Need Help with a Problem

Hi All. I have a '98 basic Toyota Tacoma with 232,000. Been very lucky, a couple sensors changed and a new clutch. Recently my truck will buck a couple times( the radio starts popping) and die. The engine light comes on. I may get it started again but by the second time, its dead and doesn't turn over. We have a good family mechanic but he's stumped. Nothing showed up on the computer but a cam sensor which he replaced, but the truck still does the same thing. About three weeks ago I found myself in at least 12 in of water. The truck hesitated but I could drive through it. It didn't seem to have any effect. My current problem started about two weeks later. Our mechanic said I should go to a place that specializes in auto electrical. Any
help I would appreciate. I'm not able to buy even a used car at this point.

 

Check the ground from the firewall to the engine.make sure all grounds are good and clean.

 

The alternator on our trucks, especially the 5-lugs, are mounted low and therefore vulnerable to water. Thats what I would check out first. 12 inches is not very deep though, unless you didn't slow down enough.

 

Welcome, Benllua2. I'd get that truck to a qualified mechanic pretty quick. Sometimes those electrical problems, if it is an electrical problem, can cause a fire resulting in a total loss of the truck. Had one do that but was able to get fire extinguished fast. Been using the same truck on ranch five years later now. Good luck.

 

thanks All. will check these things out!

 

My bet is on poor grounds. A cam sensor would never cause a no-crank condition. No-start for sure, but not a no-crank. Next time the truck no-cranks, create your own grounds by running a jumper cable from the negative battery post to the engine block and body and see what you get. If it cranks, you've found the culprit.

 

if you truly are worried about bad grounds, you can always add some extra grounds to your negative battery cable. all you're really doing is adding black (preferred) battery cables.

not sure about your 98, but my 2000 has a cable going directly from the battery negative to the chassis about 8 inches away. you can put a bulkier negative cable there, and split form that body bolt to other locations via more wires if you want so long as they don't come in contact with any positive cables. . see what happens.