94 Ranger - Power Dist Box Grounded. No Electrical to dash

[larsontech]

I have a situation where I can't figure out why the Power Dist box is grounded out. If you remove all the fuses, relays and disconnect the black wire from the Solenoid and measure it, it is shorted to ground. So if you hook it back up properly to the starter relay, it a complete short.

When the truck died, I lost all electrical to everything.

I replaced the starter, starter relay and solinoid in attempt to get it going.
When you short the starter relay, the truck runs for about 2 seconds and dies. When it does this, the dash lights up only when cranking.

Any ideas as I have been working on this for several hours and days.

Fuses, diode and relays all test out fine. The fusable link to the starter tests out fine as well. I think if I could keep power to the dist. box, the truck would start and keep running.

Thanks

 

[hopster]

if i understand you correctly you should check your ignition switch

 

[larsontech]

I replaced the ignition switch ( Lock and cylinder) but that didn't help.

You would think that if I pulled every fuse relay out of the power distribution box and disconnected the black wire from the solinoid, the power dist. box should not be shorted to ground.

Even looking at the wireling diagrams, if I pull the 60AMP that should kill the connection to the ignition switch.

Thanks

 

[adsm08]

Well lets start with the fact that the lock and cylinder is the ignition lock, not the ignition switch and have nothing to do with any of the vehicle electrical systems.

I agree, it sounds like an issue in the switch is the most likely source of the problem. But there are easier things to test. Remove the fuse block. Get it completely out of contact with the body and recheck your continuity to ground.

 

[larsontech]

I replaced the ignition switch over the weekend. That didn't solve the problem. I haven't been able to figure out how is it possible that every connection in the power distribution box makes a complete short to ground even with all the relays, fuses out and even the cable disconnected from the solinoid?? Could a shorted alternator regulator do this??

Thanks