Will not start, 1 click and then all power goes

[MidKnightRider]

My truck stopped on me today, When I tried to restart it I got 1 click from the relay and then all power we away. It lost all power, lights radio etc. It stayed off for a few min and then I heard a click and power came back.
Hit the starter again, same thing.
Anyone know what this is?

 

[Mark_88]

Loose ground or loose wire...could be just ground on battery...try to twist the neg terminal...if it moves...that's likely the problem...other than that...the line from the starter...check contacts...

Total loss of power on my truck came from a loose wire in the ten wire connector on the driver side under the hood...inspect that connection and tug on all the wires...if any are loose...bypass the connector by splicing in a short piece of 16 gauge (or 14 if that's the case)...

if still no joy...the black/pink wire is your main power feed...or should be...could be another colour but it is 12 gauge wire (thicker) than the rest in that area...

 

[MidKnightRider]

All wires / leads on battery are tight. First thing I checked was ground and hoot on battery.
I'll have to get it home and check to the starter and the 10 wire.

 

[MidKnightRider]

This is a 1991 2.3L. Just in case anyone ask.
I could not find a 10 wire connector on the drivers side.
Will replace the battery ends tomorrowto see if that helps.

 

[Mark_88]

Probably not the battery...but could be, of course...the ten wire is the one for your lights...probably changed since my 88 since that is my reference point, but I've seen wiring diagrams (there is a nice one in the tech submissions in PDF format) and there appears to be a similar connector...it's for the lights, horn and side markers among other things...trace the wire from the lights back to the firewall...there should be a connector in that mess of wires somewhere...

 

[MidKnightRider]

O.K., I can not find the pdf in tech submissions , It most likely is my search .
Do you have a link? or a name for me to search for?

 

[Mark_88]

Sorry, just checked and it was an 88 BII diagram...http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=122918...the first pdf is a general wiring diagram...the second one has more details and is a bit further down the page(s)...

Did you load test the battery? Just read another member post in the need urgent help section and his was doing the same thing...turned out to be the battery terminals needed cleaning...if you haven't tried that then it might help...otherwise if you can't find the main power line feed or others...I know there is a diagram in my Haynes manual...maybe pick one up and check the specs on that model year...probably changed it out or ran it around the other side...

Can you trace the light harness back to the firewall and see where they connect?

 

[scotts90ranger]

sounds like a battery cable issue to me, do you have one of those repair connectors on either of those? those things seriously suck, I've had one do just that once...

 

[MidKnightRider]

sounds like a battery cable issue to me, do you have one of those repair connectors on either of those? those things seriously suck, I've had one do just that once...

Yes there is a repair kit on it.
I'll check things more tomorrow after work when I can bring some tools home.

 

[modelageek]

Yes there is a repair kit on it.
I'll check things more tomorrow after work when I can bring some tools home.

if the lights go out at the same time as the starter then it is most likely one of the following.....Also will it take a jump?

-the battery
-the battery connections
-the battery cables(they can disintegrate inside and it is hard to tell)

 

[MidKnightRider]

if the lights go out at the same time as the starter then it is most likely one of the following.....Also will it take a jump?

-the battery No
-the battery connections Maybe were cheap repair kit
-the battery cables(they can disintegrate inside and it is hard to tell) YES

New cables and she is up and running.
Thanks everybody.

 

[modelageek]

New cables and she is up and running.
Thanks everybody.

Glad you got it going........Maybe you can post some details for future members? e.g. what cable did you use? Did you buy ones with the terminals attached? Did you replace both pos. and neg. cables?.......

 

[Mark_88]

Good to hear it was something simple...lol...if you ever find that ten wire connector...mark it because it can cause the exact same symptoms...but I've had it from the neg terminal being loose...and from the solenoid connector that feeds to the ignition...except the lights didn't die...

 

[MidKnightRider]

Cables were just heavy power wire and I clamped new wends on at work where we have use of a cable crimper for grounding cables in a computer room.