7.3 NA down

[Desertfireguy]

Been trying to troubleshoot this thing all day and can't get it figured out. Went to start my truck and it was completely dead. Figured batteries, but they check out. Came back and reconnected everything and the lights work, but when I go to turn the key, it shorts out and loses all power. Disconnecting, waiting a bit, and reconnecting brings back the power, but it'll short back out when I turn the key. Any direction would be appreciated.

 

[jrad235]

That's a ground issue. Check all major ground wires THOROUGHLY at battery and block, to include removing, cleaning and reinstalling them.

 

[Thewespaul]

Check your grounds and terminal connections

 

[Desertfireguy]

Checked/cleaned all the ones I could find, including the one with the 1/2" bolt on the bottom of the block. Any other places I should look? Pulled apart the distribution block and cleaned everything, obviously both sets of terminals and connectors. Looked at the glow plug controller and the other connection (not sure what it is) under the breather.

 

[Thewespaul]

Starter connections next

 

[Desertfireguy]

Checked those too.

 

[Thewespaul]

Has the truck sat for awhile? Are you cables all in good shape? Try and get it to turn over by jumping the solenoid on the fender.
If all that checks out and you are still having issues then remove the glowplugs and try to spin the engine over that way. What voltage do your batteries read?

 

[towcat]

how old is the ignition slider switch?

 

[Desertfireguy]

Truck sat for maybe two days. Started right up previously and didn't give any indication something was about to go wrong. Cables look pretty good, and I'm not sure how old the ignition slider is (or even where it is). Batteries were just north of 12v and both were between 770-800cca before I topped them off with a trickle charger.

 

[Thewespaul]

Try pulling the glowplugs, that way you can eliminate a mechanical problem. Then I would bring another diesel up to your truck and hook up the jumper cables and try to activate the starter from directing on the post on the starter using the jumper cables. If that doesn’t work your starter is bad.

 

[Desertfireguy]

I'll see if I can track down another diesel. Do you think one of my gasser batteries would be sufficient to check jumping the starter?

 

[Thewespaul]

It may crank slow but if it’s worn it may not like it. Should be enough if you pull the glowplugs

 

[Desertfireguy]

Friggin Gremlins fixed it last night. Figured I'd try to start it before digging back in and she fired right up.

 

[towcat]

Friggin Gremlins fixed it last night. Figured I'd try to start it before digging back in and she fired right up.

honestly, this is not good news. electrical issues seldom "cure" themselves. dig in and check the slider switch. loose switch assys are a common cause for our trucks burning to the ground. headlight switches are #2 cause.
good luck.

 

[towcat]

one more thing, if you don't have a good "hot start" button, get one. It's a good diagnosis tool for one, and two, it just might get you started and homeward bound just in case if the rest of the cab electrical is toast.