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Bronco ii has no power


adrago247

Member
V8 Engine Swap
Joined
Dec 27, 2020
Messages
6
City
Georgia
Vehicle Year
1987
Engine
Transmission
Automatic
Tire Size
235/75 R15
I recently started my 87 b2 for the first time after i swapped in a 302 w a holley 4bbl and a summit hei style distributor. I havent set up the neutral safety switch so i jumped the starter via the solenoid. After i had broken in my cam, i let the engine die as i hadnt dialed in the carb yet. When i went to start it again i had no power anywhere in the truck. No red battery light, no headlights, no ignition or fuel pump, nothing. It cranked by jumping the solenoid but ofc didnt start. I have checked the fusible links by the solenoid and the 2 on top of the pass side fender liner. Also checked the two yellow wires at the ignition switch and no power there. I am confused. Any help is appreciated!

UPDATE: SOLVED: I am dumb. I found one of the wires at the solenoid had a bad connection. It had been stretched out so it was startin to tear and get really corroded. Shouldve been hpt at all times but only had like 6.5V. Spliced in a new section of wire w a new ring terminal for now but will be picking up a less used wiring harness at the JY next time i go.
 
Last edited:
May sound silly, but what about the battery connections for corrosion or looseness. Both positive and negative cables on both sides. If you have no lights or anything that is where I'd look first.
 
May sound silly, but what about the battery connections for corrosion or looseness. Both positive and negative cables on both sides. If you have no lights or anything that is where I'd look first.
Ive checked all that. It has power to the solenoid as well as after the fusible links. Also has constant power at the fuel pump relay
 
No red battery light, no headlights, no ignition or fuel pump, nothing. It cranked by jumping the solenoid but ofc didnt start.

Sorry, I missed the 2nd sentence. So, since you have power to the relay, I would check your switched power from the ignition switch. turn the key to run and check power to the relay, distributor, and check the solenoid with someone turning the key to start.
 
Sorry, I missed the 2nd sentence. So, since you have power to the relay, I would check your switched power from the ignition switch. turn the key to run and check power to the relay, distributor, and check the solenoid with someone turning the key to start.
I dont have the neutral safety switch hooked up yet so Ive been starting it by jumping the starter solenoid using the battery and signal posts. I dunno if that could blow something up. Does all the power in the truck get run thru one thing? Minus the starter ofc.
 
I dont have the neutral safety switch hooked up yet so Ive been starting it by jumping the starter solenoid using the battery and signal posts. I dunno if that could blow something up. Does all the power in the truck get run thru one thing? Minus the starter ofc.

Yes. Those yellow wires that feed the ignition switch and the fuse box all come to one point there at the starter solenoid on the fender. It's the smaller wire hooked with the large battery + wire on the solenoid.
 
Yours should be close to the same as the diagram below.

You can see in this diagram, it can have many smaller wires under the large battery cable on the solenoid. The solenoid is the square box on the middle left of the diagram called "starter relay". The dotted line above that is the large post going to the battery, and the dotted line means all that stuff can be optional. The yellow wire along with the black/orange on the top right of the diagram are also connected, and that yellow one is what feeds power to the truck. The black/orange feeds the headlight switch.

diagram_charging_1983to1985_1.JPG
 
Yours should be close to the same as the diagram below.

You can see in this diagram, it can have many smaller wires under the large battery cable on the solenoid. The solenoid is the square box on the middle left of the diagram called "starter relay". The dotted line above that is the large post going to the battery, and the dotted line means all that stuff can be optional. The yellow wire along with the black/orange on the top right of the diagram are also connected, and that yellow one is what feeds power to the truck. The black/orange feeds the headlight switch.

diagram_charging_1983to1985_1.JPG

That diagram reminds me that I need to try to get my ammeter hooked up on my V8 swap 87 Ranger. I never could figure it out. It's the last factory gauge that I have to get working. ugh
 
I have never seen a factory ammeter that actually worked and told you any useful information. If you stare at it carefully, it may move a little bit but not much. A voltmeter would be more useful. Even a idiot charging light would be more useful. I would not bother with it.
 
If you smell burning meat when you turn the key, there is a gremlin shorting out somewhere.
 
My buddy has a couple full ranger body and engine harnesses un his garage. Im gonna find all the fusible links so i know where they are on my truck
 

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