Thanks in advance!
I had my truck running this morning(74 ford f250 manual transmission) and when I turned it off I had no power inside the cab. No lights,heater fan nothing. I thought it was a starter solenoid so I replaced it. Still no power. I checked for power at the coil but nadda. I had this happen a long time ago and if I remember right it was the ignition switch gone bad. Any ideas would be much appreciated.

 

Did you start with the stupid obvious stuff, that's usually what gets me, like the battery cables and ground to block ? Your other grounds frame, body etc...... Something big is not connected if all of that is suddenly not working.... had my negative batt cable pop off this week and everything got dark quickly

 

Yea I did all the obvious things like that. I tried to jump the solenoid from the battery to the starter side of the solenoid and all that happens is the solenoid clicks. So the solenoid is working.

 

Do you have a voltmeter? If so, it is time to start measuring. Start with the battery, then work your way out to the wiring block for the ignition switch. When you have the wiring block off of the ignition switch, you can also ohm check the mechanical portion of the switch. This will tell you if the switch is bad.

 

So, I was thinking about this. Did you jump the solenoid by using a jumper from the battery post to the 'S' terminal of the solenoid? If so, your starter should have turned. If the solenoid only clicked, then you may have a bad or close to dead battery, which may have been caused by a bad alternator. I would try jumping your truck with another car to see if it will at least turn the starter over. If it tries, ignition is not the issue. If you get the truck running, check voltage, anything under 13 volts, while running is either your voltage regulator or alternator. How old is your battery? Is it close to its lifespan? If so, it may be not accepting a charge.

 

The battery shows 13 volt and the battery is new. I jumped the solenoid from the battery to the s on the solenoid, but nothing! I will test the switch tomorrow.

 

Well I jumped the truck and still no power. I changed the ignition switch and still no power. I jumped the S terminal to a good battery and solenoid clicks once and the starter does not turn over. I connected jumper cables from another car to the starter and nothing. I connected jumper cables from ground to the engine. I have power to the solenoid. Is there a fuseable link in the circuit?

 

There is a fuseable link around the solenoid wiring. It has a square rectangular shape plastic piece on it I can post a pic if you want

 

I know what and where it is. Thanks

 

It wasn't the fuseable link. What I don't understand is why I don't have power into the cab. There is no power to the fuse block even.

 

Mine is also a 74. There is another color wire that takes power into the cab. I won't be able to tell you the color until the morning. I discovered it while upgrading to a 3G alternator. Its there right next to your battery and solenoid. If I remember correctly its tied in with the wiring that also goes to the regulator. You should be able to trace it from there. I'll see if I can't find my hand written notes in the mean time.

 

Ok on mine its a blue with yellow stripe wire that is plugged into a black with yellow stripe wire. It has to have power all the time to the cab. Mine is a 74 F250 camper special with a 460 and C6 transmission

 

Thanks Red for the try. The only blue/yellow is to the horn relay and the only black/yellow comes from the alternator. It just seems strange that it all of a sudden quit working. It started fine and I warmed it up and turned it off and nothing!!!

 

Do you have power to the black/yellow right? I remember now that when I removed the old alternator/regulator setup I had to run power to that black/yellow wire. I currently have it tied to the solenoid with the positive running to my battery. Check to see if it is hot. You may have a alternator/regulator issue here.

 

I will check it in the morning for power as it's getting a little cold up here in Alaska tonight.