1988 4Runner electrical issue

[LMMW]

Hello everyone! I recently purchased a 1988 4Runner and it seems to have come with an electrical issue the seller did not disclose. I drove it home and the battery went dead over night.

I installed a new battery and let the vehicle sit for a few days. Same deal. The battery was dead. After doing a lot of fuse pulling and general searching I located the problem.

The problem seems to be with the power windows. The windows are operable even when the vehicle is off. I can turn the vehicle off, remove the keys and still operate both the driver and passenger side windows.

I have been pulling my positive terminal cable each day to prevent the battery form draining.

Any ideas to why the windows would still work with the power off?

Thanks!

Matt

[zythr]

Hi, There is probably a switch/relay that is not turning off the power to the power windows switch when the truck is tuirned off. Do you know which fuse controls the windows and if pulling it, it won't affect the operation of something else? How much did you pay for the truck?

[LMMW]

I'll have to check on the fuse and see what happens when I pull it. I don't remember if the windows still operate with the fuse pulled. I'm not even sure I remember seeing a fuse for the power windows but I'll look in the morning when I can see.

I paid $3500.00 for the truck. It's in very good shape and I am overall happy with the purchase.

[LMMW]

I should have also mentioned that the rear window operates correctly. I tried to make it go down using the switch on the console but it only works with the power on.

The problem seems to be only with the two front door wondows.

[Sulu]

Originally Posted by LMMW

The problem seems to be with the power windows. The windows are operable even when the vehicle is off. I can turn the vehicle off, remove the keys and still operate both the driver and passenger side windows.

...

Any ideas to why the windows would still work with the power off?

How long after you switch off the ignition and remove the key are the power windows still operable? Your 4Runner may have the "retained power" feature that allows you to operate the power windows for about a minute or until you open the door. Try it by switching off your ignition and removing the key, and then sit in your car for 5 or 10 minutes while not touching the windows until after that time has elapsed. Try it another time by switching off your ignition and removing your key, then immediately opening the driver's door, while not touching the windows until after the door is opened. If you can still operate the power windows after 5 or 10 minutes with the ignition off, or with the ignition off and door opened, you have a problem; otherwise it is just the retained power feature.

[LMMW]

Originally Posted by Sulu

How long after you switch off the ignition and remove the key are the power windows still operable? Your 4Runner may have the "retained power" feature that allows you to operate the power windows for about a minute or until you open the door. Try it by switching off your ignition and removing the key, and then sit in your car for 5 or 10 minutes while not touching the windows until after that time has elapsed. Try it another time by switching off your ignition and removing your key, then immediately opening the driver's door, while not touching the windows until after the door is opened. If you can still operate the power windows after 5 or 10 minutes with the ignition off, or with the ignition off and door opened, you have a problem; otherwise it is just the retained power feature.

Thanks! I'll try that tomorrow and post what I find.

[LMMW]

I actually just went out with a flashlight and tried your suggestion. I sat in the truck and heard a little click sound. It was obviously some sort of circuit breaker because I tried to put the windows down and they did not work.

Good call on your part! Now I have to figure out what is killing my battery

[cipher93]

Originally Posted by LMMW

I actually just went out with a flashlight and tried your suggestion. I sat in the truck and heard a little click sound. It was obviously some sort of circuit breaker because I tried to put the windows down and they did not work.

Good call on your part! Now I have to figure out what is killing my battery

Does the vehicle have any type of alarm system or aftermarket radio? Very often these are the cause of the battery running down over night.

Btw, make sure you're unhooking the negative first, not the positive.

[LMMW]

Originally Posted by CJRocker

Does the vehicle have any type of alarm system or aftermarket radio? Very often these are the cause of the battery running down over night.

Btw, make sure you're unhooking the negative first, not the positive.

Nope, nothing aftermarket. Thanks for the advice. I'll pull the negative from now on.