This summer my batteries were not staying charged and I ended up replacing my alternator. The truck was running great until I went on my annual hunting trip last week. On Wednesday morning the truck was cranking very slowly, so we hooked up another PSD and jumped it. While driving home, I stopped twice for gas, and it started just fine both times.
The third time I stopped for gas, it was cranking slowly and then stopped cranking. I turn the key and all the dash lights up. WTS goes on, then off. I turn the key: CLICK. Dash goes dead.
I go look at the batteries and the negative ground cable around the driver's side battery is loose on the terminal. I move it slightly and I hear the chime inside my cab. Dash lights are back on. Hop in, turn the key: CLICK. Dash lights off. Fiddle with negative ground again. Dash lights on. Turn key: CLICK. dash lights off. Repeat until insane.
With jumper cables running from another car, instead of one click and a dead dash, the fender-mounted starer relay clicks rapidly when I turn the key.
I try jumping across the relay with a screwdriver. CLICK.
I pulled the starter completely off the truck and put power to it. Plunger pops out and spins just fine.
I also charged both batteries in the house, kept them warm, and then put them back in the truck and get the same problem. I've had the problem before I bought the new alternator and was always able to jump start it. I was even able to jump it Wednesday morning. But now I can't jump it.
Right now I'm looking at that loose negative wire. I've got a bolt through the clamp but for some reason it won't tighten the radius around the terminal post. Is this bad ground causing the problem?
Thanks in advance.
The third time I stopped for gas, it was cranking slowly and then stopped cranking. I turn the key and all the dash lights up. WTS goes on, then off. I turn the key: CLICK. Dash goes dead.
I go look at the batteries and the negative ground cable around the driver's side battery is loose on the terminal. I move it slightly and I hear the chime inside my cab. Dash lights are back on. Hop in, turn the key: CLICK. Dash lights off. Fiddle with negative ground again. Dash lights on. Turn key: CLICK. dash lights off. Repeat until insane.
With jumper cables running from another car, instead of one click and a dead dash, the fender-mounted starer relay clicks rapidly when I turn the key.
I try jumping across the relay with a screwdriver. CLICK.
I pulled the starter completely off the truck and put power to it. Plunger pops out and spins just fine.
I also charged both batteries in the house, kept them warm, and then put them back in the truck and get the same problem. I've had the problem before I bought the new alternator and was always able to jump start it. I was even able to jump it Wednesday morning. But now I can't jump it.
Right now I'm looking at that loose negative wire. I've got a bolt through the clamp but for some reason it won't tighten the radius around the terminal post. Is this bad ground causing the problem?
Thanks in advance.