Toyota Taco, 2006-ish no start, no light, no nothing

[masraum]

I'm curious if any of you Taco dudes have any ideas. My Son-in-law has a 2006 Taco (I'm pretty sure). He says that when he put the key in and turns it NOTHING happens, no lights, clicks, noise, nothing. He tried jumping it, and still got nothing. He took the battery to a shop to have it tested, and it tested good.

He checked fuses, but even then, it's not like there's a master fuse, right? There are a ton of fuses and one being out might keep it from starting, but wouldn't kill it completely. He said that they took the cables off of the battery and cleaned the terminals and cable ends and put everything back, but even then, he should have gotten something, even a dim light while trying to jump it. If the cables weren't connected at the opposite end that would cause issues.

Could there maybe be some sort of anti-theft/security measure that kills the car completely, no dome lights, dash lights, nothing?

I'm not going to get down to look at it, so it's sitting and waiting until Mon when he's going to take it somewhere. I'm trying to give him a remote hand over the weekend and you guys can solve the strangest of problems remotely and often quickly...

Thanks

[stevej37]

Is it a manual trans?
If so, maybe the switch at the clutch pedal failed?

after re-reading your post...I see it has no lights, so prob not the switch

[Dansvan]

There is a master fuse. Hooking cables up backwards is how I've seen them
most often blown.

[fintstone]

Originally Posted by Dansvan

There is a master fuse. Hooking cables up backwards is how I've seen them
most often blown.

Yes. There is a fusible link (or more than one) on most cars right off the battery that looks like a fat wire. I had one go out only 4runner. see Main FL in diagram.

[vash]

Multimeter on the battery?

[masraum]

Thanks all, yeah, I did some searching and found something about the fusible link as well as the master fuse, and emailed that to him. Unfortunately, his dad didn't do cars and so he hasn't been taught. Unfortunately, I think the truck is also not dead at his house, but someplace else which makes it more of a pain for him.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by vash

Multimeter on the battery?

Yeah, A multimeter would be good to at least confirm that the fuse box is getting power, but I doubt he has one.

[john70t]

Now is a good time to learn. He can bum a ride and pay himself $120/hr.

[RANDY P]

I would check the keyswitch itself. Does he have a way to verify power is at the switch but not at the other pins that trigger the dashboard and starter?

rjp

[craigster59]

2006 Tacoma ignition keys are chipped. Make sure it's a good key, just a blank won't let you start the truck.

[RANDY P]

yeah, see if any weird security lights start flashing to indicate the key chip is the issue- and closely watch the dash closely, and check any other circuits that may be affected with the key. Headlights, horn, taillights all working, etc? If theyre not it may not be the key, but further back between battery and fusebox.

When a switch fails some things work on the dash, some don't. Seen cars start up completely and drive but the dash itself stay dead as if car was off before. Happens.
rjp

[flatbutt]

Does he have a spare key to try? Is the driver floor mat interfering with the clutch pedal traveling fully? Does it have a clutch safety kill switch?

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

Does he have a spare key to try? Is the driver floor mat interfering with the clutch pedal traveling fully? Does it have a clutch safety kill switch?

That's what I was thinking in post #2...but he has never stated if it's a mt or auto

[john70t]

"NOTHING happens, no lights, clicks, noise, nothing"
There would probably be dash lights/radio/fan and everything else if it was just the clutch switch I'm guessing.

First thought was battery, main fuse, fuse box connections, or main ground cables (they can deceptively 'look good' but be corroded inside).
Something big. Whole car.

Didn't think of the key switch but that controls a lot of electrical distribution functions.

[masraum]

I'm fairly certain that it's an auto, not a stick. He's a youngster.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by john70t

[i]First thought was battery, main fuse, fuse box connections, or main ground cables (they can deceptively 'look good' but be corroded inside).

Fat red one that connects into the fuse box from Battery. Have fixed a 2003 Lexus that had a poor connection there.

[fintstone]

Don't forget that he has to have a foot on the brake for it to start...interlock

[masraum]

Thanks all. He apparently, wasn't interested in trying to figure it out today, so he's just going to get it towed the 1/4 mile down the road to where he works tomorrow. Apparently, there's a mechanic next door that several of his coworkers have used. He's going to have them take a look.

[john70t]

The more pain he has now, the more motivated he will be to learn later.
Suggest he hover at distance and learn.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by fintstone

Don't forget that he has to have a foot on the brake for it to start...interlock

Gotta think dash lights would still fire up.