Complete electrical failure
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Complete electrical failure
Driving my '95 F-150 this afternoon, it just died. No sputtering. Nothing. I was able to coast into a parking lot and found a complete electrical system failure. No headlights, no horn, nothing.
The battery is fine, fully charged and no corrosion on the posts. We recently replaced the ground cable to the engine.
Seems to me it is somehow a grounding issue. What ground straps/cables do our trucks have? Could it be the starter relay mounted near the battery? Any other fusible links or master relays?
The battery is fine, fully charged and no corrosion on the posts. We recently replaced the ground cable to the engine.
Seems to me it is somehow a grounding issue. What ground straps/cables do our trucks have? Could it be the starter relay mounted near the battery? Any other fusible links or master relays?
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,118
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From: South Dakota
It wouldn't be the starter relay mounted near the battery as wires are just hooked to it together to connect power.
Did you have a chance to check cables and such AFTER the shutdown? How do you know your battery is fine? it could have broken internally.
Did you have a chance to check cables and such AFTER the shutdown? How do you know your battery is fine? it could have broken internally.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 23,667
Likes: 301
From: Easton,Ks
Where did you hook the replacement ground cable. If you hooked it to the frame then that is the problem. The ground cable is to be hooked to the engine block with another ground wire running from the NEG post of the battery to the fender near the battery.
The frame is not a ground point to use but may be grounded if you pull a trailer.
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The frame is not a ground point to use but may be grounded if you pull a trailer.
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The truck is at my brother's work, 100 miles away. A co-worker who claimed to be a mechanic had swapped instrument panels. The speedo/odo didn't work on my truck and they swapped from a salvage yard. What they didn't notice was the one they got was from a diesel. Had electrical issues ever since.
They put the original instrument panel back in and it was running pretty good... until it died with a complete electrical failure. No lights, horn... nothing.
He supposedly had replaced the ground strap to the engine already. I've been told to look for a fusible link by the battery.
Now, that "mechanic" wants to swap out the PCM. That shouldn't have anything to do with the lights and horn, should it? Sounds like someone throwing parts at a problem instead of diagnosing it.
They put the original instrument panel back in and it was running pretty good... until it died with a complete electrical failure. No lights, horn... nothing.
He supposedly had replaced the ground strap to the engine already. I've been told to look for a fusible link by the battery.
Now, that "mechanic" wants to swap out the PCM. That shouldn't have anything to do with the lights and horn, should it? Sounds like someone throwing parts at a problem instead of diagnosing it.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Easton,Ks
You need to get it away from him as he has no clue what he is doing.
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I have good news. The truck is running again. A new aftermarket ammeter shorted out. How he had it wired in... I have no idea. To be sure, I won't have him doing anything more than washing and waxing!
The truck is still 100 miles away and I've asked my brother to drive it a bit to make sure everything is working properly before I drive back over there.
Thanks to all who gave suggestions.
The truck is still 100 miles away and I've asked my brother to drive it a bit to make sure everything is working properly before I drive back over there.
Thanks to all who gave suggestions.
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