Another NooB--with problems!!
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New User
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Ontario, CA
Another NooB--with problems!!
Recently aquired a 76 F250 SC Camper Special, after about 40 miles driving it home, I smelled electrical burning. Smoke came out of the dash, pulled over and watched as the alt meter kinda warped up from heat.
Short story, can not find the problem. When I start the truck the gauge (on my second gauge & printed circuit---know the local pick-a-part guys well) goes to discharge then when I step on the gas it goes off the wrong end (D) and starts smoking. Then the printed part that leads to the yellow/black and red wires on the dash connector eventually cook. I would think that the PO reversed the connections somehow or something came loose or what I do not know--- I have attempted to reconnect the wires to the maxi fuse and starter sel. without any success....
Before I take it to the very expensive auto electric guy--help!!
Don
Short story, can not find the problem. When I start the truck the gauge (on my second gauge & printed circuit---know the local pick-a-part guys well) goes to discharge then when I step on the gas it goes off the wrong end (D) and starts smoking. Then the printed part that leads to the yellow/black and red wires on the dash connector eventually cook. I would think that the PO reversed the connections somehow or something came loose or what I do not know--- I have attempted to reconnect the wires to the maxi fuse and starter sel. without any success....
Before I take it to the very expensive auto electric guy--help!!
Don
Senior User
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
From: Clearfield, PA
Maybe the alternator?
In a truck I used to have, the alternator started throwing way too much juice into the system when i hit the gas and the rpm's were up. This could cook something. I was lucky and noticed the problem because my speaker box would cut out everytime I hit the gas. Turns out it was my amp's little safety feature keeping it from getting fried that caused it and the subs to cut out.
Had the alternator rebuilt and that was that. I might be way off, but it's a suggestion.
In a truck I used to have, the alternator started throwing way too much juice into the system when i hit the gas and the rpm's were up. This could cook something. I was lucky and noticed the problem because my speaker box would cut out everytime I hit the gas. Turns out it was my amp's little safety feature keeping it from getting fried that caused it and the subs to cut out.
Had the alternator rebuilt and that was that. I might be way off, but it's a suggestion.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,282
Likes: 4
From: Oregon
First off, go pick up a digital multimeter at your local Radioshack, they run about $20-30, and are worth every penny. With that, you can see what your battery is at when the motor is off, and see what it reads when idling. If it goes WAY up when you hit the throttle, then you have a regulator problem. Do this before you take it in to a shop. Electrical gremlins can be a huge PITA to hunt down, but can save you a good deal of money to at least find the problem yourself.
Worst case, post up your problem in the electrical forum. Franklin2 is amazing at helping with problems like this. He's helped me SOO many times. Good luck!
Worst case, post up your problem in the electrical forum. Franklin2 is amazing at helping with problems like this. He's helped me SOO many times. Good luck!
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Ontario, CA
Went and checked the voltage regulator and connections to and from the alternator----no wire coming out of the I terminal on the VR and the red/green wire going from the plug in connectors toward the interior is semi-cooked.
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 335
Likes: 2
From: N of Houston, TX
Sounds kinda stupid, but have you looked around the gas pedal lever up against the firewall/under the dash for any wiring that might be wrapped around it? Some of these old trucks have rat's nests for wiring and some of those wires have bare ends just dangling...
Thinkin that if you do have a loose bare wire around that lever it'll arc as you move your gas pedal
Thinkin that if you do have a loose bare wire around that lever it'll arc as you move your gas pedal
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Elder User
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 672
Likes: 0
From: near Liverpool, England
Call a mobile electric mechanic, they come to you, had a guy find the starter wire loose on my Winnebago once, didn't charge much to tell me where it was if it needed fixing again......£10-20......
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