Clicking sound from interior fuse box after stall, truck won't start, can't be moved

First post here, and not so psyched that this is one of the reasons why. Just bought a used 2001 Tacoma today (details on model and engine should be in the sidebar?), and I love it... except for a potentially not-so-minor issue that surfaced this afternoon. I was stopped in traffic, and stalled (manual transmission) coming out of first. Immediately, everything went dead - turn signals, air, lights, hazards - EXCEPT for what I THINK is the circuit running to my after-market alarm system, the control of which is housed in the interior fuse box (lower left panel under dash). Normally, when I get in or out, it clicks three times when the doors are locked or unlocked and then goes silent. This time, it was clicking continuously, sounding like it was stuck in a rut, and it was one of only two electrical components that I could find on the whole truck that acted like they had juice (the other being the ignition chime, which would ring once when I put the key in the ignition). The strangest thing (to me, at least) is that the truck wouldn't move. I was stuck in the middle of the road in decent traffic, and even with three guys behind me helping to push, we couldn't budge it an inch (E-brake was disengaged and truck was in neutral). I figured it was an electrical issue, so I disconnected the battery, immediately reconnected it, and suddenly everything worked! I thought that maybe the security system on the truck was way more extensive than I'd thought, and that it had electric control of the transmission, but the former owner says that it's a door-lock only system. It's worth noting, the alarm system didn't respond to ANYTHING I was trying to do to it - no response from the key fob, no response from what I thought was the alarm reset switch. . Do I have a burlier security system than I thought?!? If so, how do I keep this from happening again? If not, does anyone have any idea what's going on here?

Side notes: 1) The "clicking" noise continued after I reconnected the battery, then only clicked while I was letting off the gas and depressing the clutch to change gears, then disappeared after a minute or two; 2) the interior running lights (dash lights) now no longer work.

Thanks ahead of time for whatever anyone can offer up!

 

Crap, very discouraging to see not many people know much about tacoma alarm system issues!

 

I guess the first thing I would do would to get rid of the alarm system. No one pays any attention to the alarms going off anyways. When I hear one going off, I think the sound is more to cover the sound of a front door getting kicked in.

 

Sorta just seemed like a weak connection at the battery posts, especially since reworking them back on fixed the issue, sorta... but there are other funky things going on that seem strange. But then again a truck can do strange shit when low on voltage?? Did u check all your fuses after that, inside and out? Hopefully that the lighting issue...

 

The clicking sounds like a relay. Pull fuse/disconnect the alarm and see if the truck functions as normal.
If you can isolate the relay try replacing it.

As to why the truck won't move? Maybe the clicking was the 4X4 system engaging by itself ?

 

I'm a fan of removing the alarm system as well. My old 4Runner had a sweet 1990's Viper alarm, and while it gave me keyless entry (basically its only saving grace) it became more trouble than it was worth.

It had a battery disconnect alarm, but had an override key so if a mechanic needed to disconnect the battery, the alarm wouldn't go off. Well, that system malfunctioned and it started going off *constantly* as if the battery was disconnected. I ended up removing the entire alarm system.

You probably have the rs3200 (don't quote me on those numbers) factory alarm system in your truck. Look under the driver kick panel and there's probably a black box with something like rs3200 on it. There are hacks to engage the factory alarm, even if it wasn't an included "option" on your truck when it was new (most vehicles have the same wiring harnesses etc... regardless of the included option packages). All you'd need is a remote (you can get those on Amazon for like $30 I think). The only thing you wouldn't have is the glass break sensor (with you can probably get aftermarket, too).

 

I had an old Ford Explorer in my garage. We went on our honeymoon and came back to find the house had been broken into. The car alarm had a habit of draining the battery even when it wasn't armed.
So...the theft alarm worked .....It drained the battery. They left the keys in the ignition too.

 

This thread was started over 4.5 years ago, and only now are folks responding???

 

Lol oh man i usually catch that stuff too!!

 

Well I'm GLAD people are replying... as i was searching out some input on my alarm just this week and needed these replies. DON'T EVER hold back valuable insight or information gained from experience because of a stupid f*king DATE!! PROBLEMS DO NOT EXPIRE!
That being said, my 2001 Taco has the RS3000 & since nobody chimed in, i sought out the answer at the source (never a bad idea actually, once you discover that source!)
http://www.parksoffroad.com/tacomamods/alarminfo/alarminfo.htm
^ Saved my butt! Was such an easy solution too... Hardly believed it was so simple ("on/acc/on" i believe) then Voila! Ignition was back in business!!