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Old Aug 27, 2009 | 11:05 PM
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Default Electical Help

Alright, I think my battery was dieing so I put on the smart charge and turn the key to run. Got nothing, and all electrical went out. Tried new battery and only thing that works is the clock.. which is kinda the opposite then everybody else. If you'd wait a minute then the interior lights would work but then turning it to run would cut everything again (even the clock!). Tried a fully charged battery and only clock worked. Cleaned the negative ground to the battery, and checked the 2 fusible links. They didn't seem blown but not sure how to replace them. What else should I check and how would I change the links? Thanks guys.
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Old Aug 28, 2009 | 08:57 AM
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Possibly if your battery cables are still original that there is internal corrosion causing high resistance I had the same scenario a few years back on my DD. First i would check the negative ground
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Old Aug 28, 2009 | 10:20 AM
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Originally Posted by 21boy
Alright, I think my battery was dieing so I put on the smart charge and turn the key to run. Got nothing, and all electrical went out. Tried new battery and only thing that works is the clock.. which is kinda the opposite then everybody else. If you'd wait a minute then the interior lights would work but then turning it to run would cut everything again (even the clock!). Tried a fully charged battery and only clock worked. Cleaned the negative ground to the battery, and checked the 2 fusible links. They didn't seem blown but not sure how to replace them. What else should I check and how would I change the links? Thanks guys.
It sounds like it could be your starter solenoid. Try tapping the solenoid with a hammer while someone turns the key. Or cross the two large bolts on the solenoid with two screw drivers an see if it kicks over. If its the fusible links crossing the bolts will do nothing.

Jim
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Old Aug 28, 2009 | 06:36 PM
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Originally Posted by wnmech
Possibly if your battery cables are still original that there is internal corrosion causing high resistance I had the same scenario a few years back on my DD. First i would check the negative ground
Actually I did notice a lot of corrosion when I was cleaning it but it was still giving me something when I turned the key, might have finally gotten too high to work properly, I'll check that out.

Originally Posted by jdp6000
It sounds like it could be your starter solenoid. Try tapping the solenoid with a hammer while someone turns the key. Or cross the two large bolts on the solenoid with two screw drivers an see if it kicks over. If its the fusible links crossing the bolts will do nothing.

Jim

I tapped it once before when I wasn't getting anything and it turned over, but I'll try the screwdriver test on it too. If it did need changed, what would be the best way to handle that? I have headers and it's very hard to even see the thing.. Thanks for the suggestions though guys, that really helps.
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Old Aug 28, 2009 | 07:19 PM
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From: jim thorpe pa
Default test light

do you have a test light? do you have a meter? + batt cable goes directly to starter, - is on frame under the batt box, (battery side), then there is a ground wire(heavy) at the right motor mount, motor to frame.
sounds like a dirty connection but a meter or test lite will tell, test light on battery (+ and -)= bright, then ground on engine an touch heavy wire on starter with test lite should be just as bright,
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Old Aug 28, 2009 | 07:29 PM
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Check the 2 main ground cables. The one from the batt to frame and the one from the engine to frame. Gotta be clean and tight.

Gary
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Old Aug 28, 2009 | 09:13 PM
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To start with, use a DC volt meter and check the voltage drop on your battery cables.
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Old Aug 29, 2009 | 01:00 AM
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I know for a fact that both negative ground "heavy" cables have their plastic covering melted in some places exposing the wiring. The one by the starter had been melted by the headers years ago but it possibly time has just been too much and its just too hard to make a connection now. The one under the bat box has a similar story when I get home I'll try replacing both of those first before I get into the starter and so on. Thanks guys!
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