my "well designed and engineered electrical system", its pretty basic as far as I can tell, and as others have mentioned, the method in which Ive used to connect the wires is pretty much how a lot of people do it. I am wondering if the Gulf State Alarm crap disables the ECM for some reason or another at any time?

 

So I have unplugged the 2 pigtails that I installed, and thats all the modification I have done. No original wire was spliced in to, so just by unplugging the 2 pigtails, should technically "remove" all of my modifications.

 

It's definitely not possible to have electrical issues outside of little, non-invasive modifications.