Electrical Short

[tbauer03]

A couple weeks ago I went to start my white Ty, turned the key and all power just shut off off when it was about to bump the motor. I checked all the electrical connections on the battery and when I did the power came back on so I figured it was bad terminal connection I snugged them up then tried again and it shorted out again. cut all power. Repeated the process a few times before I called AAA. I was in a Wendy's parking lot. Anyway the AAA guy ran some test on the battery and deemed it good, then he went through the same steps I did with the same result. He concluded it was shorting in the starter and towed it home. Truck has set in my garage until today I realized i had a lifetime warranty on the starter and I took it into advance auto and they just swapped it out. I got it installed and put new terminals on the battery and it is still shorting out when i bump the ignition.
I am guessing the ignition, battery cables, or a fuse is the next culprit but how to I troubleshoot this so that i am not just switching out parts.
Thanks,
Ted

 

[Daryl H]

Re: Electrical Short

If the power was shorting to ground then the battery would be dead by now.
More likely you have a bad main ground connection.

 

[Don W.]

Re: Electrical Short

After it quits do the lights work? Radio? In addition to Dayrl, if stock, the hot lead from the bat to the truck, except the main cable to the bat, goes to the back of the alt. Check that also. If it was a fuse it wouldn't come back on its own like you say it does. There is also a terminal (junction) block on the firewall to the left of the dist as you look at it. Unlikely but make sure things are tight there also.

I suppose it could be the ignition switch but Dayrl's ground idea makes more sense.

HTH

 

[aasltmike]

Re: Electrical Short

Had the same issue with mine back in December. Ended up replacing the positive and negative cables with 2 gauge marine wire. Mine ended up being the ground cable to the back of the passenger side head, but replaced everything anyway since I was in there.

 

[dgoodhue]

Re: Electrical Short

I had a similar problem it ended up being the ignition switch. I would check the battery cable conndctions and I particular the head to - battery ground first.

 

[tbauer03]

Re: Electrical Short

I had a similar problem it ended up being the ignition switch. I would check the battery cable conndctions and I particular the head to - battery ground first.

The negative cable was pretty brittle and the connection on the back of the block wasn't very tight. I went ahead and replaced that cable but now when i do try and connect the battery back up it automatically engages the starter and flows a lot of juice just on contact. I haven't even tried snugging up the negative cable to the battery because it arcs too much and creates smoke on contact. I don't think i messed up anything when installing the starter it is only 2 cables and I have done that install a couple of times but i could be wrong. Anyway am I now looking at an ignition switch problem or possibly something else?
The keys were not in the car and the switch was in the park position. My alarm was good and loud when the battery regained circuitry so i believe the battery is making a full loop but it is releasing all of its energy like the ignition has been bumped. The motor didn't appear to be turning just the starter was spinning like the solenoid wasn't engaging. I am not sure of this because I only did this once and the arcs and smoke made me quit while I was ahead and come post away for help.
Thanks

 

[dgoodhue]

Re: Electrical Short

You can't miswire the starter. The only that could cause anything like that would be the solenoid wire was shorting out. I wonder if the poor ground caused your ignition switch to overheat and destroy itself.

 

[Don W.]

Re: Electrical Short

The motor didn't appear to be turning just the starter was spinning like the solenoid wasn't engaging.

If this is correct, the starter runs but doesn't engage the motor, inspect your wiring at the starter. You could have turned the cable while tightening to where it's touching the connector to the starter motor. The solenoid engages the starter to the ring gear. If that's not happening then somehow juce is getting to the starter motor without going through the solenoid. It's a bad spot to get to down there so anything could happen. Like I said above, if stock wireing, the bat cable only supplies the starter the other wire goes to back of the alt and supplies the entire remainder of the truck, Leave the bat cable disconnected from the starter and the cable to the alt connected and see what works. Just DO NOT engage the starter with the key.

HTH

 

[dgoodhue]

Re: Electrical Short

If it was me. I would pull the starter, inspect the wires and leave the starter disconnected it (wrap the positive cable with elecrical tape), Go the the alternator and disconnect the two ring lugs with the fusable links.

Then reconnect the Battery GND, it should not spark at this point. If it does you have a short in the battery cable/alaternator to starter cable or ignition switch. If you have an amp meter, measure the current from the battery. It should be 0amp. Then methodically reattach the connections. Disconnect the battery - at the battery each time.

 

[tbauer03]

Re: Electrical Short

If this is correct, the starter runs but doesn't engage the motor, inspect your wiring at the starter. You could have turned the cable while tightening to where it's touching the connector to the starter motor. The solenoid engages the starter to the ring gear.

Yep that is what I did. Thanks for the tip, Adjusted the cable and now everything is good and it starts very well with the new ground cable which is what was the cause of the short .:tup:
Thanks for all the help now she is back on the road.

 

[Don W.]

Re: Electrical Short

Cool! Thanks for letting us know it's fixed.