2strokedetroit

Hi my neighbor has a mid 90s chevy 1500 short box reg cab with a 350 v8 thats all i know bout the truck. There is 12.5 volts at the battery but nothing works lights dash lights its all dead! Havent checked much else as its 24 below outside and to cold to work on it. So I orgianly thought maybe a blown main fuse or short and it still may be but he proceded to tell me that it happened one ohter time months back and after he let it sit for awhile it started right up so now iam thinking maybe an ignition problem but i dont belive that would cause the whole truck to be dead? anyways looken for helpful starting points to get the job done quicker and get me outta the cold quicker!

olemiss74

just curious, when you put the key in the ignition and turn the key to start it does not do anything? If you have 12.5 volts for sure at the battery, and you do not want it towed to a shop, I would start by following the ground wire from the battery to its connection with the engine then I would follow the hot wire ( red one) and trace it back to its connection point. You are stating that there is 12.5 volts at the battery terminals, but you do not have power going out to any electrical circuits. If you dont find anything wrong with the two wires coming off the battery( power and ground wires) I always pull out something with wiring diagrams out for a particular vehicle before I go any further. Part stores usually carry books for your chevy truck for the particular year and they will have (or suppose to) wiring diagrams of the electrical systems. From what you are saying it sounds like there is no current getting out to the individual control modules that is why i suggested to start with the power and ground wires to see if one of them is disconnected.

2strokedetroit

thank you for your input guess thats what i was pretty much planning on doing how ever it was to bloddy cold out to do it today so hopefully we get some warmer weather iam gonna print off a wiring diagram tomrow at school for as iam going to school to be a diesel mechanic but have acess to the auto side of the school to i was more just looken to see if any one else has had the similar problem and had a good idea wat would be wrong with it

2strokedetroit

oh and i never seen him put the key to the on positon or start position but he told me he trued to start it and he got nothing i dont know what he means by nothing but ill get more details tomrow for you

SABL

Back in the mid '80's it was rather cold outside and there was no way I was going to get the spark plug wires off of my Dodge van. I forget the actuall temps but it was bitter cold. Out of desperation I grabbed my wife's (I was married at that time) hair dryer and an extension cord to get the spark plug boots warmed up and more flexible for easier removal. It worked great and I left the hair dryer running on high and pointing at my hands while completing the task of changing the spark plugs. A heat gun might be better with Minn temps (my son's in-laws are from Minn, and my sis lives in Wis.... I know about the temps) but care must be taken due to the high temp output and you could scorch something nearby.

I know your problem is not the spark plugs, but some of us older posters like to tell a tale or two. Where was I??....................

When checking the battery voltage......... where or how are you testing?? Are you testing post to post?? That will only show available volts at the battery and at -24F 12.5V seems reasonable but I prefer 12.8V or higher. Check your voltage by putting the + lead of the tester on the + side battery post and the -lead of the tester on any good ground (engine or metal surface) and see if the same voltage is present. If voltage is not the same, check the starter mounting bolts or the ground connection from the battery to the engine block.

Another thought on testing the voltage...... try testing from the battery clamps instead of the actual posts. That will show you if the connections are clean and tight... if you don't get the same readings, clean the posts and clamps.

Just basic steps to check the general electric system.... always do a basic test before trying to pinpoint a problem. Very often the general health of the system IS the problem.

Keep warm and good luck,
SABL

SABL

Imagine that....... I was sharing puter time with my son and 2stroke got in 2 posts before I could even do one..... If I get any slower, expect my next reply sometime next year.

2strokedetroit

Hey guys thanx for the helpppp! The weather was alot warmer today 14F I was able to get out and look at the truck. I tested the battery at the post 12.5 like he said then tested just after the terminals and it was low so i took of the hardly coreded terminals cleaned them right up and it started up. I thought it was odd there was hardly any corrsion to cause the resistance but i guess it was enough in the right spot? the terminal was slightly loose but in my opinion it was in no way loose enough to not get a connection so i assume it was the corrsion? Oh well truck runs I made 15 bucks doing it. Got soaked due to the 6 inchs of snow falling on me but still made 15 bucks for bout 20 minutes of work

mack1

Hi 2strokedetroit,

Since you are training to be a diesel mechanic, you will see that kind of problem again. Here's a tidbit for you. Clean the battery posts with a wire brush. Clean the inside of the cable connectors with a round wire brush that you can purchase at a parts place. ( I more often than not use a knife to clean the inside, but I don't reccomend it as it leaves high places that make point contacts ) If the terminals have the green stuff growning around it, use kitchen soda and water to wash that off before brushing.

Before you put the terminals back on, coat the terminals and inside the connectors with grease. That will help prevent the lead oxide from building up.

Hope you become a good mechanic,
Mack1

SABL

Glad you got the ol Chevy running

You can save lotsa brainpower and effort by keeping things simple and doing a basic check of the problem. Many times it sounds just too simple to be a problem or cause, but at least try and then eliminate the simple stuff before moving on to individual components.

$15????... Hey, you owe Mack1, olemiss74 and me a beer!!!! I drink Samuel Adams Boston Lager........SABL

Hiya Mack1

I, also, used a pocket knife for many years..... Even rolled up sandpaper to clean posts and clamps. I am the owner of one of them 'store bought' battery tools but still resort to the old pocket knife if I am caught short out in the field.

Until 2stroke showed up, I had forgotten the hairdryer trick. I grabbed the old hairdryer and got the heater core in my E350 today without wimping out after a few minutes of cold fingers. I propped it up, pointing to the work area, and got the job done. Maybe I should thank 2stroke for jogging my memory.

Glad the issue wasn't as big as I thought it might be, but you never know. Stop in again 2stroke.... TSF is a nice place to be on a cold day.... or any time for that matter.

mack1

Do you guys believe in ESP? I was thinking about the beer yesterday while posting.

About the hair drier trick. I thought all you guys up north were too tough for something like that....what if one of your friends saw you using a hair drier?

2strokedetroit,
Come back anytime. After you get out of school, you can probably teach all of some of the new stuff.

Best regards,
Mack1

SABL

I could tell them I just got out of the shower?? Being a smoker and drinker takes it's toll on blood flow to the extremities. If I go hunting, I'm the one who is bundled up so tight that he can't move.... I only carry a gun for looks.

I have fallen behind on the technology and could use a few lessons

olemiss74

Glad you got your problem solved!!!!!!! GOOD LUCK in finishing diesel school!!!!!
oh and by the way I drink Guinness. Hey SABL, you guys who have been around vehicles and fixing them more years than some of us remember yalls knowledge in your heads is PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yall can still teach all of us who still maybe a little wet behind the ears a ton of things!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2strokedetroit

just outta curiousity u guys know of any other good fourm auto sites? or diesel ones?