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From: Rastamon on 5 Dec 2008 18:04
93 4Runner 3VZ-E

At first it would not start, unless jump started. While running, it would
all of sudden stall. Tried to crank it, battery dead. While the key in the
ON position, no lights on the dash, then a few minutes later, power again,
but would not crank. The battery is about 3 years old, and still under
warranty, so I got it replaced. After replacing the battery, it started
fine, and I removed one of the terminals to the battery to check if it was
the alternator, It still ran.

I'm thinking if it's the alternator or one of the relays near the battery.
Any other suggestions or tests I can do?

Thanks in advance.


From: Oldphart on 6 Dec 2008 02:23
Rastamon wrote:
> 93 4Runner 3VZ-E
>
> At first it would not start, unless jump started. While running, it would
> all of sudden stall. Tried to crank it, battery dead. While the key in the
> ON position, no lights on the dash, then a few minutes later, power again,
> but would not crank. The battery is about 3 years old, and still under
> warranty, so I got it replaced. After replacing the battery, it started
> fine, and I removed one of the terminals to the battery to check if it was
> the alternator, It still ran.
>
> I'm thinking if it's the alternator or one of the relays near the battery.
> Any other suggestions or tests I can do?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
>
I had a problem recently with a horn malfunction and tried to
determine where the relay was for it. An online diagram showed it in
the side panel just left of the clutch, but the module I thought to be
the relay would not budge. After going to the city library and
confirming this location, I also noted in the factory manual at the
library that the relay popped out of a small holder that was attached to
the fuse/relay box. That holder had, over time, filled with water that
dripped in on that sidewall from a damaged door seal. The flow was just
right that it dripped onto the relay filled the cavity of the relay
holder, and corroded everything in place (including the base contacts on
the relay itself). I replaced the 15amp fuse, fought to get the relay
out of the holder, cleaned the contacts on the wire harness connector
with a small popsicle stick and a piece of scotchbrite soaked in
alcohol, stuck a new relay in and the horn works again.
My point is, if the door seal is not tight on the drivers side, just
forward of the wing vent window on your 93, water can migrate straight
down behind the panel and start a corrosive process. Then it seems when
it is damp outside or is raining, the problems start due to increased
conductivity.... or resistance buildup in the case of corrosion. And in
my case, that relay and fuse block was under a constant small trickle of
water when it rained. I don't remember what other functions were on
that block, but it might be worth looking in to.
From: Jeff on 6 Dec 2008 03:30
Rastamon wrote:
> 93 4Runner 3VZ-E
>
> At first it would not start, unless jump started. While running, it would
> all of sudden stall. Tried to crank it, battery dead. While the key in the
> ON position, no lights on the dash, then a few minutes later, power again,
> but would not crank. The battery is about 3 years old, and still under
> warranty, so I got it replaced. After replacing the battery, it started
> fine, and I removed one of the terminals to the battery to check if it was
> the alternator, It still ran.
>
> I'm thinking if it's the alternator or one of the relays near the battery.
> Any other suggestions or tests I can do?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
>
Check your ground points.
From: Rastamon on 6 Dec 2008 13:28

"Jeff" <Not(a)dot.net> wrote in message
news:493a3756$0$21363$822641b3(a)news.adtechcomputers.com...
> Rastamon wrote:
>> 93 4Runner 3VZ-E
>>
>> At first it would not start, unless jump started. While running, it
>> would all of sudden stall. Tried to crank it, battery dead. While the
>> key in the ON position, no lights on the dash, then a few minutes later,
>> power again, but would not crank. The battery is about 3 years old, and
>> still under warranty, so I got it replaced. After replacing the battery,
>> it started fine, and I removed one of the terminals to the battery to
>> check if it was the alternator, It still ran.
>>
>> I'm thinking if it's the alternator or one of the relays near the
>> battery. Any other suggestions or tests I can do?
>>
>> Thanks in advance.
> Check your ground points.

Good idea, the engine was rebuilt about a year ago and mechanic left a few
minor connections unconnected. I'll check it out.


From: clare on 6 Dec 2008 15:23
On Sat, 06 Dec 2008 01:23:32 -0600, Oldphart
<mfj1952deletethis(a)cox.net> wrote:

>Rastamon wrote:
>> 93 4Runner 3VZ-E
>>
>> At first it would not start, unless jump started. While running, it would
>> all of sudden stall. Tried to crank it, battery dead. While the key in the
>> ON position, no lights on the dash, then a few minutes later, power again,
>> but would not crank. The battery is about 3 years old, and still under
>> warranty, so I got it replaced. After replacing the battery, it started
>> fine, and I removed one of the terminals to the battery to check if it was
>> the alternator, It still ran.
>>
>> I'm thinking if it's the alternator or one of the relays near the battery.
>> Any other suggestions or tests I can do?
>>
>> Thanks in advance.
>>
>>
> I had a problem recently with a horn malfunction and tried to
>determine where the relay was for it. An online diagram showed it in
>the side panel just left of the clutch, but the module I thought to be
>the relay would not budge. After going to the city library and
>confirming this location, I also noted in the factory manual at the
>library that the relay popped out of a small holder that was attached to
>the fuse/relay box. That holder had, over time, filled with water that
>dripped in on that sidewall from a damaged door seal. The flow was just
>right that it dripped onto the relay filled the cavity of the relay
>holder, and corroded everything in place (including the base contacts on
>the relay itself). I replaced the 15amp fuse, fought to get the relay
>out of the holder, cleaned the contacts on the wire harness connector
>with a small popsicle stick and a piece of scotchbrite soaked in
>alcohol, stuck a new relay in and the horn works again.
>My point is, if the door seal is not tight on the drivers side, just
>forward of the wing vent window on your 93, water can migrate straight
>down behind the panel and start a corrosive process. Then it seems when
>it is damp outside or is raining, the problems start due to increased
>conductivity.... or resistance buildup in the case of corrosion. And in
>my case, that relay and fuse block was under a constant small trickle of
>water when it rained. I don't remember what other functions were on
>that block, but it might be worth looking in to.
Your description points straight at a bad batttery connection.

Particularly th "key on, no lights on the dash" ans "a few minutes
later, power again".

Either a bad battery connection or a bad ground - 99.999%.

Changing the battery could have repaired the bad battery connection.
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