pentonkid Posted October 24, 2008 Posted October 24, 2008 Here's what happened. I drove my truck to a friend's farm to put up a tree stand. When I got back in my truck to leave I turned the key to start up and all that happened was a click, then I lost my interior lights and nothing worked. No headlights, no horn etc.. I cleaned the battery teminals and when I got back in the truck I had interior lights. I hit the key again... there was a click and I lost my interior lights again. Had the truck towed to my house and measured 12.62 volts at the battery. Is there a step by step methodical way to figure this problem out? I sure could use some advice. Thanks in advance. Craig
BookspanS Posted October 24, 2008 Posted October 24, 2008 Maybe you left a light on and your battery died. Happened to me a couple of times, try jumping your truck from another see if that works :dunno: hopefully that will the the easy fix
pentonkid Posted October 24, 2008 Author Posted October 24, 2008 The landowner tried to jump start me but even with jumper cables hooked up to my battery I had no interior lights, headlights, horn etc.. No dash lights or anything. Thanks.
BookspanS Posted October 24, 2008 Posted October 24, 2008 Bad battery maybe? I tryin to think of what all was wrong with my truck when it did the same thing
Pete M Posted October 24, 2008 Posted October 24, 2008 What's the condition of the battery cables? Did you clean the insides of the cable terminals and not just the battery post? (I only ask because I had a friend do that). I would take the battery in to one of the auto parts stores that does free checks on batteries. Also, my 90 is notorious for giving me that same "click" when the battery is just fine. Seems I have to fiddle with the terminals every stinking time I try to start it (which is admittedly like once a month and the reason I haven't replaced the cables yet).
BookspanS Posted October 24, 2008 Posted October 24, 2008 Or like mine, I park it and next time i go to start it....ABOUSOLUTELY nothing(not even a click)...i have my girlfriend hop in and try to turn the key i accidentally hit a plug on my soluneiod, and it starts right up.... :dunno: but i havent had that problem since
pentonkid Posted October 24, 2008 Author Posted October 24, 2008 Sorry guys for unintentionally not giving enough information. Yes I cleaned the battery teminals and cables. My truck has the four speed manual transmission. About a year ago I had to replace the clutch master cylinder and yes it did the brake fluid deposit on my fuse box nonsense. Perhaps I am incorrectly considering the battery as the problem because of its 12.62 volts showing on my multi-meter. Thanks.
pentonkid Posted October 24, 2008 Author Posted October 24, 2008 Does anyone else have some ideas? A flow chart approach would be great. Thanks. Craig
jaekl Posted October 24, 2008 Posted October 24, 2008 Absolutely a bad connection, with no response from jump, you have to trace the battery cables. Most likely the ground. Run the jumper from positive to starter. If it spins, you have bad ositive cable. If no spin then bad ground cable.
jteckmann Posted October 24, 2008 Posted October 24, 2008 +1 what jaekl said. I occasionally had the 'mystery click' on my '86. I'd jiggle the battery wires, then it would start right up - but the clock, radio presets, etc would be reset. On mine, turned out to be a cracked/stretched negative terminal that wasn't making good contact with the battery post. Track your cables and check/clean/tighten every connection.
Rockyrider367 Posted October 25, 2008 Posted October 25, 2008 I know mine was doing the same thing. it will either click or nothing will happen at all. With mine it was the solenoid. It had bad connections to the batery and the wire at the bottom was loose. I would check all those before you go to crazy into it.
pentonkid Posted October 25, 2008 Author Posted October 25, 2008 Thanks for all the replies guys. The problem was in the negative battery cable where the wire goes into the terminal end. Lots of corrosion. Repairs were made and all is right in my Comanche world!! Craig
FxRacing282 Posted October 26, 2008 Posted October 26, 2008 get some lithium grease in the tub and lather that crap on there. i always though it did nothing and thats what i was learned until i met my boss who made it a policy at the shop to put it on everytime we clean/inspect/replace a connection.
603Redneck Posted October 26, 2008 Posted October 26, 2008 dunno if anyone mentioned it or not yet, but when mine did that, it was the block ground. cleaned it up put a new connector on it and bolted it back on, she fired right over
xj_dummy Posted October 27, 2008 Posted October 27, 2008 The problem was in the negative battery cable where the wire goes into the terminal end. Lots of corrosion. Craig Yea, those after market replacement ends for battery cables are notorious for getting corrosive and not allowing the correct electric flow through. Glad you figured it out. :thumbsup:
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