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Electrical problem?


Brownie Mobile

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2012
Messages
413
City
Williston, ND
Vehicle Year
1985
Transmission
Manual
Alright this is really ****ing strange to me i just don't get it, first some back story. A couple times over the last couple months i've had a strange problem and i just now connected them together. So heres what happens, my truck slowly starts to turn into a piece of shit what i mean is slowly my B2 starts to run worse and worse and then eventually it does something it starts acting like it wants to die, then after i turn it off the next time and go to start it again it wont start ! the key will not work all the electrical works domes radio etc i try to crank it over NOTHING absolutely nothing no solenoid sounds anything. I wait a few minutes and it will start again guess what runs ****ing awesome now no misfire runs awesome! Eventually it will slowly turn to shit and start misfiring like mad any ideas my first thought was :icon_surprised: then i was like:icon_bounceblue: cause this might figure out my problem! please help me, any ideas at all even if it involves a flux capacitor and a thermobaric tactically fornicating transducers any ideas please throw them out!
 
The no start sounds like it could be ignition switch related go through and clean all the electrical connections under the hood and dash with elecrical cleaner and use a small screwdriver to push all the pins in fully when you put them together. Pull all the grounds you can find in the engine and under the dash sand them metal to metal. The computer is on the bulkhead by the passenger door that may be getting wet clean the connector good and check the ground there also the computer relay is there also take them aparts clean them and use dielectric grease on anything under the hood to protect from moisture. It is pretty common for the computer connector to get wet so put a plastic tent over it to help keep moisture out. Focus on all connections and grounds and see if it cures the conditions.
 
While the vehicle is sitting in the driveway RUNNING.....turn the key a LITTLE...like you are ALMOST trying to start it...

also turn the key the other way a LITTLE...like you are ALMOST trying to turn the engine off......or you can find the switch/wiring connector on the column under the dash & wiggle--bump the switch to see if the engine/gauges start acting up(a long metal rod that comes from the key connects to it)

my Rangerswitch wore out after 20 years...but all kinds of electric problems started developing for a year before it quit making contact in the RUN position(still worked great in the ACCY position)
 
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A heavy key ring will wear out a switch faster than a light key ring. My last Grand Wagoneer was the only one of 5 that needed a key to start. It was a PITA :D

Also to OP, the electrical from the battery to the ignition switch is suspect. A loose cable could do this right at the battery. That is where I would start.
 
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A heavy key ring will wear out a switch faster than a light key ring. My last Grand Wagoneer was the only one of 5 that needed a key to start. It was a PITA :D

Also to OP, the electrical from the battery to the ignition switch is suspect. A loose cable could do this right at the battery. That is where I would start.

yep....battery cable corroded where you can't see it.....
 
Well ive literally gone through every connection made sure it was clean i didnt zap it with dielectric grease because i dont have any and im pretty broke ATM, but they were all good my battery terminal is corroded on the positive what does this mean? My dads powerstroke has had corrosion on his batteries from day one hes had that thing and nothing bad comes of it. I still need to try the turning the key forward and backs today which i will do and report back. Also i feel i should mention that since the first time i installed those new battery cables just like the ones before it the positive was black by the next time i looked under the hood, just the metal on the cable was coated with black basically not oil or any liquid lemme know, thanks.
 
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mine started doing that than after 6 months it would only make it 50 yards before crapping out, then 5 minutes later would start then go another 50 yards and my problem was my tfi so u might try that but not to sure since u said u were broke cause its a little spendy but what isnt on a 2.8 haha
 
mine started doing that than after 6 months it would only make it 50 yards before crapping out, then 5 minutes later would start then go another 50 yards and my problem was my tfi so u might try that but not to sure since u said u were broke cause its a little spendy but what isnt on a 2.8 haha

thats not what happens the shittiness comes on very slowly, it literally takes weeks, not just like 50 yards. Also i just replaced my TFI. Also im gonna say **** it and go pawn my guitar and D spark this thing im so ****ing tired of all this shit, so im gonna end it tomorrow.
 
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haha i just pawned my guitar... and again the money was gone in an hour lol, but what i was saying is it was doing what urs is and then about 6 months later or a little longer it started doing that after 50 yards and i have heard about ppl getting bad tfi's, but dspark is deffinently the way to go
 

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