I bought this 1988 2.9 BroncoII XLT

Heres the problem, it's weird because this baby runs perfect.

2 weeks ago drove 10 miles to a restaraunt, ate and drove almost all the way back and the truck just dies *poof*
I did the normal things, Checked the coil wire for corrosion etc.
Then after 3-4 mins of sitting truck fires perfectly and runs as perfectly as the day it was bought so I bought a new coil to have for a spare in case that one dies.

Today....I have a 1970 Model Ford F-100 with 73,000 actual miles on it that had a dead battery so I was planning on using Mr BroncoII to start it.

I attach the jumper cables and give the old truck a spin and the Bronco's engine shuts off = ??????
So I get back in the Bronco and restart it and try the same thing again.

The BroncoII will NOT start this time or turn over the interior lights are dim and I am assuming a shorted battery right???
So I unhook the battery terminals and get another vehicle and attach the cables and I get a bright light in the interior so I am assuming dead battery (but I don't think that is the problem because it has been up fine all day)
Well then I try to start it again and BRRRRRRRRRRRR on the cylenoid relay box (on the fender behind the battery) so I say no big deal I will just go get a new one and replace the old one.
The I try to start BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR again and a dim light in the interior so I check this battery and it is fine so I am sure there is a short somewhere on the starter, so I get under there and remove the hot wire from the starter and the lights are now bright in the interior and I figure the starter is shorted so I go take the old one off and place the jumper cables on the starter to test and sure enough it wont turn,
Bad starter WOOHOO I found my problem so I go get a new one.
Place new starter on and try it and starter relay goes BRRRRRRRRRRRRR again , (Now I am Pissed Off)
Well I start messing with the battery for a few minutes and sit there scratching my head with the greasy wrench, I walk over to the door open it and the light is super bright.
I reach down and turn the switch and the D%$# truck starts, although I am glad it started I have got to know what happened to it before I decide to take it on another 500 mile trip.

If you managed to read this far thanks
HELP!

 

Sounds like a bad ground to the engine block or a broken battery cable. I would check out the battery ground cable where it attaches to the block and the cable it self. Also check ut the positive battery cable.
1989 Bronco II XLT
1992 F150 ext cab XLT
1993 Aerostar AWD
1974 Maverick

 

Ya know that is a great idea on the ground part, but would an improper ground shut down a engine if it wasn't right?


I love this BroncoII and I will replace the engine if I have to.


Best damn vehicle in tha world man!
I could buy anything I want but I choose a 1988 Bronco II


Thanks for your help

Jeff

 

Yes it would if it was loose. When you slamed the door and it cranked may have shaken it for a better contact. I have seen a car go dead when some one hit a bump in the road and it was a bad/loose ground connection on the block.

 

Well that is EXACTLY what happened

Bronco II will have a complete "Ground" checkup tomorrow and I thank you for your time.

Jeff
(RaidersRock)

 

"If" My Bronco II had a ground problem do you think it would just die when trying to jump another vehicle off or is that another problem?

I am going to take the Bronco fishing WED and if it breaks it breaks. (500) Miles there and back.

 

Putting a load on the charging system where the ground is bad can do this.

 

Thanks alot Avanti, you have been a great help.


RR

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 28-Oct-01 AT 01:58 AM (EST)[/font][p]nm

 

 

I just had this same problem....started the engine when I'm about to come home from college...then it quit and when I tried to restart it again...BRRRRR. So I replaced the battery....didn't start. So I just roll started it to get it home. After that I replaced the starter...still wouldn't start. Ends up after I pull the ground wires out of the connector and clean them up...replace it on the terminal....starts like a champ.