86 f-150 electrical issue

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Mar 2, 2014 | 05:43 PM

Riverhill85

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86 f-150 electrical issue

I have an 1986 F-150. My son used it and said it wouldn't start after he got off work. Some friends of his took a look under the hood and wiggled wires around that were connected to the solenoid and the truck started. He brought it to my house and as the truck was running I pulled on the headlights and the truck almost died so I shut them off and the truck continued to run. We then shut the truck off and it wouldn't turn over, there were no idiot lights lit up when the key was in the "on" position. We had the battery tested and it had charge and tested "good." I bought a new solenoid and put it in and still it was the same with no power to the dashlights, headlights, and it wouldn't turn over. Any ideas??

Mar 2, 2014 | 05:51 PM

JayzDaddy

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From: Covington VA

Clean all the terminals, connectors, and make sure the wires are crimped in connectors firmly . Make sure connectors are staggered so all the rings are tightened evenly and not in a bind or co-ck-eyed. After that jiggle the wires one at a time to see if one specific one changes anything.

Mar 2, 2014 | 08:02 PM

Franklin2

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From: Virginia

Check your ground wire. The one on the battery that goes to the engine block, and there may be a smaller one that goes from the negative to the harness behind the battery. This small one has a connector in it that likes to corrode.