I bought my second a BII about a month ago. It is an '86 XLT manual trans and 4WD, prw windows and locks. I had the tie rods replaced and patched the exaust and replaced a head light to get the safty so I could register it. other thatn that I've had no problems till this morning.

The weather here is calling for an ice storm this afternoon so when I left the house this morning I locked the hubs in and moved the 4WD selector through its range of motion (I wanted to be ready for the ice) every thing seemed to be okay so I put the truck in 2H and left for work.

I stoped at the corner convinience store about a mile away and went in. When I came out the truck started okay put was running week I reved the engin as I was turning the head lights on and then the truck died. Tried a restart and all I heard was an "electrical pop" after that nothing at all. If i plaied with the parking break pedal and release, the clutch pedal, and the stick shift I could get the buzzing sound and dash light that come on with the key in the ignition but as soon as I turn the key I get that "pop" the after that nothing untill I mess around with the pedals/stick shift. I checked the battery conections and starter solinoid conections and they seem alright even "baged" on the solinoid and rattledd the electrical connections every thing seemed tight and it made no differance.

I am thinking that I have a switch somewhere that is bad or mabe a short. I'm not sure where to start looking and would apreceate help and opinions.

John

 

Check the ignition switch, its on the column under the plastic shroud. See if it has come apart of if the plastic looks burned. Brian

 

If the pop is coming from the pedal area I would think you have a bad clutch switch or a shorted starter solenoid causing the clutch switch to go out.

 

Okay I jumped the truck after i got off work today and it started like a Ford always does. The positive battery cable seemed a little lose. Drove the truck home with no problems. When I got home I turned the lights on, still ran fine. Pulled the positive battery cable with only a pair of pliers the truck continued to run fine, I let it run for several minutes. after I felt there would be no problems I replaced the battery cable and tightened it, turned off the truck and restarted it it started fine again. could this be anything other than the battery cable??

John

 

Sounds like it was the battery cable.
It is not a good idea to pull off a battery cable while it is running you can fry the ECM computer, and radio and other items as the voltage can go over 100 VDC when you take it off.

 

Thanks for the info about not pulling the battery cable while running.

 

Both battery terminals were very clean, looked new even. Just the positive was lose. I've ben given info that its not good to pull the battery cable whild running for risk of friing the ecm, radio, etc...