Literally Stranded in Mexico... electrical problemo
- Thread starter toronto
- Start date
IBallEngineer
New member
Allright, at least you won't be changing a starter! Now, let's confirm one of the other 2 terminals is absolutely grounded. Do you know how? Also, is the 11.75 volts at a terminal not involved in the cranking?
The 11.75 is the one that reads when the key is turned to 'on'.
So- starter jumped, which is good, now need a few mins to see if there's a good ground.
OK- tell me how to do this right re. wether the ground is good...
IBallEngineer
New member
Using your voltmeter, connect one end to the Bat + and the other to the terminal in question, a good ground will give you battery voltage. Or if you use the Ohmmeter, you can connect one end to the bat - and one to the terminal. You should have 0 Ohms resistance, or close to it.
jeremyc74
Banned
If the battery voltage is 12.5V and the terminal on the starter relay is reading 11.7, then there's a problem with the connection between the two. They should read the same. Something is going on with the power to the distribution block. Again, check the wires coming off the battery terminals. Especially the + side where there are two wires. One goes directly to the start and the other goes to the distribution block that powers everything else.
IBallEngineer
New member
Please entire post carefully before posting so as not to confuse him, please.
note to self- brush up on electrical theory.
Ok- terminal closest to engine is appears to be a good ground.
jeremyc74
Banned
Looks to me as if there's a 1V drop coming somewhere between the terminal block and the starter relay. Everything on the hot side should read the same voltage unless the starter is engaged. Am I missing something?
SlickmisterN
New member
How many miles on the truck? sounds like bad starter contacts, super cheap and easily available. Have they ever been replaced. If it doesnt work 10-20 times then springs to life id bet money its the starter contacts/solenoid or something to do with starter wiring...
Try tapping the starter with hammer or stick through the passenger wheel well before/while turning the key and see if that gets things going reliably. Firm taps!
Try tapping the starter with hammer or stick through the passenger wheel well before/while turning the key and see if that gets things going reliably. Firm taps!
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IBallEngineer
New member
Allright, is the terminal opposite the ground the one with low voltage? I'd like you to check voltage there with the key in the "crank" position. Do you have a helper?
What's next IBallEngineer ? Not confused too much... yet.
This place is asleep except for dogs. No helper.
IBallEngineer
New member
[MENTION=116745]jeremyc74[/MENTION] yes you are missing something. I haven't identified what terminal has low voltage. If he has 12.73 with the key off, it's not in the area you described. Not busting your chops, I just don't want to confuse him. He's in a 3rd world country broken down. I appreciate your help.
IBallEngineer
New member
Allright, let's go to the fuse block at the driver's side knee area. Look for the 7.5 amp STA fuse. With out removing it, check voltage at both sides with the key off, on, and crank positions.
IBallEngineer
New member
Yeah, its happening to me too. Put the relay back in for now, and after you check that fuse, I want to try starting in neutral.
I broke one of my rules, always check the easy things first. :ear:
No STA but there's a IGN and it's reading 1.75 volts with the fuse in
Use to have a vw that did that, and carried a hammer around for years! This isn't a stuck solenoid. Could be wiring to/from starter though and I'm trying to troubleshoot that with IBALLENGINEER...
