weird no start/electrical problem 1986 6.9l idi have to drive it to work tomorrow!!!

86f2fiddy

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i appologize in advance for punctuation/spelling errors. im posting from my phone. and also this is very long winded, but this is my only transportation and i have to drive it to work tomorrow, so i need this figured out today!!

the truck is a 1986 f250 2wd 6.9l automatic

last night i was leaving the race track to head home and when i went to start my truck the doors were open so the dome lights were on, as soon as i turned the key the dome lights went out and NOTHING electrical would work. headlights, tail lights, radio, nothing. so i called my buddy (91idi) who i know is very knowledgable with these old trucks, and he tells me to check all the fuseable links on the pass fender. they all passed the "yank test" but he mentioned a yellow one that feeds power into the cab so i decided to go ahead and bypass it to see if that was the problem. as i was in the middle of splicing it i moved something and everything came back on (while that FL was still cut) so i spliced the FL back together and headed home.everything seemed normal until i tried to turn my brights on. i hit the floor switch and my lights went off for about 3 seconds then came back on with the brights on. i decided to run home with the low beams after that cause everything started to flicker. after that it seemed alright, but every once in a while the ligts would shut off, everything electrical would go dead and the engine would stumble then it all came back on.. it did this a total of 5 times in a 15 mile distance. then right about the time i got to town it died completely with the same symptoms from the begenning. at this point its 1am and i didnt want to mess with it so i had it towed home. now get this, i get it home and when i got in it to take it out of gear to get it off the roll back the dome lights come on!!! hit the key, and eveything is working. cranked it and it started and i drove it off the tow truck and parked it under its own power!! at this point im pretty angry with it after a 60$ tow bill and the **** drove off the tow truck. and as of the time im typing this, it is still working. but i havent had the courage to drive it anywhere yet. but im lost as to what it could be. the only thing on the electrical that is modified is the pressure switch on the a/c dryer is bad and i tried fixing my ac yesterday so i put a jumper in it. other than that i havent done anything to the factory wiring. so i have no idea what its problem is. i know this was very long, but any help i can get is greatly appreciated, like i said above this is my only vehicle and i have to drive it to work tomorrow morning. thanks for any help!!
 

GOOSE

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Do you have a wiring diagram? Chances are there is something loose and the connection is making and breaking on you.
 

86f2fiddy

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no i dont. but right now i have it running and im going over wires until i find something loose or it shuts off. but i havent found any yet.
 

86f2fiddy

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thats what im trying right now. i had it running and started moving wires. on the pass side there is a tan plug that has a yellow wire and a green/red traced wire going into it the coming out the yellow wire splits into a FL that has a green and an orange wiring coming off it the green goes into another FL and thrn back to yellow (thats the FL i spliced.) anyway, that tan plug is melted. any ideas on what would cause such an issue?
 

OLDBULL8

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Check the ground (negative) connections from the batteries to the engine, just follow the wires for location, they will become corroded and rusty under the bolt, remove the bolt and clean it up shiny. Then check both battery post connections, Pos. & Neg. Next check the Pos. wire to the start solenoid on passengers side fender, that connection feeds just about everything. It's prolly not your key switch, because you lost your headlights too.

Post back if that don't clear the problem.

Get off here and go do it.
 

OLDBULL8

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You mean the yellow wire from the starter solenoid that goes thru a multi connector, then to the glow plug controller.
 

86f2fiddy

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batt connections are all good. grounds are all good. a lil greasy, but no corrosion. there is a pugtail on the pass battery ground that goes to the fender then has another pigtail that grounds to the gpr that is unplugged. but it has been like that the whole time ive owned the truck.
 

86f2fiddy

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this yellow wire comes off the alt then into that plug, out of that plug, splits into a green wire and an orange wire and the green ones has a fuseable link that on the other side the wire is yellow and goes down under the blower motor. that FL where it goes from green to yellow is the one i spliced last night. i have a pic of it on my phone but i cany get to a computer to post it. if someone could pm me their cell number i could send it to them if they could post it
 

OLDBULL8

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Re-read your 1st post again. Disconnect the battery Pos. to the Glow plug relay. turn your parking lights on, then start moving the wires where you spliced the FL, see if you can make the park lites go off or blink, would be better at nite to do, something might show up.
 

86f2fiddy

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my cousin is on his way over and is going to give me a ride to town and im gonna get some wire and some FL wire and rewire that section. ill update when thats done weather shes running or not. ;Sweet
 

alienturtle

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get rid of the FL and get yourself a regular fuse holder. Much easier for diag. and if the fuse pops you go in the glow box and get another one.
 

SHARPIE

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Turn on everything and get as much load well messing with the wires, But if you can find it or it happens again you can just jump the FSS then jump the solenoid to start assuming you have a C6 but you'll have no charging or power to lights I'd also unplug the ALT to be safe...At least you wont be stranded.
 
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