Electrical screw up

[LEB Ben]

Hey fellas...a few weeks ago, my little bro hooked up the battery charger backwards on the 96 350. I didn't have time to get around to it, so Dad decided to make it a minor project with him and the 12yo brother. However, he asked if I would ask you guys a couple things. The truck is dead, and won't turn over. He says he has power to the fuse box on the outside, but no power to the fuse box on the inside. Any suggestions on what needs to be replaced, rewired, or fixed? Any ideas on why there is no power to the inside fuse box? Also, I couldn't remember, is the voltage regulator an internal unit with the alternator? Thanks for any info, I realize this is a little vague, but I haven't had my hands on the truck, but I'll try to answer any questions with the limited info I have. Thanks fellas.

 

[flareside_thunder]

Uhh can't answer much for ya but yea the VR is internal on the altenator....might also have just fried a uhhhh dangit...the block style resistors on the fenderwell....ugh friggin brain fart

 

[Skandocious]

If you've got power to the exterior fuse box but no the interior, there can really only be one answer... Sounds like fried some wiring somewhere. Just trace the wiring from the battery to every part of the main harness-- you might need to cut open some of the split loom here and there to check it.

As for the VR-- I suppose it's considered "internal"... But I don't like that name because you can actually unbolt the VR from the back of the alternator with small bolts.. So it's "attached" to the alternator, but you don't need to dissect the alternator to get to it. "Attached" is a better word

 

[LEB Ben]

Thanks for the info Chris...if it comes to tracing, I guess it won't get fixed until I get home and I can do the tracing...haha. Thanks again bud.

 

[flareside_thunder]

ahhh check your fusible links also man.....and relay is the word I was lookin for...

 

[Skandocious]

ahhh check your fusible links also man.....and relay is the word I was lookin for...

Good call. The fusible links should be near the starter solenoid, inline on the wires... There will be a section of heatshrink wrapped around the wire that is a little thicker than the rest of the wire-- that's your fusible link. I've heard that if it's bendy and twisty, then it's bad. Stiff = good. Bill (subford) knows more about that.

 

[FordF-SuperDuty]

Hey fellas...a few weeks ago, my little bro hooked up the battery charger backwards on the 96 350.

Well, he'll learn not to do that again!

 

[flareside_thunder]

the black piece on this is mainly what you're looking for....

 

[Skandocious]

the black piece on this is mainly what you're looking for....

Huh? that's a crimp-on butt connector!

 

[Skandocious]

Here:

Mine looks more like the ones on the left:

 

[flareside_thunder]

I was referring to the black piece on that wire...that's what the majority of the fusible links on Fords look like...is that little black piece inline on the wire.....

 

[Skandocious]

I was referring to the black piece on that wire...that's what the majority of the fusible links on Fords look like...is that little black piece inline on the wire.....

In the picture you linked, I think the wire itself is the fusible link. Like the ones on the right-hand side of the photo I posted.

 

[flareside_thunder]

eh blah............

 

[LEB Ben]

Alright...thanks again for the info fellas...I'll be sure to relay it to dad. He's not to fond of tracing problems anymore, and this truck has to be up and running in a week...the other bro has a fishing tourney in Texas...and he'll be using it to tow. So I'm sure as the week goes by, there will be more emergency type questions if these suggestions don't work. Thanks again.