No electrical power

[hambony1]

1987 2.9 Ranger The truck will be running great and then just die. It has happened to my son driving in town 2 times. It looses all electrical power to everything. After the truck sits for awhile it will start and run great until it happens again.

 

[txgocartB3000]

Had the same thing happen on a 2000 B3000. The problem just went away on it's own and has not cropped up again.

No power to nothing and would reappear when it wanted to play again.

The last thing that I fiddled with was the in line fuse. Maybe that was dirty loose or just wanted caressing, IDK.

Here is my post...

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=144088

Ray

 

[RonD]

Well a bad battery connection probably wouldn't kill a running engine.
While you should never do this on newer electronic systems, you can disconnect the battery while engine is running and it will stay running, that used to be an "old school way" to test if alternator is working, lol, but bad idea to do that now as there can be a voltage spike when reconnecting as alternator would be at full output.

I would look at the ignition switch first, under the steering column.
It gets power via a fuse from the battery(or alternator when running).
That power is sent(when key is on) to all the systems and EEC relay.
The EEC relay is what powers all the engine systems, coil, injectors, fuel pump relay and computer, so EEC relay losing power would kill the engine mid-stroke , same as turning off the key.

The ignition switch is a "slider" type switch, rotating the key slides the contacts into making connections, dirty or worn contacts could cause intermittent issues and loss of power.
Also check the power wire going to the ignition switch.

The EEC relay is either on the passenger side wheel well or under the power distribution box, there are usually 3 relays in a row, the brown one is the EEC relay, green is fuel pump relay.
If that relay or its wiring is going bad it would cause similar issue.

Brake lights and head lights are separate from ignition switch, so if those still work after shutdown then it wouldn't be battery issue.

 

[hambony1]

When I say all electrical power I mean everything on the whole truck. Head lights tail lights dome light everything is out like it has no battery but the battery is good.

 

[txgocartB3000]

I lost all electrical power as well.

I still haven't solved my problem since I do not know if it will return.

Good luck on your hunt.

Ray

 

[hambony1]

Thanks Ray. Maybe someone will come along that's had this happen to them and we can both get some answers.

 

[txgocartB3000]

Yes it is aggravating to have a broken vehicle.

If you read my post that i linked to, Adsm08 had some good advice.

I was going to follow the power supply lines and see where I lost it at.

The jumper cables were going to be used as the grounding legs for the ground side.

I was losing it some where but could not duplicate the scenario to commence troubleshooting.

My truck is a female and I think she just wanted some attention. Wanted to let me know how unpleasant it could make my life.

Ray

 

[Mark_88]

I had it happen a few times...it was the connector inside the hood on the driver side...wonky...

Yours may be slightly different, but my 88 2.0 wiring had a 10 wire connector that was slowly disintegrating and the wires were literally hanging on by a thread. The main power feed from the battery to the ignition runs along this harness and you can probably find a wire or two that are wonky...or just the main power feed to the battery...should be a 12 gauge wire...probably black with a pink stripe or similar...check the connection around the driver side...may just be corroded, but could be that the wire is not connecting properly.

 

[RonD]

When I say all electrical power I mean everything on the whole truck. Head lights tail lights dome light everything is out like it has no battery but the battery is good.

So then that's easier.

There will be a Red wire from the Starter Solenoid to the Power Distribution box.
That is the "main" power wire for the whole vehicle.
It has a loose connection, if not on the solenoid then you may have to lift up the power distribution box to get to the under side of it.

Reason alternator won't keep it running is that the alternator's "B+" should be connected to that same starter solenoid post.
So that 1 wire feeds power to all vehicle systems, from battery and from alternator, so if it goes bad no power anywhere.

 

[Andy D]

You are messing with 25 yr old wiring, If it is cold , it will be brittle. go slow, Use penetrating oil on bolts and as a general lube to charm connections apart that have been together since the factory. Be careful.

 

[hambony1]

I can't find the power dist. Box. Anyone have a pic of what it looks like and where it is??????

 

[fyre82]

Your '87 has a fuse box behind the panel in the cabin. Same difference as 'power distribution'.

Mark88 has it on the nose, that main hot will kill everything and it has a habit of getting hot and frying the connections and plastic.
I replaced mine, trouble gone. Finding a good connector is the trick, I think I found the same connection somewhere else and repinned the plug.
That is easy and cutting wires is not necessary!

The plug is a grey, 8 wire connection on the driver side fender skirt, under the brake booster.

Good luck
Rich

 

[hambony1]

Thanks for all the help guys I finally got it going. It was a wire on the driver side fender well that had a melted connector. Fix the broken wire and truck runs great again. Thanks!!!

 

[txgocartB3000]

Cool.

Ray