Very strange electrical thing...
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 231
Likes: 1
From: Silver City, NM
Very strange electrical thing...
All of a sudden I'm having a periodical electrical thing going on. It got to where it seemed like I needed new batteries as every time it even got remotely colder it wouldn't start, unless of course I have it plugged in. Well I cant plug it in a work and work nights so I replaced both batteries.
Still does it...
Well this last time it did it was this last Wednesday morning after work. It had rained with mix snow all night... ONLY this time it was a little different...
When I would crank it it EVERY light on the cluster panel would come on, instead of the few usual ones literally every light on the panel, it has lights that I have never seen before and it sounded like a clicking sound, kind of like when there isn't enough juice in the battery only it was cranking well strong enough to start it. AND when I would let off the key from trying to crank it there was about 2 second buzzing sound coming from under the dash that has never been there. After trying for about 15-20 min to start it all a sudden it just started like it is supposed to and has not done it since...
BUUUUT I know its coming again. I have no clue what its about but it is clearly a problem that seems it may want to get worse. I had a pal take a look but of course it would not do it then.
Any ideas?
Still does it...
Well this last time it did it was this last Wednesday morning after work. It had rained with mix snow all night... ONLY this time it was a little different...
When I would crank it it EVERY light on the cluster panel would come on, instead of the few usual ones literally every light on the panel, it has lights that I have never seen before and it sounded like a clicking sound, kind of like when there isn't enough juice in the battery only it was cranking well strong enough to start it. AND when I would let off the key from trying to crank it there was about 2 second buzzing sound coming from under the dash that has never been there. After trying for about 15-20 min to start it all a sudden it just started like it is supposed to and has not done it since...
BUUUUT I know its coming again. I have no clue what its about but it is clearly a problem that seems it may want to get worse. I had a pal take a look but of course it would not do it then.
Any ideas?
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 231
Likes: 1
From: Silver City, NM
Yeah I was kind of thinking that myself and hoping not at the same time. That is so dern time consuming and while it may stop I would still not know what was the casue.
Any chance you, or any one, might know what guage wire is used on our battery terminals?
Any chance you, or any one, might know what guage wire is used on our battery terminals?
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,144
Likes: 11
From: Rochdale MA
Clean your battery terminal connections. Even if you do not see any corrosion the lead "grays" and that reduces the ability for the current to flow. When you put it all back together use Noalox on the terminals and it will never happen again. Does your starter seem to spin a bit on the "slower" side?
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 231
Likes: 1
From: Silver City, NM
Yes it does... In fact I finally got the CPS recall done and the dude at the dealer told me that it turned way slower than most. I told him it was pretty normal for my rig...
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 231
Likes: 1
From: Silver City, NM
Yup... I've actually desided to swap out the terminals with heavy duty zink coated copper and do new wires with 03 welding lead...
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Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,144
Likes: 11
From: Rochdale MA
That will be a nice set up. Use Noalox on the terminals. You can get it at HD or Lowes in the electrical aisle.
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I guess I will start by cleaning my terminals first...my 2000 7.3 started acting up. The speedometer quit and has never worked for the last week but intermittently my guages, gas guage, voltmeter...all go to nothing...but then start working again...I dont know whats wrong???Always something when it start to get cold...
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 231
Likes: 1
From: Silver City, NM
Yep that is pretty much what mine was doing. Half the time it started fine the rest it wouldn't and would seem to run the battery down, I'd jump start it and then it would do fine for a few starts and then again...
I tried just cleaning the terminals and that didn't cut it, once I replaced everything it was super good again. More than likely you could replace just the terminals and be fine, I wanted to be extra fine...lol.
I tried just cleaning the terminals and that didn't cut it, once I replaced everything it was super good again. More than likely you could replace just the terminals and be fine, I wanted to be extra fine...lol.