I have a 1994 4runner with 220,000 miles on it. I have had no problems with it until this past weekend and i'm baffled as to what to do. It started last friday with pretty much every light on my dashboard coming on and a significant drop in voltage from my battery. After driving it to advace auto parts I promptly pulled the battery, had them test it and found out it was bad so it was replaced. I drove it a couple times over the weekend but nothing big. Monday came and I drove it downtown and on my way home from work at lunchtime the lights came back on again. When I returned I home I attemped to start the car with no luck. The next morning I tried jumping the car but couldn't because how low a charge there was. So next assumption for me was alternator. So I had it towed to the shop where they told me it was an alternator problem and replaced it yesterday. This all worked great four about a 5 mile trip down the road until the batter and parking break light came back on again. Now the car is back at the shop with a new battery and alternator and the same problem. It seems like the power is draining from somewhere. Someone in my office suggested the fusible link or possibly bad grounding wire. Anything would help at this point as I don't won't to invest too much due to it's age and mileage.

Make sure both ends of each battery cable is clean and secure. Make sure all the connections to the alternator are clean and secure. Make sure both ends of the body to ground strap are clean and secure. Check belt tension.

Or, take it back to the shop that allegedly made the repair and ask them to stand by their work.

Check your alternator. My diodes went out and that smoked my battery and caused my two of my dash lights to flicker on and off. And that had been happening for months before it was finally diagnosed.