98 tacoma new battery, and good starter wont start

So I first had the issue when I drove to the gas station and all was well. When I went to leave my truck wouldn't even turn over. So my dad come by to help me out and it wont jump start. So we towed it and went to working out the problem. I've taken out the starter and tested it. It's good. I replaced the battery and put the starter back in at the same time. It started up and so I turned it off and cleaned up. I started it again and all was good. I went to the gas station to get gas and when I went to leave no start. Exact same problem. This time I tried leaving my dads truck hooked up for 30 min. No start. I tried disconnecting the battery for 30 min. No start. I'm really at a loss. I'm starting to think about the ecu and the starter switch.

 

Stop going to that gas station...

 

Sorry lol... in all seriousness.

Is it draining the battery?

 

Check you key tumbler. Could be really warn and not trigger relay for the starter solenoid.

Do you have a multimeter?

 

Does it click when you turn the key? I'm suspecting a starter solenoid.

 

A list of a few things to look at
1. Ignition Switch
2. Park Neutral or Clutch Safety Switch
3. Starter Relay
4. Starter (Hot vs Cold) I’ve seen some starters fail when they are heat soaked from engine temps.
5. Battery. (Not likely as you say it is Good)

Hope you get it figured out soon.

 

Check your grounds going to the block. I bet one of them is either loose or corroded.

 

I was actually thinking the same thing about the gas station.

But yes I have a multimeter. Are you talking about the key or the ignition key hole?

I havent checked the voltage on the battery since I got back today. I gonna check it tomorrow.

There is no sound at all except from the fuel pump priming the engine. Also dash lights all come on like normal.

I have also checked the starter relay, neutral safety switch and the starter (both hot and cold).

 

What are you referring to exactly?

 

Do you have a manual or auto?

 

There are two ground wires running to the engine block. One goes from the firewall to the back of the right bank of cylinders. Check to make sure none of them are loose or the wire is corroded. You can also just jump the negative terminal from the battery directly to the engine block and see if it cranks. If it does, it's one of your ground wires for sure.

 

Possible with a loose ground the way the vehicle sits things move around to cause a open circuit.

Pulling the cables off the battery and installing might have moved things again enough to make contact .

Since you don`t mention just what year the cables might be corroded under the insulation from old age.

 

Ok I'll check those too. I have a 98 tacoma 4wd with auto transmission

 

What's the battery voltage?

What's the battery voltage when it's running?

Bad alternator could cause you to have a battery drain.

Do you get accessories or dashboard lights when you turn the key before you try and start it?

 

You have a lot of good info here. If you are just killing the battery over and over again, it’s probably the alternator. That would be the first place I would start.

after that, the ignition would be my second thought

 

Try starting it in neutral, maybe the safety switch is bad.

 

I'm thinking you might have nailed it here...

Next time you get it started, take the positive cable off of the battery. If it dies, you need a new alternator.

 

This would be another easy test to rule out one more thing...

 

Shupedude... If there is one thing I have learned over the years building cars and solving mechanical issues, its always start with the simplest things first. I always start with simple tests, fuses, wires etc... they build these things to go out before you kill something bigger.