I have put a new starter, a new solenoid switch, a new battery, and 2 new battery cables on my 76 F-100 but it still won't even turn the lights on. I took the electric brakes that some moron put on there wrong off because I suspected that they were killing my battery but the truck still shows no signs of life. What's wrong? Any help would be appreciated greatly.

 

Check all of your fuses. then get a wiring diagram and check everything for shorts and you also might want to check out your switch some times they get wore to where things short out there.

 

You might want to check the fusible links located at the battery side of the starter selenoid. If they are still the original ones they will have a small rubber tag on them that says fusible link on them. Take a test light, ground the one end, then hold it on the battery side of your selenoid. It should light. Now, unravel the tape (if the wiring is covered) at the selenoid and check the fusible link wires. I usually pierce the wire just past the splice to see if it has power in the fusible link or not. From reading all that you have already done I am guessing this is your problem. I am also assuming that you mean you are getting no electrical power whatsoever to anything in the truck.

Another thing to try if you have power through the fusible links: Turn your lights or anything in the truck on (also assuming your battery is charged) and take your test light from the negative side of the battery to a grounding point on the BODY. If the light lights, you do not have a sufficient ground to the body from the negative side of the battery (body ground). Make sure somewhere along the line you have a good cable going from the engine to the frame or body. The smaller 10 GA wire on the new battery cables I usually run to a fender or battery box bolt to make sure it is supplying a good ground to the body.

 

I had the exact same problem with my 79 f-150 turned out the ignition switch was bad 3 days and 150 dollars later it took 10 minutes and 10 dollars to fix but a lesson learned. good luck






1979 F-150 Custom 4x4 Shortbox