40 dead SOS

[mitch79fj40]

I do not know nearly enough about trucks to own a 79 40 but I have driven it since I was 16 and I have gone through everything I can think of so any help would be greatly appreciated. I left the lights on like an idiot and drained the battery. I jumped it and drove it twice after that and it ran fine but one day it would not crank at all. I tried a fresh battery and it still did nothing. The key turns and makes no noise at all. I thought it may be the starter. But with a fresh battery neither the lights nor the radio turn on. I checked the grounding and a few wires and everything looks fine. Where should I go from here? Thanks for any advice.

[mooker82]

I would test your battery. If it is dead charge it and then test your alternator. I bet your alternator is on its way out and killed the new battery.

[american psycho]

I'd venture a guess that your battery cable clamps need cleaning - wire brush or sandpaper.

I echo advice I got from the 40 Masters:

Get a volt meter and learn how to use it.

Get the wiring diagram for you 40 and understand it.

Prepare for more electrical gremlins (oxidized fuse block contacts was my last challenge that I fixed with som 220 grit sandpaper).

[BigRedFJ40]

check the fuseable link at the battery. If that is unhooked or melted, you will be dead in the water.

[norville]

Originally Posted by mooker82

I would test your battery. If it is dead charge it and then test your alternator. I bet your alternator is on its way out and killed the new battery.

I'd bet on this, if you jumped your old battery and ran it to charge the dead battery you most likey toasted your alternator. I believe advance auto can test alt's.

bob

[dgangle]

Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

get one of these....cheap and easy to use. Every tool box should have one.

[Trollhole]

Originally Posted by BigRedFJ40

check the fuseable link at the battery. If that is unhooked or melted, you will be dead in the water.

X22222

[mitch79fj40]

thanks alot yall I will work on all of these suggestions before I have to break down and go to a mechanic.

[40's rock]

The real problem lies in that you have not shown proper respect for mud. Buy a star, worship the elders and your 40 will magically return to life. Mine has

[Mace]

Star is not necessary, but it is a nice gesture..

I would bet battery cables (the fusible link is included in this)

[cruzerman350]

a battery needs at least 10 volts to make noise. if nothing is working then you most likely have corrosion somewhere in the battery connections. you could get a set of jumpers or a charger hooked up jsut to test the lights and see if it is in fact a dead battery. if you starter did freeze up trying to crank would unload the entire potential of the battery in turn roasting the wire connecting battery to starter. i have had many problems with corrosion on battery terminals and thats where would start and then jsut trace both the pos. and neg. leads til you find the problem. with more information i could give you a move refined area to search but no power to anything is very vague.

-miles

[lostmarbles]

Originally Posted by dgangle

Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices get one of these....cheap and easy to use. Every tool box should have one.

I smell a rat!!!!

In this country we have laws that combat misleading advertising and I suspect the seller of that meter would be made to withdraw it from sale (if it were for sale here).

How can that little meter truly check up to 1000 CCA?

Judging from the size of its leads it can't even measure 100A (which the seller also claims it does).

In order to do what is claimed, I would expect the meter to be a lot more substantial with leads as thick as battery cables!

[dgangle]

Don't buy it then. I can substantiate it does at least 875CCA 'cause that's the rating on the battery in my 40. Spend more if it makes you feel better.

Heavy Duty AVR, Battery Load Tester, Electrical System Diagnosis

I bet this is a good one.

[Coolerman]

What the ad means is it will test a battery that is RATED at 1000CCA, not that it will MEASURE 1000 amps.

I have used this meter (though I do not own it) and can verify that it will indeed handle a 100 amps for a SHORT time just like the instructions say. The leads are short for a reason, they keep the resistance down allowing the large currents for short times... YMMV!

[lostmarbles]

Originally Posted by Coolerman

What the ad means is it will test a battery that is RATED at 1000CCA, not that it will MEASURE 1000 amps.

I have used this meter (though I do not own it) and can verify that it will indeed handle a 100 amps for a SHORT time just like the instructions say. The leads are short for a reason, they keep the resistance down allowing the large currents for short times... YMMV!

Yeah. That's what I thought Coolerman. It uses "electronic trickery" to briefly measure a BRIEF high current output (from the battery). That is NOT a test that is of any use for a starting battery (where the high current must be able to be maintained until the engine starts).

In this country, that advertisement would not be allowed because it is deliberately MISLEADING. Either the product woiuld have to be withdrawn from sale or the advertising blurb made more HONEST.

[lostmarbles]

Originally Posted by dgangle

Don't buy it then. I can substantiate it does at least 875CCA 'cause that's the rating on the battery in my 40. Spend more if it makes you feel better. Heavy Duty AVR, Battery Load Tester, Electrical System Diagnosis ..I bet this is a good one.

Yep. I think I could possibly trust that one dgangle

Here's a photo of my tester that cost me something like 10 or 20 dollars at my favourite antique/junk shop:

[Trollhole]

Originally Posted by lostmarbles

In this country, that advertisement would not be allowed because it is deliberately MISLEADING. Either the product woiuld have to be withdrawn from sale or the advertising blurb made more HONEST.

In this country walking into a Harbor Freight store not expecting to get mislead would be a crime.

[ohrly?]

Check the starter connections, didn't think that I saw anyone say that.

[Coolerman]

Originally Posted by lostmarbles

In this country, that advertisement would not be allowed because it is deliberately MISLEADING. Either the product woiuld have to be withdrawn from sale or the advertising blurb made more HONEST.

Warning! Off-Topic rant!....

You don't know how much I envy that law! In this country there is no such thing as truth in advertising. For a TV ad you can say pretty much anything! All you have to do is flash a disclaimer in 2 point type on the screen for 1.7 seconds. Even the disclaimer is all legalese...

The one ad that makes me want to scream is the Kinoki one for the pads that stick on the bottom of your feet and supposedly suck toxins out of your body...

Rant off...

On topic comment: That is a neat looking battery tester!