Complete electrical failure

[billmaine]

My 92 250 is currently in an on again/off again mode. Turn the key on, wait for the wait light to go off (all buzzers and guages working), turn the key to start and get a fraction of a second like the starter is ready to click and then all lights, buzzers, everything electrical goes dead. Repeated turning of the key results in nothing. If the truck is on an incline and rolls a little, popping the clutch with the key turned can most times get it running. No failure while driving and I don't notice the voltmeter dropping to zero while driving.



I checked my battery cables and found all clean. Ground cable firmly attached. But I grabbed the battery cables at the terminals and shook them and each one rotates somewhat, post and all, on both the neg and pos posts. Is it possible there is a break in the post connection that is intermittently connecting and then disconnecting inside the battery?



Final note: My son was able to pull trouble codes of 12 33 55. Any ideas on what those are? Any help is appreciated. I sure need these wheels as they are my only means of getting from A to B.

 

[JApplegate]

i had that problem with my 93. i was at the john deere dealership and the buzzers and lights all on. went to start it and all the lights went dead and i was stuck. called the boss up told me to get a new battery. i did. that seemed to be the problem. my truck did the same thing also. . on day it would work fine or one min. it would work and after 10 minutes it wouldn't work. try the batter. costly yes but i think it's ur problem... . one test u can do is wait for a cold day and if the truck starts really slow then it's ur battery.

 

[Paychk]

Yes it is possible for the battery terminals to be defective. The codes are 12 loss of power to computer, 33 a/c clutch relay circuit, 55 end of codes. I would take the cable clamps off the battery and try twisting the terminals with pliers, if they move, I would replace the battery.

 

[AKAMAC]

Starter contacts with bad batteries; This will kill the the system.

 

[billmaine]

Thanks, gents. Unless I hear otherwise in the next 24 hours from another learned observer, looks like a new battery for me.

 

[RGuzzo]

Bill if you have any more probs after the new bat. let me know Im in Benton neighbor just around the coner I have 3 dodge dieseis that I love dearly even though they can be electrical night mares and that comes from an intructor / qualifier at nuclear power generation plants for electrical contractors.

 

[CDegner]

Battled this for quite some time. Battery brush on the terminals and terminal clamp fixed the problem. Once you put them back together, spray them with battery terminal protectant. It helps reduce oxidation which is what causes the corrosion to begin with.



Carl

 

[billmaine]

Thanks once again, R Guzz and CDeg. No corrosion on terminals as I utilize the method you mentioned and keep them clean but that suggestion was a good one.



To my neighbor in Benton with three -- count 'em: three!!! -- Dodge diesels, you better find separate garages to park them in. This IS the Cummins rut season ya know

 

[JLEONARD]

This IS the Cummins rut season ya know

:-laf :-laf

Maine humor

 

[DKasper]

Here's another possibility -- I've had this problem before on a Ford and traced it to a bad ground. There's enough contact made to complete the circuit for the lights and such, but when the starting current gets thrown into the mix, the loose/corroded ground can't handle it and everything goes blank.

Usually it's the big ground -- battery to frame or engine to frame. I'm not sure if our trucks have a engine-frame ground other than the motor mounts or not.