Topic: electrical?

[toy87]

Not to sure what is causing my problem, but my truck is not really reliable driving around town anymore. The truck starts and runs fine most of the time, but whenever i turn something electrical on, the motor wants to die. For example I have an electric fan and I start the truck and turn turn the fan on, the idle drops way down and almost dies with a little foot action i can keep it running but it has died on me before. Also most of the time while driving the stereo will cut out for a second if I press the brake or turn the head lights on or use anything electrical that was not allready on. I had the alternator and battery checked out by both autozone and kragen and they both say they are good. Other than the little drop in power everytime I turn something electrical on there is also a sputter problem, it will run fine for a while then randomly the truck will act like it is starving for fuel and start jerking when this happens the tack goes crazy as well. This is probably not the fuel pump because i direct wired the fuel pump and it still happened. The electrical problem seems consistent until I have everything on including the heater then there is no problem at all it runs great. Even if it is in the middle of stuttering I put the heater on full blast and it stops it every time. Guys and girls I am REALLY confused on this one, I have been trying to figure this out for months. Please shed some light on this, i fear my only release is gonna be selling it and i really don't want to.

[b_ripper8]

Check all your grounds thuroughly. Especially your battery terminals and block/chassis ground. Sounds like your electical system is spending most it's effort trying to get through resistance to ground.

[Rocksurfer]

Directly behind the engine there is a ground strap going from the engine to the firewall, if it becomes loose, disconnected or breaks it will cause electrical havoc.

[brainlessfool]

mite want to check your idle air speed contorler. maybe it gummed up.

[dj]

get an EWD from the dealer and go to ground points and power source and highlight everything that is affected, then see what points the troubled areas have in common.

[BigMike]

mite want to check your idle air speed contorler. maybe it gummed up.

Hey BLF, it's an 87 runner, therefore it's EFI hahaha you oldschool carburetor boys ain't got nothing on me hahahahaha

Let me say what hasn't been said, check your ground wires. Also check the connections at the alternator...

[brainlessfool]

Hey BLF, it's an 87 runner, therefore it's EFI hahaha you oldschool carburetor boys ain't got nothing on me hahahahaha

Let me say what hasn't been said, check your ground wires. Also check the connections at the alternator...

I am well aware it's EFI, I said idle air speed controller. not idle stop solenoid.

 no teck master biskets for you today!


 you young kids that can't read really make me 

[BigMike]

I am well aware it's EFI, I said idle air speed controller. not idle stop solenoid.

 no teck master biskets for you today!


 you young kids that can't read really make me

So what is that, the air bypass adjustment screw on the throttle body? Or the (hidden) air bypass screw on the air flow meter?

[brainlessfool]

So what is that, the air bypass adjustment screw on the throttle body? Or the (hidden) air bypass screw on the air flow meter?

the one I'm talking about is called the "air valve" by my pos Hayens manual. it seams to be telling me that it will not have any influence when hot. 

that what happens when you work on lots o diff. vehs. never get to be an "expert" in any one. butt was just trying to trow some ideas
out to help the guy.

on most of what I run into the "idle air control" is used by the puter to control idle speed even when hot.
was thinking that it maybe stuck as I've seen it happen on other vehs.

 I.E. turn on the A/C and it dies,  crank the steering over hard and it dies. ect.

looks like toy does not use it when hot sooooo   never mind.

[vaj70cruiser]

adjusting the speed cable and shorten the air at throttle body should done it...

[toy87 [OP]]

thanks for the sudjestions guys, i think i got it figured out. The day i asked i put new battery wires and adjusted the valves, made a big difference but still off, however the following day i connected the ground wire on the back of the head and replaced the alternator charge wire and magic its been almost flawless since. Its nice to have it running well again, its been a long time, thanks for all the help.

[b_ripper8]

Glad it worked out for you.

[FATB0Y]

Directly behind the engine there is a ground strap going from the engine to the firewall, if it becomes loose, disconnected or breaks it will cause electrical havoc.

Wot he said "Been there Done that"

[skunkyoda]

Not to sure what is causing my problem, but my truck is not really reliable driving around town anymore. The truck starts and runs fine most of the time, but whenever i turn something electrical on, the motor wants to die. For example I have an electric fan and I start the truck and turn turn the fan on, the idle drops way down and almost dies with a little foot action i can keep it running but it has died on me before. Also most of the time while driving the stereo will cut out for a second if I press the brake or turn the head lights on or use anything electrical that was not allready on. I had the alternator and battery checked out by both autozone and kragen and they both say they are good. Other than the little drop in power everytime I turn something electrical on there is also a sputter problem, it will run fine for a while then randomly the truck will act like it is starving for fuel and start jerking when this happens the tack goes crazy as well. This is probably not the fuel pump because i direct wired the fuel pump and it still happened. The electrical problem seems consistent until I have everything on including the heater then there is no problem at all it runs great. Even if it is in the middle of stuttering I put the heater on full blast and it stops it every time. Guys and girls I am REALLY confused on this one, I have been trying to figure this out for months. Please shed some light on this, i fear my only release is gonna be selling it and i really don't want to.

[skunkyoda]

didnt mean to do that above.

Great info. I have had very similar to idnetical issues with my 85 EFI 4runner. It was only happening to me at night when I am running my lights, tunes and I assuming all my other electrical. Friday I narrowed it down to my grounds after running new cable to the battery, starter celenoid, and my glow amp.

  Before that I had changed my terminals from old to new painted ones, wich sucked cause I didnt get enough conductivity. Then I switched to brass marine terminals, removed that now I ran all new wires off the battery.
 
 Was gonna check grounds but couldnt find where it went under my engine. I did this in the rain in the street cause I live in an apartment with no garage and I was in a hurry to see my freinds band, BORDERWARS open for TESTAMENT.
 
 Now I know what to do!!!!!!!
 thanks, great posts