Stuck in Stupied on
1987 Ford F-350 4x4 "460".
Changed severly corroded battery ground cable, (engine was turning over prior to) ....now nothing! Gauges went goofy (buried). Have no electrical at all.

 

What led to all this happening? I can only guess you had a starting problem, and found the bad cable. If you did have a bad main ground cable to the block, then it is possible that the starter tried to use the smaller grounds that run from the engine block to the sheetmetal, and possibly a small ground from the battery negative to the sheetmetal fender.

See if these smaller grounds are melted. Also make sure you have a ground from the battery negative to the sheetmetal fender. I believe the fuel injected trucks had one over there.

 

yes, it was turning over slow, ground cable very corroded. replaced cable. The cable I replaced is a little different.... in that the old one has a midpoint inset clamp & secures to the frame and then the end bolts to the block. This one goes directly to the block! I clipped the pigtail off the old cable and attached it to the new one per instructions. I don't understand@#$%

 

I ran my Ground wire straight to the block bypassing that middle clamp on the frame. Everything works great. Maybe the slow cranking was a sign of a weak battery as well....I know mine was.

 

The engine and tranny are mounted in rubber. The engine block may be grounded now with the new cable, but the sheetmetal may not be grounded correctly if they where burnt up. I would check all your smaller grounds going from the engine to the firewall, etc. If this checks out, it's time to get the voltmeter or testlight out. Do you have one?

 

yes..I have both test light and voltmeter ...did a continuity test on cable & pigtail which checked out fine. Also battery is strong. I will check all other grounds.

 

that is encouraging...my battery is strong though.

 

Good, you have some test equipment.

Just to confirm the battery and starter, and all the heavy wiring is good, take a small jumper wire and jump point #3 in the diagram below to point #5. MAKE SURE IT IS OUT OF GEAR. The engine should crank over.

Ok, if that works, then, get the voltmeter out, and probe around the fuse box. If everything seems dead, then find a smaller wire leaving point #3 in the diagram below, and you may find a small rubber piece in the wire. This is a fusible link, and could be burnt out. If it's ok, then keep following the wire and it will spread into more wires with more fusible links. All these links feed the fuse box and the ignition switch, and some of them could be burnt out.

 

going to go do that.....will post reply of results.....and thank you very much for the help.

Sue

 

Well...I tested ...then.....Thought about what you said about 'The engine and tranny are mounted in rubber'. So, I pulled the clamp off the old ground wire, stripped an area on the new one and attached it back to the frame.

you were right !!! it worked..... ...Thank you so much for the help, this is an AWESOM site. I love my Fords...I have 4...3 diesels(2- 7.3's & 1- 6.9) and the '87 -460. Now 2 are running. Again...much appreciated.
Thanks again, Sue