Ground is HOT
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Ground is HOT
Hey all,
With the switch on, it seems like the frame of the truck is hot (seems to have current) With the negative cable hooked to the battery and the switch on, you can unhook the negative cable from the engine and touch it to the frame or body and you get some good sparks. With the ground cable hooked to the engine, an ohm meter will not show 0.00 when connected between the battery and the engine ground. Any help.
With the switch on, it seems like the frame of the truck is hot (seems to have current) With the negative cable hooked to the battery and the switch on, you can unhook the negative cable from the engine and touch it to the frame or body and you get some good sparks. With the ground cable hooked to the engine, an ohm meter will not show 0.00 when connected between the battery and the engine ground. Any help.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 592
Likes: 1
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
My Bad, 1980 F100 302/4 spd. hope this is what was needed.
Would like to add, that if you jump a wire from the Pos. side of the battery, to the side of the solenoid that runs to the starter, it acts like you are touching a ground, starter does not turn and the jumper wire will "weld" to the cable (that runs to the starter) I have had the truck 4 years never had a problem like this, put a new solenoid on it 3 days ago, truck started great, sat for two days and now it won't start. New solenoid, pos. cable, neg. cable, cable from solenoid to starter, starter is good, and battery is good. Thanks for any help.
Would like to add, that if you jump a wire from the Pos. side of the battery, to the side of the solenoid that runs to the starter, it acts like you are touching a ground, starter does not turn and the jumper wire will "weld" to the cable (that runs to the starter) I have had the truck 4 years never had a problem like this, put a new solenoid on it 3 days ago, truck started great, sat for two days and now it won't start. New solenoid, pos. cable, neg. cable, cable from solenoid to starter, starter is good, and battery is good. Thanks for any help.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 970
Likes: 3
You say you get the jumper from the + battery to the starter side of the solenoid to weld fast. How heavy a piece of wire are you using, rmember you have a 150 amp load on that terminal. What does it do with a jumper cable? Sounds to me like your
starter has a problem.
starter has a problem.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 19,768
Likes: 1,082
From: St Louis
First off, the vehicle frame is your ground for the entire electrical system. It is supposed to cary all the current back to the battery.
Second, don't connect that jumper wire. It can carry anywhere from 150-200 A. No wonder it's arc welding. Even a typical jumper cable isn't heavy enough for that.
Have you tried jumpering a wire from the small starter relay terminal to the battery positive and see if the starter relay and the starter motor engages? WARNING! Make certain the transmission is in neutral and the e-brake is on.
Steve
Second, don't connect that jumper wire. It can carry anywhere from 150-200 A. No wonder it's arc welding. Even a typical jumper cable isn't heavy enough for that.
Have you tried jumpering a wire from the small starter relay terminal to the battery positive and see if the starter relay and the starter motor engages? WARNING! Make certain the transmission is in neutral and the e-brake is on.
Steve
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,999
Likes: 2,747
From: Virginia
It seems you are getting confused with some issues that do not mean much.
You said the truck will not start. That means it will not turn over correct? Do a little test and report back;
Turn the headlights on with the truck off. They should be bright. While they are on, try to start the truck.
What happens to the brightness of the lights when you try to start the truck?
What if any sounds do you hear when you try to start it?
You said the truck will not start. That means it will not turn over correct? Do a little test and report back;
Turn the headlights on with the truck off. They should be bright. While they are on, try to start the truck.
What happens to the brightness of the lights when you try to start the truck?
What if any sounds do you hear when you try to start it?
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Thanks to everyone for the info, i have to work the next two days, will work on it again this weekend.... will let you know then and again THANKS
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Hey everyone,
I got it fixed.....it was the starter. I tried a starter from a truck that I knew worked and it did the same as the first one, so that stumped, finally had the starter tested and it showed good.....brought it home and didn't work, bought a new one and worked good.....go figure. Thanks for all the help.
I got it fixed.....it was the starter. I tried a starter from a truck that I knew worked and it did the same as the first one, so that stumped, finally had the starter tested and it showed good.....brought it home and didn't work, bought a new one and worked good.....go figure. Thanks for all the help.