Starting ground/short
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Starting ground/short
1995 F350 7.3 ~230k miles
About a week ago I went to start my truck for work and it went full dead electric when I took the key from run to start. Subsequent attempts provided a behavior similar to a low battery. After attempting to jump start, I got the starter to roll weakly one time. Verified the batteries were fully charged with no changes. All attempts to start were met with dim, flickering battery and check engine lights. Verified no blown fuses on both panels. After reading on various forums that the IDM is susceptible to water damage and there had been a heavy rain the night before this started, I opened it up to find evidence of a small electrical fire around the plug. Just put in a new IDM today and now the short kicks in when I take the key from off to run. Electrical troubleshooting is not my specialty and I'm not sure where I should go from here. I had no problems driving home the evening before this started. Thanks for any help.
About a week ago I went to start my truck for work and it went full dead electric when I took the key from run to start. Subsequent attempts provided a behavior similar to a low battery. After attempting to jump start, I got the starter to roll weakly one time. Verified the batteries were fully charged with no changes. All attempts to start were met with dim, flickering battery and check engine lights. Verified no blown fuses on both panels. After reading on various forums that the IDM is susceptible to water damage and there had been a heavy rain the night before this started, I opened it up to find evidence of a small electrical fire around the plug. Just put in a new IDM today and now the short kicks in when I take the key from off to run. Electrical troubleshooting is not my specialty and I'm not sure where I should go from here. I had no problems driving home the evening before this started. Thanks for any help.
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From: Bahstun
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ou-cranky.html
i suggest cleaning all battery terminals, grounds, etc before going forward. It helped me a lot on mine when i had issues.
i suggest cleaning all battery terminals, grounds, etc before going forward. It helped me a lot on mine when i had issues.
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Troubleshooting continues
So I replaced my starter solenoid, and a couple others that tested bad. I already cleaned off my battery terminals before the original post. I haven't had a chance to pull and test the starter yet. The short now shows up consistently when the key is in run and the truck is dead electric in the on/acc position. Whats the best way to start checking grounds?
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2018
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The glow plugs draw a huge amount of current. They are like a short. Did you try unplugging the glow plug relay?
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Descriptions
When I first started this thread the weak lights only occurred when I attempted to crank, and leaving the key in the run position acted the same as if the truck were normally off. Now the problem comes in at the run position as well.
Today's update is I noticed water dripping off the running boards by the driver side door which is odd since it hadn't rained in about 5 days. Turns out there was a bunch of water collected in a cavity inboard of the left front fender. It seems to be the natural drain path from in front of the windshield and the outlet must be clogged. Could that water be causing a ground somehow? Didn't get to the glow plug relay yet because of this.
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From: Tobyhanma, PA
Have you checked to make sure your ignition switch is working properly? Ensure you getting the proper power to activate the relays and soleniods.
You can make some quick/temporary grounds to test that theory, heck old jumper cables could work.
You can make some quick/temporary grounds to test that theory, heck old jumper cables could work.
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Fixed
Ignition switch did the trick. Old girl fired right up.
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Van Zant
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
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Oct 16, 2007 09:37 PM