please help. 94 4runner wont start. not starter or battery

[VTISC007]

This almost seems like a case for a witch doctor.
You have to ward off all evil spirits. Try an exorcism. Try installing some gargoyls around your truck. Crack an egg on the bumper and look at it, if it comes out black, that's bad news.

[91 funrunner]

a "pickled chicken bone" necklace around the mirror should do the trick

[williamd]

I think I am going to take (tow) it to the dealership in a few days. Runs but if I turn on blinkers, push brake pedal down it cuts off. However, I am able to do this as long as I have the jumper cables hooked up to my other car? Any last minute suggestions before I give in to dealership prices for this fix.

[91 funrunner]

maybe you have a bad connection somewhere and your not gettin' enough juice.it seems to me that if you can run it off of two batteries and it works and as soon as you disconnect one it will fail,your gettin just enough to start and keep the engine running any more draw such as (brake lights...etc) and it quits.if i had that problem in my house i would look for a split or damaged wire or connection. otherwise i a have no F'N clue goood luck ;(

[VTISC007]

Maybe something with the voltage regulator/alternator. You could take your alternator to AutoZone or somewhere that tests alternators and stuff.
It's free, and at least you could rule that out.
Try to remember if you did anything to the vehicle around the same time this problem occured, (eg. change radio, add off-road lights, any recent work). Sometimes, if you hook something up wrong, it could really F things up.
Make sure the alternator and alternator belt are in good shape.

[ToyotaTech]

Here is your fix
So try this!
near the battery is a thick wire at goes to the fuse box right off the left side of the positive terminal if you are facing the vehicle.
Replace that wire with your own thick wire If u can't make one your self then have Someone do it for u because Toyota only sells the whole harness!
This wire is broken or is breaking down inside
It feeds ALL your power to everything even the 12 volt poer to the starter.

[pswadey]

might want to check fusable links. (particularly,one from motor to firewall.)

[williamd]

Any last minute suggestions. Starts with jump from car. If I turn any electrical option on car cuts off totally, though if I turn on A/C, Headlights I can disconnect jumper cables and drive car(Not Far, I'm scared it will die in middle of intersection).
I have checked wire and cut back wrapping from terminal. Looks good. Also wires that have corroded from inside and have problems heat up real quick when power is running through them. These have no heat coming from them. There is no power to anything unless I jumper cable to another car. Could it act like this if positive to battery is not tight or globed with grease.
Electrical problems suck soooooo Fkn bad!!!!!!!!!!!

[91 funrunner]

have you tried snake oil?

[pswadey]

check the fusable link from motor to firewall. have had the same thing sounds like with mine. it's just a wire.

[ToyotaTech]

did u try my fix?

[williamd]

Toyota Tech, Just bought a circuit tester. When it stops raining I will go through and check the wires especially the black large one goung to the relay box beside the battery. I hope that is the wire thats bad. I'll post the results.

[Brian R.]

Circuit tester probably won't do the job. All it will test is continuity. Continuity doesn't tell how much current the wire will handle. It may need to carry 10 amps when it will only handle 100 ma. Will still look continuous. Replacing it is the only sure way to tell if it is the problem, unless the wire is just plain broken or cut. I doubt that would be the case without damage to the insulation that you can see.

Also, it you are testing continuity, be sure and isolate the wire so that there is no other circuit that could carry current and make the wire look good, when in actuality, the wire is bad and there is another path for the current to flow.

[williamd]

Dudes, You wont believe it. It was the black wire coming off the battery to the relay box. Replaced and Viola. Starts right up every time!!!!!!!!!!!!Thanks for all of your help guys. After 3 weeks Snake oil actually started sounding like a viable option.

[Brian R.]

Good call ToyotaTech