WTF is going on with my truck?

So I have a lot of problems to list here to see if I can figure this out before taking it somewhere and spending a fortune I don't have. I bought this truck about a year ago with like 180000 miles on it and it is is great condition for Pennsylvania. I put a new battery in it in march. Everything was fine. One day coming home from work my automatic transmission blew. I had it replaced with a rebuilt one. While my truck was sitting waiting to be towed I left the hazard lights on and battery went dead. This was recharged while transmission was fixed and everything seemed fine. I week ago before going to work I heard a couple of clicks before the engine turned over. Then after work I needed a jump to start it, again with a couple of clicks. I drove straight to autozone a tested battery and it is fine, over 730 cold crank amps. I let it sit for the weekend and now I can't even jump it. door locks wont work, some dash lights work, battery fully charged. Any direction on where to start looking for problem? My mechanic doesn't think it is starter.

 

check the battery cables.

Symptoms are identical to what I experienced on a different vehicle when the cables were corroded up the wire under the insulation.

 

That is something I was thinking also. When I tried to jump it today I got no electrical activity. I sanded down to ground terminal and ground contact and saw SOME activity.

 

i had similar issue, ended up that the battery cable needed to be replaced

 

If possible, I'd try another battery.

 

battery is good. tested it two seperate places. Even if it was bad i would think it would start with jumper cables.

 

Pennsylvania.....rain.....snow....ice...salt.....rust...

Starter might be going out, mine occasionally takes a extra try to click on. I would also find the ground points, look for corrosion. Im sure there is one on the chassis somewhere.

 

Check the terminals

 

i had the exact same thing happen a couple years ago. It was the main battery cable running from battery to starter. The corrosion had worked its way down inside the insulation. I had some extra cable so i ran a new one and just zip tied to the original and all was well.

 

check the electrical connection at the starter.

 

Anybody know where the ground strap from the transmision would be located?

 

Either the terminals, cable to battery, or starter itself. Most likely not the starter, though.

Buy one of those little wire brush things designed for cleaning posts/terminals.

 

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Hmmm ... I'm just observing.

EDIT: I've seen corrosion build up do some of the weirdest stuff to electrics ... kinda stuff you're seeing.

 

Is the mechanic actually working on the vehicle?

Or are you just talking with him, and not letting him 'do' anything, so you can play mechanic?

 

I have seen on more than one occasion where a dead cell in a battery will prevent anything from happening. Even with jumper cables. But it sounds like battery cables are most likely the culprit.

 

those damned electrical gremlins are at it again!

 

Yes, I am playing mechanic. The reasons why are:

• I dont have money to pay a mechanic to find an electrical issue on a mechanically sound truck.
• My father in law repairs electronics for a living
• I have another vehicle do do daily driving
• I enjoy the challenge
• I am fairly certain of what the problem is(see multiple post above regarding old wires and grounds)

So on another note while buying new electric cables for my truck I ran into my buddy that rebuilds VW bussess as a hobby. He pointed out what I was thinking from the start that I had no problems before I had my transmission replaced and now I have problems. Logic would point to the transmission replacement as a source of the problem. He mentioned having a very similar problem on one of his busses. It was a faulty transmission ground strap. I crawlwd under my truck and see no such ground strap. Any idea if this exists on a tacoma and where it would be?

 

check the easiest first. The battery cable.

 

With all that work that you just had done it is possible that something wasn't put back together right. But like the last guy just said check the easiest and most common thing first.

 

Just where in Pa ??

If your close I would be glad to help!!

The fact the transmission was done might just be unrelated to your problem

Then maybe they screwed up the neutral safety switch causing your no crank issue

How long between the tranny swap and this issue ??

A few days?? Weeks??