Electrical Failure

B

budpytko

Registered
Left for NY with the Mark last Tuesday and got about 15 miles up the road (INSIDE the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel) when I noticed that the headlights did NOT come on down in the tunnel.... then saw that the radio lights were out too....then started turning things on/off. NOTHING worked except the speedometer, tach and Temp gauge.

Obviously, the engine was still running too..... stopped in a wide area north of the tunnel and chanced shutting down the engine to restart it, hoping against hope that a reset would work. OOPS - now dead on the side of the road. Called my auto service and got a rollback to deposit the Mark in my driveway....switched all the gear to the F250 and went to NY.

NOw I 'm back, I gotta get out there to see what failed??? Fused link off the hot side of the battery? Anyone got any other ideas? Taking the DVM out there now.... back in a bit.
 
It ran fine until I turned off the ign. switch. I was NEW about a year ago.....Just no accessories...actually no nothing except what I noted above..... tach, speedometer and temp gauge. I'm trying to find the fused links to/from the alternator now...
 
No DTC's - v12v to the alt. and the starter works when terminals shorted. Will NOT start with ign switch....nor turn over the engine....nor engage.
 
You have 2 fuse links from the alternator to the +12V power stud on the side of the power distribution (fuse) box.

Check fuse 15 in the IP fuse box.

Put the battery on charge while you troubleshoot.
 
I have 12v in the pwr distro box at all the fuses. When I hit the starter, the relay clicks in the distro box too. I unhooked the alt and nothing changed....

BTW, I found an connector under the dash that I can not find a mate to, too. Below and to left of steering wheel. I did replace the steering column about 45 days ago......
 
budpytko said:
I have 12v in the pwr distro box at all the fuses. When I hit the starter, the relay clicks in the distro box too. I unhooked the alt and nothing changed....

BTW, I found an connector under the dash that I can not find a mate to, too. Below and to left of steering wheel. I did replace the steering column about 45 days ago......
Click to expand...

Sounds like something came loose....
 
Negative post on the battery was broken inside! Jumped it from the truck.....all accessories came back on..... was attached enough to give me good voltage....not enough amps....

Installed new battery....veerrroooom!
 
budpytko said:
No DTC's - v12v to the alt. and the starter works when terminals shorted. Will NOT start with ign switch....nor turn over the engine....nor engage.
Click to expand...

I would say alternator only because my car did the EXACT same thing a few years back. Radio turned off, AC turned off, other dash lights turned off, then I got to work a mile later. After work, my car wouldn't start. I replaced the alt in the parking lot...then jumped the car and got home fine with no problems since.
 
After installing new battery, 12.6v NOT running, 14.5v engine running.
BTW, old battery with the loose neg. post = 11.6v engine off.....
 
Old one was Interstate....but don't think it was the brands fault.... A friend (?) tightened the original clamp too tight (back when I was replacing the steering column) and I think he stressed the post doing it. I replaced the original battery clamps with good old fashioned lead ones yesterday too. There was about a 1/4" of play on the neg. post.

Got the new one at Wally World last evening...everything else was closed.
 
budpytko said:
Got the new one at Wally World last evening...everything else was closed.
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with that!

battery.jpg
 
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