Archived How to get my truck charging my batteries again?

[raxley]

I was crawling on top of my engine doing other work and evidently moved some wires, or something. When I started the truck after a minute or two I noticed smoke. I was looking around and noticed that it was coming from a pink w/ black stripe wire that was grounded to my fenderwell next to the engine fusebox. I touched it and it was burning hot, also the main red wire coming from the fusebox. I turned the truck off and tried to find where there was a short, but I cannot find it. The pink w/ black wire broke off when I was handling it, and I left it off. Everything (important, although I haven't checked everything) seems to work except it won't charge. I suspect that the person who ran wires from the control box under the dash ( I removed the controller box but wires are still there) and that I can see hanging under the frame and which go back to a plug in the bed that was evidently used for electric brakes in the 5th wheel (or whatever) that was being pulled.
I have a service manual on CD, but I'm not great at wiring (pressed for time usually).
Could anybody give me some basic guidelines?

 

[Tuesdak]

Disconnect both batteries immediately, negative first, and then get professional help from an auto electric shop or friend that knows trons before it burns to the ground. You are already completely burning out wires so the fire risk is extreme here. Tow it there if you have too. You have a major short that a fuse, fusible link, or wire burn up without a fire stopped. It's possible the alternator diodes shorted out and you are looking at the charge wiring from it. If I was to guess I would be looking in the alternator area. Dropped tool etc. If you suspect the 5th wheel wiring disconnect it at the source. The 12v battery charge to the 5th wheel is supposed to have a 30a auto reset breaker. So is the brake controller power. The best clue is what the wire(s) that got hot went to.

 

[GAmes]

The first thing I'd check is the 140 amp (IIRC) fuse that connects the big wire from the alternator to the battery. Easy to see with the cover off.

 

[raxley]

Thanks for the replies. The fusible link was indeed melted. I'm looking for a electrical auto guy now.