Help! Major electrical problem.

[colbystephens]

Got in my truck this afternoon to move it, turned on my fuel, cold timing advance and ignition key (all those things have their own switches + relays + fuses). Pressed the glow-plug button, GP relay clicked on and suddenly all electrical power to my truck was gone. Let it sit a moment, tried again, same thing happened. Now, nothing at all. No headlights, no heater fan - nothing.

I drove the truck just last Saturday. Been doing the wiring this way for almost 2 years now. I have no idea where to start. I'm assuming it's a fusible link somewhere. Can y'all tell me where the likely ones are to start checking? How do I check a fusible link for failure?

I was going to go wheelin tomorrow! Dammit!

 

[colbystephens]

update: i haven't done a damn thing to the wiring/electrical on the truck. after letting it sit for a couple hours, I turned the key and had power again. headlights turned on, etc. i didn't push the glow plugs because i figured that would pop it all off again...

 

[4X4HIGH]

I would be checking for any loose wiring or bad ground(s).

 

[British Slave]

I know it sounds simple, but have you checked the connections on the battery?

 

[NorCal_Chris]

+1 on grounds or batt connections.

Had an issue like that was caused by a bad ground off battery.

Ign on truck was fine everything worked, then when i put a load like turned my stereo up, or tried to start it it would have same symptom. Totally dead.

 

[ryoken]

yup, start shaking some wires...

 

[colbystephens]

ok. that's encouraging, because it'll be an easy fix. thanks!!!

 

[ryoken]

not necessarily easy to hunt down, but it'll be cheap!

 

[Fordum]

You said all the things you switched on had fuses. Is there a self resetting circuit breaker in there anywhere?
Fusible links and fuses don't repair themselves and supply power a few minutes later.
Loose connections on the battery can sometimes do that, but it sure sounds like a CB with a shorted glowplug.

J.

 

[colbystephens]

no circuit breaker that I'm aware of. I'm betting it's battery cable related. I've been attaching and un-attaching my battery alot recently for welding...

 

[Yo]

That's probably what did it right there....

My truck would do something similar; I'd open the doors and the dome lights would be off, radio wouldn't work, and fuel pumps wouldn't turn on, but the truck would crank.

No fuses were blown; I did a visual inspection under the hood until I shook some wires and realized that the PO had piggy backed off the + terminal of the alternator for a 12v constant! That wire had a weak connection at the terminal and would cut in and out, say, if I slammed the front door or hood etc.

I moved it to it's own spot on the battery and all is well.