sudden power failure
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Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Hawkeye Country
sudden power failure
Hello everyone, seems I have a electric grimlin on my 86 F150. I was driving home and lost all power, just like someone shut off a light switch. I was able to coast her to my house. Just a couple seconds before I lost power I did hit a awful large pothole, perhaps it shook something loose?
Over the last few months I've replaced the starter, solinoid, battery, battery cables, alternator, and the two fuseable links near the starter solinoid.
I do have a aftermarket volt meter gauge hooked up in the cab, its been reading 14.4 volts since I replaced the parts I mentioned earlier. I hooked my battery charger up and the battery is showing its fully charged. I checked my battery cables, they seem to be tight. I've checked the connections at the solinoid and starter, they're also tight. The ground wire from the engine to the firewall is tight on both ends.
Anyone have any ideas? Is there a way to check fuseables links? Also are there more fuseable links besides the two near the battery?
Basically I've lost all power, I have no working lights, and I get nothing when I turn the ignition key.
Over the last few months I've replaced the starter, solinoid, battery, battery cables, alternator, and the two fuseable links near the starter solinoid.
I do have a aftermarket volt meter gauge hooked up in the cab, its been reading 14.4 volts since I replaced the parts I mentioned earlier. I hooked my battery charger up and the battery is showing its fully charged. I checked my battery cables, they seem to be tight. I've checked the connections at the solinoid and starter, they're also tight. The ground wire from the engine to the firewall is tight on both ends.
Anyone have any ideas? Is there a way to check fuseables links? Also are there more fuseable links besides the two near the battery?
Basically I've lost all power, I have no working lights, and I get nothing when I turn the ignition key.
pedant
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,576
Likes: 40
From: EXTREME southwest CT
Maybe the jolt to your steering did something to your ignition switch at the base of the column?
***Never mind, I just realized your lights don't work***
Do you have the big round power connector going through the firewall?
Otherwise I'd be looking for a broken bus in the fuse panel.
Does the lighter work? In my '87 that's not switched at all.
***Never mind, I just realized your lights don't work***
Do you have the big round power connector going through the firewall?
Otherwise I'd be looking for a broken bus in the fuse panel.
Does the lighter work? In my '87 that's not switched at all.
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Joined: May 2007
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Most cars I know of will keep running even if the battery is disconnected due to the alternator providing the power to keep everything running. A complete immediate electrical shutdown would require the alternator feed to be cut as well I would guess.
I did hear that an ageing fuel pump cutoff (safety) switch could be jolted by a large enough pothole, but that wouldn't explain the complete electrical shutdown, unless it was hooked up thru your ecu (presuming fuel injection).
I did hear that an ageing fuel pump cutoff (safety) switch could be jolted by a large enough pothole, but that wouldn't explain the complete electrical shutdown, unless it was hooked up thru your ecu (presuming fuel injection).
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From: Hawkeye Country
Originally Posted by ozstang65
Most cars I know of will keep running even if the battery is disconnected due to the alternator providing the power to keep everything running. A complete immediate electrical shutdown would require the alternator feed to be cut as well I would guess.
I did hear that an ageing fuel pump cutoff (safety) switch could be jolted by a large enough pothole, but that wouldn't explain the complete electrical shutdown, unless it was hooked up thru your ecu (presuming fuel injection).
I did hear that an ageing fuel pump cutoff (safety) switch could be jolted by a large enough pothole, but that wouldn't explain the complete electrical shutdown, unless it was hooked up thru your ecu (presuming fuel injection).
The truck is not fuel injected. I'm in the process of digging the snow out from underneith so I can crawl under and get a look at the alternator connections.
Gonna need to dig out my test light and start probing around.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,658
Likes: 5
From: Out of here
I had the same problem a while ago and it was a factory connector near the starter solenoid. Look for a what looks like a big black rubber barrel connector that has the main power from the alternator hooked to it and I think 2 other wires.
It feeds all power to the fuse block and the connector was so corroded, one of the wires just fell out of the connector. I just removed the factory connector, and replaced it with a big bullet style connector and I haven't had any problems since.
It feeds all power to the fuse block and the connector was so corroded, one of the wires just fell out of the connector. I just removed the factory connector, and replaced it with a big bullet style connector and I haven't had any problems since.
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Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Hawkeye Country
Hey fellas I got her patched together and running again this morning. It was the very connector that uncle.stosh just mentioned. A heavy gauge wire from the alt to the connector had rotted and fell out.
A buddy at carquest found me new alternator connectors with pigtails attached, off of those I ended up building a new alternator harness from scratch this evening. Everything is up and running just fine now.
Thanks for the help/advice everyone.
A buddy at carquest found me new alternator connectors with pigtails attached, off of those I ended up building a new alternator harness from scratch this evening. Everything is up and running just fine now.
Thanks for the help/advice everyone.
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From: Hawkeye Country
Originally Posted by uncle.stosh
Glad to see that you are back on the road again.
This site is a great source of information. I don't know what I'd do without it.
This site is a great source of information. I don't know what I'd do without it.