My truck power trouble

[Toolsnotchopsticks]

I have a 1986 f250. I have a full battery a new starter and new starter Solinoid alternator computer modual ,ignition switch, new ignition lock cylinder all the fuses are good I have no idea what's wrong but I have no power to lights radio anything. it won't start and has no power to any component. Yes the battery cables are fine and work. Please help!! Have no idea where to go or what to do.

Thanks
Derek

I know about the fusible links to and can't find a bad one. Any help is greatly appreciated..

 

[DNFXDLI]

How have you checked the battery and cables?

 

[blacksnapon]

remember, you need a ground as well for a circuit to work. Check grounds at the kick panels.

 

[Toolsnotchopsticks]

I checked the battery with a volt meter and had 12v then checked the starter Solinoid with the voltage meter as well and had 12v so the wires from the battery are good I'm assuming. No breaks or splices in wires from the battery.
I tested the fusible links by splicing before and after the links and using another wire to try to complete the connection.(just to see if anything would turn on..lights key buzzer etc) Don't know if that is the right way to go about it I'm not a genious with electricity.

 

[DNFXDLI]

Cables can look good but can be internally corroded and when a load is placed on them it can result in a high resistance and minimal electricity transfer.
The battery could also be bad..sometimes they will read nearly full voltage but then drop right off when a load is applied.
Here is a link to a Ford manual that might help as well
http://www.fordtruckfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=29167
Do you have a battery load tester?..if not, perhaps try connecting a headlight directly to the battery and see if it lights.

 

[F150]

Ignition switch?

 

[dustybumpers]

Make sure the fusible links are hooked to the battery side of the solenoid, not the starter side

 

[Toolsnotchopsticks]

Thank you for the manual link. I connected the battery to a headlight and it turned the light on so I have a good battery.

I replaced the ignition switch.

The fusible link is on the battery side.

I also touched the positive terminal on the starter relay to the fusible link side of the starter relay and it clicks so I have a working starter relay..checked the ground the the engine block as well and it is fine.

 

[BuzzGun79]

First double check all your connections at battery and clean re clean if needed,make sure you crossed no wires at the selenoid.make sure the selenoid is tight and has a good ground to the body remove and clean behind it if needed. Now if all your connections are properly located and still wont start,try this,take a jumper cable hook one end to the ground terminal of the battery (negative - side),take the opposite end and hook it up to a good Chassis ground (remove any grease,rust or scale to get a good solid connection)(body,frame,engine locations away from moving parts)move the cable to different areas of the body,frame,engine, and see what happens,my thinking from your description is the vehicle has lost its ground,or you have mistakenly crossed a wire or overlooked a faulty connection.frustration only adds to the issue,now just a note you will be using 1 side of your jumper cables,keep the other side away from the positive + side of the battery along with moving parts.temporary tape them back with duct tape if you need to.

 

[Toolsnotchopsticks]

Thanks for the suggestions Buzz I did check the cables again and made sure the wires were not crossed clean etc as well as try using the jumper cables to give me a good ground.. Nothing changed I believe it's got to be the fusible link that is right off the starter relay or the fusible link that's right before the firewall. I'm going to change those today with new ones and see how it goes. I know I have a comple circuit to the starter relay and I have nothing so hopefully a new fusible link off the starter relay will do something? I am hoping that fixes it.

 

[Toolsnotchopsticks]

I know I have a complete circuit to the starter relay then after that I have nothing*^^

 

[Toolsnotchopsticks]

I have read about the same problem online and his problem was the wire that goes from the starter relay to the alternator was fried. This wire also splices into The main power to the vehicle. I'm going to look into that..

 

[dustybumpers]

Did you try to jump the 2 posts on the solenoid to see if the starter cranks? You may have bought a defective one, I've had that happen to me.


I can't imagine the charge wire to the alternator being the culprit, it would start, just not charge if that wire were bad

 

[Toolsnotchopsticks]

Would I have no power to anything in the truck if it was a bad starter?

 

[Toolsnotchopsticks]

I jumped the two terminals and the Solinoid clicks once the starter doesn't crank...

 

[DNFXDLI]

Sounds to me like a cable or battery issue and if you have a bad starter, it shouldn't affect the power distribution.

 

[dustybumpers]

Do you still have the old solenoid?

My bet is bad solenoid.

Can you post a picture of your solenoid?

 

[DNFXDLI]

Do you still have the old solenoid?

My bet is bad solenoid

I think he said he replaced that with a new one.

 

[dustybumpers]

I'm still thinking wires hooked up on wrong posts. I bought a truck real cheap one time because of that.Took it home, re did the wires, and drove it for 6 years without doing another thing too it

 

[primetime]

If you`re jumping the solenoid and not getting anything but a click, and you have no power anywhere, then I would probably look into the battery/engine/chassis ground cable coming from the battery to the engine block. The reason being that if all your connections are truly good, you should be able to jump the two big lugs on the solenoid, and your starter should should take off even if you have no power anywhere else (ie a bad fusible link or main power wire), because you are bypassing everything.

I say check the ground because if it`s the original it should have a spot with no insulation and a strap wrapped around it which hooks into the frame on it`s way to the engine. That is a corrosion spot.

If you haven`t replaced your main cables, ohm test them. They should show very little to no resistance.