nothing electric works?
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nothing electric works?
I need help. I have a 1975 Ford Ranger F-150 and I have no power to anything. I can't start it and nothing works.(lights,radio,etc...) I checked the battery with a meter and it checks out. I also checked with a meter from the negative battery post to the front solinode terminal and also had 12 volts but when I turned the key on and did the same check it went down to about 3 volts. When I turn the key there is no response, no clicking, nothing. I hope someone can help me with this, I am stumped. Thanks for any help you all can provide.
Chuck from Montana
Chuck from Montana
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 57,004
Likes: 2,749
From: Virginia
nothing electric works?
If you had the negative of your meter on the negative post of the battery, and the positive of your meter on the solenoid terminal pointing to the front of the truck, and when you try to start it you get 3 volts, you are on the verge of finding the problem.
Keep your negative meter lead on the POST of the battery. Redo your test again at the solenoid. Hopefully you still get some sort of low voltage.
Then take the positive meter lead and put it on the battery cable at the positive post on the battery.
Try to start it again.
If you get 12 volts, then the cable is bad, or the connection at the solenoid is bad.
If you get low volts, put the positive meter lead on the POST of the battery.
Try to start it again.
If you get 12 volts, then the positive connection on the battery is bad. Take it off and clean it.
If you get low volts, then there is something wrong with the battery.
Trying to start the truck, while taking readings is an excellent way to troubleshoot. Taking voltage readings with no load tells you nothing. No current draw means no voltage drop.
Keep your negative meter lead on the POST of the battery. Redo your test again at the solenoid. Hopefully you still get some sort of low voltage.
Then take the positive meter lead and put it on the battery cable at the positive post on the battery.
Try to start it again.
If you get 12 volts, then the cable is bad, or the connection at the solenoid is bad.
If you get low volts, put the positive meter lead on the POST of the battery.
Try to start it again.
If you get 12 volts, then the positive connection on the battery is bad. Take it off and clean it.
If you get low volts, then there is something wrong with the battery.
Trying to start the truck, while taking readings is an excellent way to troubleshoot. Taking voltage readings with no load tells you nothing. No current draw means no voltage drop.
