Want to help me find a short?

[danisev]

The other day the truck lost power while I was driving and stalled and wouldn't turn back on. The next day the battery was dead.

I recharged the battery, and it started back up just fine.

I went to buy beer again and the B2 would not start back up in the parking lot of the liquor store.

I disconnected the battery terminal and drank a beer and it started back up.

I bought a test light and checked all the fuses with it. The light turns off when I pull the 40A headlamp fuse and stays on for the rest of the fuses.

Any ideas?

I am thinking that the time spent drinking beer let the problem cool down enough to get the engine running.

 

[tw205]

Year make model? Fuel, air and spark. One is missing.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Yeah... let's start with the basics.

Was it electrically dead when it quit?

Or did it crank but not start?

 

[danisev]

Yeah... let's start with the basics.

Was it electrically dead when it quit?

Or did it crank but not start?

I did not realize there was an electrical problem until the battery was dead the next day - So when it quit, it would still crank, but no start.

Next day the battery was completely dead and after charging it started back up.

Year make model? Fuel, air and spark. One is missing.

1989 Ford Bronco II 4WD, standard.

I bought a test light and watched a video on how to use it. It is supposed to light up if there is an electrical short. The light went off when I pulled the 40A headlight fuse, so that should be where the problem is.

You guys have any tips for finding shorts/inspecting the wiring harness?

I have a mechanic who will take a look at it today. I am really hoping that it is just a bad ground or electrical short and nothing worse.

 

[tw205]

Any test light I’ve ever used lights up when there is power at 1 end and ground to the same circuit at the other. Must be some fancy new age electrons.
Just a guess but I’ll bet the light went out because you removed the power (fuse).
Good idea taking it to a mechanic.

 

[danisev]

Probably the same one the old timers are using.

 

[danisev]

Is there a way to attach a video?

I pulled the main light switch and tried the test light again.

With the main light switch pulled, the test light blinks on and off like a hazard light. I am going to check again, but I do not think it was doing that when the switch was still connected, the test light was just off.

The first picture is the test light without pulling any fuses or disconnecting anything besides the negative battery terminal for the test. As you can see, the light is on.

I need to figure this out!

Is this definitely an electrical short?

 

[Uncle Gump]

Did you have the door open when testing? The dome circuit would cause the test lamp light.

 

[danisev]

Found out a loose ground wire in the fuel tank, on the pump, was keeping it from running.

Fixed, and on to the next problem!