I found the culprit wire
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,330
Likes: 13
From: Eaton, CO
I found the culprit wire
Something has been killing the power in the truck at random when I shut it off. I found the wire. It runs from one relay to the other just behind the passenger side battery. It's a red wire. What's it for? Whatever it is, it cuts power to the entire truck.
Last night we were driving around in the IDI and my head lights would start to flash really bright, then really dim. This would happen most over bumps and when I depressed the clutch. I could smell an electrical smell and thought I should get home ASAP. Then it looked like a lightning bolt bright flash came out of my driver's side light. It blew out. I could smell that electrical smell again. Sure enough it's blown. The actual connector that connects those three wires to the back of the light looks a bit cook, so I pulled one from a bone yard today.
Do you think that culprit wire had anything to do with the light blowing?
Last night we were driving around in the IDI and my head lights would start to flash really bright, then really dim. This would happen most over bumps and when I depressed the clutch. I could smell an electrical smell and thought I should get home ASAP. Then it looked like a lightning bolt bright flash came out of my driver's side light. It blew out. I could smell that electrical smell again. Sure enough it's blown. The actual connector that connects those three wires to the back of the light looks a bit cook, so I pulled one from a bone yard today.
Do you think that culprit wire had anything to do with the light blowing?
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,086
Likes: 1
From: Malahat/Cowichan Valley
odd that it would cook a bulb but it would if the voltage kept flying all over the place. If it was shorting, that would definitely do it. When i had a similar problem but i lost the charge to batteries and all power was dim as hell, it was a loose connection in the voltage regulator harness. Pushed it back in and it was fine so i got one from a JY for 3 bucks and spliced it in.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,330
Likes: 13
From: Eaton, CO
I was looking for damaged wire insulation, but can't find any. I have found many very sharp bends in wire and harnesses/connectors are brittle. I think the entire truck needs to be re-wired. Are there kits for this?
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,330
Likes: 13
From: Eaton, CO
I think I figured it out. That red wire running from the passenger battery positive lug to the GPR or other relay there wasn't getting full contact. I fixed that. When replacing my headlights today, the driver's side harness had a disintegrated clip on the green wire. I replaced that clip and installed new lights. Hopefully that doesn't happen again.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 15
From: Nutter Fort, WV
I rewired all of that red wire mess on my 86 last summer.
I used a #2 wire from the battery to the glow plug relay, then on to my plow breaker power in terminal and then on to the starter relay.
I also changed the power out from the alternator wire to a #2 wire which also runs over to the glow plug relay power in terminal.
Headlight sockets changed to heavy duty sockets with 12 gauge wires and wiring from them back to the relay conversion was also changed to 10 gauge wire.
I also changed all wires from the engine compartment back to the rear of the frame to 12 or 10 gauge wire depending on what it went to, trailer battery charge, trailer brakes, ground and auxilary power for the trailer are all 10 gauge, left turn, right turn, reverse and tail lights are all 12 gauge.
This summer the rest will be rewired while the truck is apart for paint and body work, relays will be running any of the higher draw circuits.
I used a #2 wire from the battery to the glow plug relay, then on to my plow breaker power in terminal and then on to the starter relay.
I also changed the power out from the alternator wire to a #2 wire which also runs over to the glow plug relay power in terminal.
Headlight sockets changed to heavy duty sockets with 12 gauge wires and wiring from them back to the relay conversion was also changed to 10 gauge wire.
I also changed all wires from the engine compartment back to the rear of the frame to 12 or 10 gauge wire depending on what it went to, trailer battery charge, trailer brakes, ground and auxilary power for the trailer are all 10 gauge, left turn, right turn, reverse and tail lights are all 12 gauge.
This summer the rest will be rewired while the truck is apart for paint and body work, relays will be running any of the higher draw circuits.
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blaze91
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Dec 30, 2005 10:35 AM
