Is it dead or is it simple?
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,175
Likes: 0
Is it dead or is it simple?
I went to crank my 78 yesterday and it was turning over slowly but I thought that it was just 35* and the truck was just cold. and it eventaly started.This morning I when I try it again and I got maby10 cranks and I thought it was just out of gas "gauge below E" and then I released the key and I could hear the starter still trying to crank extremly slow maby a 1/2 engine revolution and then it stopped completely. NOW!I have no stereo,instrumetation lights,or CB and no seat belt buzzer/red light I went to hook the battery charger on it and the chager needle went from extreme charge"way right" to extreme not charge "way left" and just kept cycling in this way.What is wrong with my truck?
Shorted battery or worse?!
PLease help,
Dustin
Shorted battery or worse?!
PLease help,
Dustin
Junior User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: south jersey
It could be bad battery cables but you should try cleaning them up first my 79 did the same thing cranking real slow than lost all power. I took off the battery cables cleaned them up with a wire brush and it started right up like a brand new truck.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 767
Likes: 1
From: Franklin, GA
Disconnect the battery from the cables and try to charge it again and see if the meter on the charger still jumps around. If it does, the battery needs to be checked at a parts store and possibly replaced.
With the key in the run position, the starter should not be cranking the engine. When you install a good battery, be ready to remove a cable if the starter won't stop when it's supposed to. Prolonged cranking causes heat that can fry a starter solenoid and keep the starter turning.
Clean the cable terminals on both ends and wire brush the block where the ground cable connects. If the cables condition is questionable, replace it, preferrably with one of larger guage than stock.
Get it to the point of a known good battery, good cables with clean connections and try to start it again. Re-post if you still have problems.
With the key in the run position, the starter should not be cranking the engine. When you install a good battery, be ready to remove a cable if the starter won't stop when it's supposed to. Prolonged cranking causes heat that can fry a starter solenoid and keep the starter turning.
Clean the cable terminals on both ends and wire brush the block where the ground cable connects. If the cables condition is questionable, replace it, preferrably with one of larger guage than stock.
Get it to the point of a known good battery, good cables with clean connections and try to start it again. Re-post if you still have problems.
Moderator
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 22,436
Likes: 17
From: Louisville,Ky.
Sounds like the starter solenoid has welded itself shut. As soon as you try to hook up the battery charger, the starter is trying to turn due to the solenoid being stuck engaged.
Check all of your cable connections, especially the block ground and the starter wire. If good, the starter could be loose or bad. Drawing high amperage can weld the solenoid contacts together,
Check all of your cable connections, especially the block ground and the starter wire. If good, the starter could be loose or bad. Drawing high amperage can weld the solenoid contacts together,
