Tacoma trouble

S4f said:
Monday get in it to go to work nothing works starter doesn't even click, again no lights, or door alarm, go back in the house call a friend to boost me off , but before he.arrives I go out to get the jumper cables notice the door alarm is dinging, try it again, fires right up.
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This says it is NOT a parasitic drain. I suspect loose/dirty connections, be it ground or power, as a few others have suggested.

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Winn10 said:
This says it is NOT a parasitic drain. I suspect loose/dirty connections, be it ground or power, as a few others have suggested.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
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The guy talked to Saturday says the interior lights switches not working was the clue that the other too mechanics should have caught he thinks there's a wire or or connection that when it moves is causing the truck not to crank but when it is cranking the battery is low sometimes ( new battery) . So what ever it is is draining the battery even when it's letting it crank, so if it cranking and draining the battery he can use the parasitic drain test to track down the offending circuit
 
S4f said:
The guy talked to Saturday says the interior lights switches not working was the clue that the other too mechanics should have caught he thinks there's a wire or or connection that when it moves is causing the truck not to crank but when it is cranking the battery is low sometimes ( new battery) . So what ever it is is draining the battery even when it's letting it crank, so if it cranking and draining the battery he can use the parasitic drain test to track down the offending circuit
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I think the various mechanics you are talking to are going to have you spinning in circles.

I'd suggest nailing a few things down first. If you have a multimeter, you can nail these down for yourself and not be led astray by the next mechanic who wants to sell you a parts replacement like the one you sold you a starter swap of what is likely a perfectly good starter.

1. Does the battery have a full charge?
2. If so, does it start?
3. If battery doesn't have a full charge, is the alternator properly charging the battery? Here's a video on checking this.

With these very basics nailed down, you can narrow down the potential list of culprits - and even if you have someone else chase it down, knowing these basics will help you recognize when you are being BS'ed.
 
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Do you actually have one ? Connect a multimeter in-line between the negative battery terminal and the negative battery cable. Normal draw will be less than .50 milliamperes

A stuck relay can power up a component that’s normally “off” when the keys off and drain a battery.
 
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Gspec said:
Do you actually have one ? Connect a multimeter in-line between the negative battery terminal and the negative battery cable. Normal draw will be less than .50 milliamperes

A stuck relay can power up a component that’s normally “off” when the keys off and drain a battery.
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And here's a video on how to test for exactly this.

 
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Here's what I have a new battery a new alternator, and now a new starter.none of which have solved the problems.
Here's what else I have a knee that's scheduled for surgery in two weeks, which other than just getting dressed and hobbling around is preventing me from trying to track this down myself, I asked for ideas here to make sure that the mechanic are on the correct task, and not just swapping parts, the guy I talked too Saturday seemed the most knowledgeable on tracking down the the short or parasitic drain and right now depending on some one else is the only option I have
 
S4f said:
Reason I thought there might be a connection was the headlight I had to replace was less than two weeks old and the courtesy lights ceasing to function
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If you never fixed the courtesy light problem then I'd bet it's related to the current issue. Whatever is causing the electrical issue there may be also causing the intermittent problems.
 
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S4f said:
Here's what I have a new battery a new alternator, and now a new starter.none of which have solved the problems.
Here's what else I have a knee that's scheduled for surgery in two weeks, which other than just getting dressed and hobbling around is preventing me from trying to track this down myself, I asked for ideas here to make sure that the mechanic are on the correct task, and not just swapping parts, the guy I talked too Saturday seemed the most knowledgeable on tracking down the the short or parasitic drain and right now depending on some one else is the only option I have
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Was the problem resolved?
 
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It was, after spending almost 1000 dollars on the truck that didnt solve the problem, the last guy charged me 61.00 to track down and fix the corroded wire that was on the circuit that ran the courtesy lights, and replace the fuse that it had blown, the vibration of driving was making it ground out sometimes and drain the battery, had it back for three weeks now, cranks every time, plus my courtesy lights come on when you open the door, at first they thought it was just the fuse, because it was cranking, so he asked if he could keep it a couple of days, then drove it around the block a few times then let it set overnight, next morning wouldnt crank so instead of moving it inside, he moved his stuff outside and worked on it where it sat, smart guy, imo
 
S4f said:
It was, after spending almost 1000 dollars on the truck that didnt solve the problem, the last guy charged me 61.00 to track down and fix the corroded wire that was on the circuit that ran the courtesy lights, and replace the fuse that it had blown, the vibration of driving was making it ground out sometimes and drain the battery, had it back for three weeks now, cranks every time, plus my courtesy lights come on when you open the door, at first they thought it was just the fuse, because it was cranking, so he asked if he could keep it a couple of days, then drove it around the block a few times then let it set overnight, next morning wouldnt crank so instead of moving it inside, he moved his stuff outside and worked on it where it sat, smart guy, imo
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Sounds like that auto tech is a keeper. Diagnostician >> random parts replacer.
 
Ask the other shop(s) to give you a refund on the labor charges for not fixing the problem.
If they gripe about it say sorry to bother you, file small claims court action for the money.
You'll have all the work orders that show the played swap the parts at your expense instead of
testing for the short circuit that the last shop discovered.
 
Jerzsubbie said:
Exactly what I was thinking, keep this guy’s number handy for all future issues.

Anyone can do an oil change and tires, but problem solving is a skill.
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Please post this mechanic and his shop info for others.
 
Button Pusher said:
Ask the other shop(s) to give you a refund on the labor charges for not fixing the problem.
If they gripe about it say sorry to bother you, file small claims court action for the money.
You'll have all the work orders that show the played swap the parts at your expense instead of
testing for the short circuit that the last shop discovered.
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Yeah, tried that.at.one.of the shops already, guy replied that he wouldn't stay in business very long giving people their money back, and that I told him to fix what he found wrong with it and that he had. And since that the original parts are long gone good luck on me proving what he replaced wasn't part of the problem. And since Im recovering from the knee surgery I mentioned in one of my post above, don't have time or inclination to pursue it further, it was just a very expensive life lesson on who and who not to let work on my vehicle.
 
S4f said:
Yeah, tried that.at.one.of the shops already, guy replied that he wouldn't stay in business very long giving people their money back, and that I told him to fix what he found wrong with it and that he had. And since that the original parts are long gone good luck on me proving what he replaced wasn't part of the problem. And since Im recovering from the knee surgery I mentioned in one of my post above, don't have time or inclination to pursue it further, it was just a very expensive life lesson on who and who not to let work on my vehicle.
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Bad word of mouth from a customer can cost him just as much if not more in the long run than him refunding the money for his mistake if he didn’t diagnose the problem. Its sad how many just parts changers are out there these days.
 
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You don't need the parts, you can file later after you've recovered.
It will cost him time off from being at the shop to show up in court.
I'm sure you'll get a call from him after he gets the paperwork in the mail from court.
You can come to an agreement that works for both of you and you can drop the case.:)
Costs you only the file fee and an hour to do it.
 
Button Pusher said:
You don't need the parts, you can file later after you've recovered.
It will cost him time off from being at the shop to show up in court.
I'm sure you'll get a call from him after he gets the paperwork in the mail from court.
You can come to an agreement that works for both of you and you can drop the case.:)
Costs you only the file fee and an hour to do it.
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Game over as soon as the shop owners lawyer ask the plantiff if he authorized the repairs before they were performed..

Plus it would cost the plaintiff alot more in attorneys fees and courts cost than it would ever be worth.
 
S4f said:
guy replied that he wouldn't stay in business very long giving people their money back
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What an amazing answer. So, he believes he has a right to "stay in business" charging people for not solving problems? :confused:
 
Two choices...

1 - They were wrong in the diagnosis. Pay back $×××.00

2 - They are incompetent. Loose customers and 10x what would be paid back from #1.
 
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Mike Overlay said:
Game over as soon as the shop owners lawyer ask the plantiff if he authorized the repairs before they were performed..

Plus it would cost the plaintiff alot more in attorneys fees and courts cost than it would ever be worth.
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The goal is to avoid court, shop owner looking at $300+ an hour legal fees, plaintiff has zero lawyer cost.

He has work order from shop that solved the problem. Chance to get half the labor back for not fixing the short.
 
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