Electrical problem in Ranger.....HELP

[Dan B.]

Took the Ranger to a small cruise this evening. Ran great on the way there and half way back. All of a sudden it started sputtering like it was running out of gas but I had plenty. Then it shut off. When you are reading and thinking, remember that this truck is very basic...it's a 1985, carbed, and all the added on accessories are ran through switches and relays that are powered when the key is on. Everything was dead....no lights, ignition, fans, nothing...thought the alternator was shot and battery ran dead. Called help and they came with a fresh battery.....still nothing. It has 12v to the hot post on the selonoid but that power is not going anywhere else. We grounded the hot post with a screwdriver against the mounting tab, it arched and all of a sudden everything came on. I hit the key and it started. I got to within one mile of home and it did it again. This time we tried isolating various circuits but nothing would work. Even took the battery lead directly to some of the accessories and nothing ran. Ground the battery lead and it sparks. I don't even have headlights that should work w/o needing to use the key.

I'm puzzled.....help.

[no1sirbutler]

Double check all your grounds......sounds like one or more came loose.

[PaxtonShelby]

If all your grounds are good, the solenoid could be fritzing or maybe a bad wire coming off the solenoid.

[Dan B.]

Replaced selonoid this AM. That didn't do it. Have to put a starter on my F-150 first....then I'm going to dive into the Ranger.

On a bright note....when I left the cruise I MAY have hammered on the 387W a little bit. It went through all three gears from a roll and the tires never did gain traction. ;)

[Dan B.]

Ranger is fixed. Turned out to be the main 12v feed from the selonoid around the engine bay to the fuse panel that is inside. There is a plug in the wire for seperating it if the harness needed pulled. Well that plug was melted in one end. It was actually fused inside and could not be pulled apart.

[no1sirbutler]

Good deal man....glad you fixed it.

[Dan B.]

I'm wondering what made the connection melt?? All of my add-on accessories are run on their own 12v source through relays. The switches come from the fuse panel on a switched 12v source but are energized by one miliamp.

[PaxtonShelby]

Glad you figured it out Dan! Bring that beast down to the PVGP show on 7/20!!

[speedracer]

Payback for tar&chipping ;) lol

[Dan B.]

Glad you figured it out Dan! Bring that beast down to the PVGP show on 7/20!!

Saturday is no good, maybe Sunday. I need to put some more miles on it before I venture into the big city. ;) It's easier to dodge traffic if something brakes on the small roads around here.