Truck Dead (Electrical)

[BeauP]

Just bought an 93 4wd. Having some brake problems brake booster etc. I decided I would gunk my engine as it has years of built up oil. Long story short after i rinsed it off the truck it is dead. Interior cab light is on but truck or dash does nothing when you turn the key. Now instead of a brake problem i have an electrical problem witch i am not very comfortable with I haven't done much yet decided to let it dry and see if anybody might have a good idea of where to start

 

[rlyons]

Take off the battery cables and make sure they are clean and dry.

 

[sdstriper]

Rinsed or pressure washed? You could have a loose connection at the fuel shut off solenoid, especially if you powerwashed it. Could have blown right off the male spade if it was loose.

 

[BeauP]

Just rinsed with a water hose. tried not to spay directly on wires on the battery side or the alternator. No click no dash lights no radio, i would say it was totally dead except for that cab light coming on when you open the door

 

[PToombs]

Does the cab light go off if you turn on the headlights? If so definetly a bad connection. Check the fusable links on the drivers fender also.

 

[BeauP]

Truck is running again. Previas owner had a cb power wire going to the battery that was twisted to a purple wire from the main harness(no tape). I am not sure whats going on with that, but it won"t run without it. Looks like maybe I'll be a better spark chaser after this truck. Thanks for the replys

 

[Philip]

Where does that new wire go?



If it hooks into the harness by the grid heater relays. Then the P. I. most likely had a fuse link blow and bypassed it.

 

[BeauP]

The wire comes out of the main harness connects to the cb power wire which goes directly to the battery.

 

[Philip]

Can you get a pic of where the splice is?

 

[dpuckett]

I just fixed a problem like this in my 90. A $0. 50 cusible link, and a $8 starter relay, and I had to redo the starter system. He had installed a "big rig" push button switch instead . Now it starts with a key. Oo.



Daniel

 

[BeauP]

I got my camera wet on a fishing trip and I can't seem to come up with the funds to replace (might have something to do with this truck) Hopefully when I can get back to this problem I can catch up with ya'll and with pics. Lord knows I need the help when it comes to wiring. I am about as good at that as I am at basket weaving.

thanks, again

 

[Philip]

Ok with no camera. I am thinking like Daniel. Your truck blew a fuse link and they just jumped another wire to the dash side of the blown link. Look real close at the where that wire is connected at the bundle. The other half should be there. Get a short section of fuse link and reinstall it. Most likely its a 30 amp link.



If you can post the color of the wire they spliced we can tell the circuit and what size the link should be.

 

[sdstriper]

This is fairly critical. It blew for a reason and I doubt you want to deal with a fire. A lot of people fail to replace fusable link with the proper wire. It could be a disaster.

 

[JLight]

Exactly! My pappy says put it back the way engineers designed it!

 

[TIngersoll]

Exactly, we jumped a wire to see what we had and it smoked. Dead Short, then we would have had a fire. Fusible link will not fix it until the problem is located and repaired first in our case. Then we can put in the new fusible link.