Hi all! My name is rob and I am trying very hard to fix my problem and I will give you a quick description and Please email me at r23k4u@yahoo.com or private here please so I don’t have to search. The reason I am desperate is my truck is sold but now have an easy problem I thought.fficeffice" /><O></O>
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Okay from start to finish problem.<O></O>
1. CAME TO TRUCK TO CRANK IT UP AND NOTHING, NO LIGHTS, NO TURN OVER, NO CHARGE ANYWHERE.<O></O>
2. OKAY EASY ENOUGH, NEW BATTERY, WENT TO CRANK, IT NEVER TURNED OVER NOR ANY LIGHTS, ETC, ETC. WENT TO CHECK CABLES AND THE WIRE TO THE NEG. SAID OF SOLENOID STARTED SMOKING AND THEN IT MELTED.<O></O>
3. WELL TRIED TO CUT AND REPLACE THAT SPOT, HOOKED IT BACK UP, BURNT OUT AGAIN. I AM STUCK GUYS!! I HAVE REPLACED SOLENOID SWITCH, AND THE STARTER WORKS FINE.<O></O>
4. SO GUYS IS IT A SHORT SOMEWHERE OR WHAT PLEASE??<O></O>
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I HAVE TILL TOMORROW TO GET FIXED GUY IS PICKING IT UP. IT IS A 1970 FORD TRUCK, 302 AUTOMATIC.<O></O>
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PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME WILL YOU??<O></O>
ROB<O></O>

 

You have a dead short in the starting system..You did not say if the starter tryed to start when you spliced the cable. the starter prob. has shorted or the solnoid it self..ohm out the system somthing is shorted One wire on the frame one to check for shorts.Its easy if you can use a meter good luck bill

 

Thanks and I hope your still here. Okay I touched the starter cable to the battery and it turned over so i guess starter is good. IT NEVER DID crank though but starter did work.

Do you think that is odd that my truck has ran perfectly for 10 years and now, no lights, no charge, nothing!! Do you think it is a short from what i told you? Or do you think it is something else? I cant figure why all the power died though if battery works great though you know?
thanks sir

 

When you hooked up the battery did you notice a lot of sparking/arcing indicating an immediate current draw? What happens when the starter is disconnected from the circuit? Do you have lights?
Vern

 

Hey bud (vern) thanks okay here is what i did and there is a picture on this thread from mikeoooo and my solenoid is just like that. BUT REMEMBER i still have no lights, no anything elevtrical, except horn cause it is running to battery. Okay here is what i wrote today maybe you can help me sir before i pull my hair out. Check out number 2 i wrote too>

Hey that is exactly mine except i see your big cable goes up to the battery. tell me is that your posititve side of your battery. look at and see. the reason i ask is i hear everyone not to hook neg to soleniod and so on. So i must have took it apart wrong i guess. But thats not my concern. I have all the wires you have but that BIG cord going up to battery hooked to your solenoid is my neg. cable side you see what i mean? they way my posotive battery cable is at is right there in place for my posiitve side towards the fron of truck. So there is no way the + cable can hook all the way around battery to posts. Thats where i am lost at. I hope this makes sense. thanks.

problem number 2 And guys i tried something also last night i am a little confused on. I took the advice of everyone here i hooked my neg cable to - side of battery of course then to frame, and guess what it started smoking too and sparking? what the hell is my problem guys????? thanks!!

 

Can you please post some pix? I'm having a little trouble following along at this point.
You know the old saying one picture is worth 1,000 words.

Vern

 

It's impossible to say without more info, but sounds like your + and - on the battery are mixed up to me.
Your solenoid should have 4 posts. 2 Large and 2 small. On one large post, a big cable to the + side of the battery (along with I think 2 other wires that also go on same post). On the other big post, a big wire to your starter. The 2 small posts will have 1 wire each.
The - side of battery should be grounded to the motor (I think - that's how mine is). Could be the frame or body I guess.
If this is how everything is, I don't see how you could have the symptoms you describe. It would have to be a massive short between the starter post of the solenoid and the starter.

 

And if I read your last post right, it sounds like you may have bought a battery with the posts backwards of what you want. Just a guess though.

 

I found one on this site but dont know to cut and paste it here It would help him and us..anyone he needs a print .bill

 

I had the same problem when my transport guy hooked my battery up backwards. I replaced the battery, start solenoid, regulator and had nothing when I turned the key. On the front of the Solenoid there are 2 little wires/ The one on the left is what excepts the power when you turn the ignition key. That wire has a fusible link. It probably burned out. I went to the local parts store and replaced it with another (about 6 " of wire) and she started right up.

 

THANKS A MILLION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THATS IT MY MAN! AND THAT WAS THE WIRE THAT MELTED TOO AND ALL I DID WAS REWIRE IT AND THAT DIDT WORK SO I DIDNT KNOW TO GET A FUSIBLE LINK WIRE!!

I OWE YOU BIG TIMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

AND FOR ALL OTHERS THANKS SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR INPUT YOU ALL WERE AWESOME PEOPLE!! WHO SAYS EVERYONE IS OUT THERE FOR TEMSELVES AND SELFISH!! THANKS

 

HAHA grats man. I just had the problem on Sunday so it sounded like the same deal. Its nice to hear it finally kick over isn't it. I found a fusable link wire at advanced auto. I know they have one. Have fun man glad it worked out for you.