22r won't start after replacing alternator

After my dash lit up with up with the battery and parking break light, I replaced the alternator on my 1984 4runner (22r). After getting the alternator out, I had to travel for a bit and then it took forever for new alternator to get here (I know, I should have ordered it before traveling), so the car hasnt been started in about 3-4 weeks. When I tried to start it (jump starting from my friends truck), it cranked a couple times before the clicking of a dead battery started. I let the battery charge from my friends truck for another 5 minutes, and same thing, my car cranked a couple times before the dead battery clicking noise and it would not crank anymore.

I checked all the wiring for the new alternator (bought it brand new), and everything looks good. Ive never had a problem starting the car (except for when my old battery went out) before I changed my alternator. Im not sure what else could have gotten messed up while changing the alternator as all I did was remove the lower radiator hose and the alternator itself.

I bought a multimeter to help diagnose the issue, but have honestly never used one. If anyone has any ideas what the problem could be, or which parts I should start testing with the multimeter, any help would be greatly appreciated! I hate having one of the best cars around and not being able to drive it!

 

Well, first, put the battery on a slow charge overnight. You want it as full charged as it can be. Just cranking the truck off a jumped battery won't do squat. After it has charged overnight, check it with your multimeter. It should be about 12-13 VDC across the terminals.
If you want, it's not a bad idea to take the battery in to an auto shop, and get it load tested. That will tell you whether the battery itself is good or not.

While it's charging, use a commercial charger, BTW, which you can buy at any auto parts store, clean the terminals, and the wires that go to them. A brass wire brush is the tool of choice for this. Double check the wires to the alternator. Especially the 3 in the plug, and the heavy wire going over to the battery. Don't neglect the ground wire!

Once the battery has slow charged over night, hook every thing back up as it should be. You'll need to crank it for about 15 seconds to begin with. Why? The carb bowl is empty after sitting for so long. Cranking it like that will fill the carb bowl.
THEN give it the usual 3 pumps of the gas pedal, and crank it. It won't fire off instantly, most likely. Don't crank it more than 30 seconds at a time. If you need to crank it for 30 seconds, stop, and let it sit for 3 to 5 minutes. Then push the gas pedal once, and crank it again. It should start.

Does all that rambling help? At all?
Pat☺

 

Sounds like the battery it just dead dead if you ask me.

Won't even take a jump.

Since you have a multi meter just take voltage straight off the battery.

 

Great, I appreciate your help a lot. Ill go get a trickle charger from an auto store. Im at college so I dont have all of my stuff here which makes it pretty difficult working on my car. Its always annoying knowing I have the tools back home, but I need to re-buy them at school in order to get back home!

 

I had a battery once that would not jump.
Bad cell or shorted battery.
New battery should fix your problem

 

Thanks, I will probably go get my battery tested before I buy a trickle charger.

 

Got the battery tested and they said it looked good, had them charge it up there with their fast charger, and got the car started pretty easily with the full charged battery. Thanks for all the help everyone, I thought even if the battery was dead a jump start would do the trick so I never considered it would be battery!

 

was so happy to get it started i gave my car a good wash, shouldnt have done that.... Noticed 3 new spider web cracks in the paint, and it looks like I might have some bondo on one of the fenders underneath the crack....