Woke up dead.

So, I went to start my truck today and the battery was dead. Wearing my wtf look, I grabbed the jump box, hooked up, and turned the ignition. after about 5 seconds the truck turned over and I was on my way.

Kinda.

I'm doing about 55, my turn is coming up so I start to break and the truck jolted like it ran out of gas and turns off. No dash, engine, a/c, nadda. 1-2 seconds later it turns back on and the gauge cluster is going ape shiz and my wtf look is back. I make it to the office, grab what I needed (never turned the truck off) and headed the 5 minutes back to my house. On they way back it happened again.

I've been home for awhile, went back out a few hours ago and the truck is dead again. I've had dead batteries before, I've had a battery disconnect while driving but nothing ever turned off like that. Any ideas? It's an 07 with 53,xxx miles.

 

Dave Mustaine ?

 

That's what I was thinking, dead alternator and dead battery combined. But sounds like it could be some sort of funky short in the system too. Whatever it is, good luck!

 

could be a bad ground....

if when your truck is running the alt is putting out 13-14v then i dont think its the alt. it sounds more like you have a bad ground

 

your truck is definitely haunted

you have angered the spirits

 

bad connection on the battery terminals.

I had this problem a lot in my 07 taco. I had to keep a wire brush in my truck at all times to clean my bat. connections every now and then

 

you can test continuity between the battery ground to where the ground points are. the resistance should be less than .5 ohms

 

agree...bad ground or bad alternator. i had a car that the alternator went out on...did the exact thing your describing with the jolting and the gauges going crazy.

 

My ground was slightly loose on my Taco, had my truck truck no start and battery go dead 3 times last weekend. Tightened the ground, no problems since. Still feel like I should get my alternator checked out.

I'm sure the crap Walmart battery doesn't help neither...

 

hahah nice guys, thanks for the input. i'll check the ground and connections in the morning. if it's the alternator i'm gonna punch a baby.

 

really really really bad idea

that can easily fry the rectifier/regulator doing that

 

He's got a Canadian Tacoma, it's probably OK
The OP Doesn't


CC

 

Its not just about load

The battery is more than just a voltage source. its a capacitor that levels voltage spikes and transients to ground. If they are free to move around rather than being leveled off by the battery it can fry any semiconductor in your truck.

The battery is often the voltage source to the voltage regulator. If you disconnect the battery it could also make the regulator not regulate and it could fry everything. Alternators are capable of producing 100s of volts and without the battery to complete the circuit it could produce electricity freely without regulation.

 

capacitance is the wrong term but a battery does act as a voltage "conditioner"

and a ground for transients

 

put heavy duty battery terminals on there like marine grade with that electric grease stuff and felt pads cured all my corrison and connections problems

 

Our transients have the luxury of at least a dumpster....

 

had a jeep where this happened, the battery cable terminals were old, just a little too big for a new battery. the lights would flicker, it idled rough, sometimes i'd try to start and the gauges would just go crazy. i could clamp the positive terminal with a vice grip (squeezing it down for a good connection) and the truck ran normally. i replaced them and it was okay (sleeve didn't work - sizes not quite right). i'd check the connections. Good luck!

 

Im just saying the voltage regulator "senses" the load and with no load (disconnected battery) it will produce to its max

 

This just happened to mine last week LOL. Went out one morning and it wouldn't start. Finally got it started with a battery tender. Pulled out of the driveway, and my radio/dashlights started flickering. Made it to work, and when I went to leave for home, it wouldn't start again. Got jumped off at work, and made it home. Unhooked the terminals, cleaned them off, and WHAM! started right up.