what can it be now?

[Low87]

I think I've got the water out of my fuel. Now, the truck is dead again. I tried to start it after buttoning up the gas tank and the battery was dead. I put it on the charger, then had to run so I took it off. Tried it the next day, still dead. I set it on the charger today and it shows a full charge. Try to start the truck, nothing. The interior light doesn't even come on. What can be causing this, or what can I check to zero in on the problem?

[Low87on20s]

I had the same problem once. I changed the positive and negative cables to the battery and have not had a problem since.

[gldevall]

Is your battery hooked up?

[old Rusty C10]

check your connections on the cables clean em all up then try again

[LOHRTBT]

Originally posted by gldevall
Is your battery hooked up?

LMAO!! I hope this is it!! I will never let him live it down!! hahaha

[LOHRTBT]

Greg...In all honesty...the batt could show a charge on the charger...did you check it with a voltmeter??? sometimes it will show right and have a dead cell. But that is probably not what it is.

Make sure that you have all your connections tight and your ground has not come undone on the frame or anything like that broh.
Have you tried the battery of of something else to see if it powers the truck?

Dont make me come to tulsa to kick your arse and fix your truck!

[Low87]

The battery is no more than 2 months old and has probably seen 3 days max of usage. I'll check the connections, and yes gldevall, it's hooked up.....clown! Dave, you aren't ever coming to Tulsa, so I'm not worried about it.

[LOHRTBT]

hahah bite me bish!!

[Low87]

I checked the terminals, sanded them and cleaned any buildup off. I checked the ground. I checked the water in the battery. Still it does nothing. Any more ideas?

[Low87on20s]

Did you check the positive cable at the starter?

[Low87]

nope.....

[Low87]

Checked it, it's attached, just a bit of oil leak sludge on it. Next?

[Izzy]

Dead alternator is my guess, have it checked at a parts house.

[Low87]

Wouldn't I still be able to get the dome light of headlights to come on if the alt was dead?
If it is the alt, I hope I can find my O'Reilly's lifetime warranty receipt from 5 years ago!

[N2TRUX]

Fuseable link? I can't remember exactly where it is, but there are a couple of fusable links that could have blown. That would account for voltage at the battery, but no where else...

[Low87]

Okay, I'm game, I'll look up in the Haynes manual for the location. I'll have to check it later though, getting cold and dark around here.

[Low87]

Went ahead and braved the cold. I found two in the Haynes manual, one off the positive wire from the battery and one near a junction block on the firewall. I can't find either one of them in the actual truck. All the visible wiring appears fine.

One question along Izzy's bad alt theory, the positive terminal on shows power, but the positive cable at the alternator doesn't show a light. Should it? I tried both with the key off and the key forward to accessory (no difference thought at this time).

[Frank-id]

Battery care and feeding require some work. The cables must be removed from posts to be cleaned. There are several great tools to clean both posts and cable ends. When dealing with any battery...... a digital volt meter is your best friend. The battery must indicate at least 12.6 volts.. Using a simple test lite can show the path of voltage .. Check at the battery, check at the starter power cable, check at the fuse block..... Checking the alternator will show power is leaving battery. Some times the problem is poor ground connections.... from the battery and body grounds. Ya cannot have too many grounds. Grounds are good.....

[Low87]

Dave, thanks for the call letting me know the location of the fusible link against the firewall, but that wasn't it.
Frank, I did remove the cables from the posts to clean them. I'll have to check around to see if anyone I know has a digital voltmeter I can borrow. Sunday I'll also try another of Dave's ideas and swap in another battery. I can spend more time then and get detailed inspecting going as suggested by Frank if that doesn't work.
Thanks guys.

[mike reeh]

the electrical system is soooo simple on these trucks..

check for 12v at the battery. CHECK
check for 12v at the starter + post. CHECK
check for 12v at the junction on the firewall. CHECK
check for 12v at some of the fuses on the fuse block. CHECK
check your body + chassis grounds. CHECK


that should narrow it down to something simple.

it doesnt happen to be an optima battery does it?

mike

[Low87]

Mike and Riptide, I'll look at both those Sunday as well. Thanks for the help!

[swervin ervin]

I'm thinking dead cell in the battery, if everything else checks out. I've had it happen too many times. Have you tried jumping it off or another known good battery?

[Low87]

Mike, I tried it on my Dad's truck. This evening my Dad suggested testing the water in the cells with a hydrometer, which I actually have.

[swervin ervin]

Did you try installing another known good and working battery in your truck? Have you, just for the fun of it, checked all the fuses? It is a computer truck, but I doubt a blown fuse would cause your symptoms though. I'd check them anyway. It don't cost anything.

With nothing working at all, if for sure sounds to me no power is coming from the battery to anywhere. Double check all battery cable connections and cables. Check the ground cable too.

If you take a bad battery out of the picture for sure, get a test light and start at the battery checking everything for power. Check at the starter to see if it's getting any power on that end of the cable. Check the junction block on the firewall the same way. Try it with the switch on and off. Once/if you find an area the light don't work when it's supposed to, you can backtrack from there to find the problem. Sounds simple, no?