Big problem

I know this is a tacoma forum but I need as much input as possible for my 4runner 3vze (V6) manual as well.

Okay, it may be electrical, but maybe mechanical??? Me and my buddy have never seen this happen. I was driving down the road in my 91 4runner and when i changed gears the engine died and went to neutral. I pulled over and turned my hazards on but that killed all electrical. So I took the key completely out and then turned it back on. Lights came on just fine. Went to start it and it wasn't idling correctly. After a min or so it returned to normal. At this time i tried the hazards again but the rpm's dropped down again so i left those off. I stuck it into 1st gear and put in the e-brake. As soon as i did this the engine shut off again. So i tried a few different combination's but could never get it to move especially with the e-brake on. The tac would jump every once in awhile and any electrial thing i turned on or off would not help the problem. If i hit the brake or moved the stick it would also mess with it a little. I need some serious help. Any input is grateful.

 

My Volvo did something like this, one of the main engine harness looms, the insulation on a number of the wires was disintegrating and shorting each other out, no clue if it could be the same type of problem or not with the Toyota. Maybe the ignition switch?

 

Hmmm... wires seem to be a common idea

 

Check the ground cables and connections everywhere you can think of first.

 

I had a similar incident happen to me in my 94 Pickup V6. Mine was the Mass Air Flow sensor, it had cracked in half and was shorting out causing power loss and idle issues. Make sure it's not your battery either, that can cause some major problems in those trucks too.

 

Well I replaced the negative battery terminal, the positive terminal piece that attaches to the actual battery, and put a larger gauge wire going from the positive to the large fuse box that sits right next to it. Also replaced the negatives ground and the old negative wire I also grounded to the body just in case something was plugged into it. It runs like it did the day before it died again!!!