BJ60 dead..... HELP!!

[Ron_85BJ60]

I'm moving this weekend ( was moving), got the truck loaded up with another load, get in and turn the key.... I get nothing. I cleaned up the connections to the main battery but it didn't help. I tried the headlights and got a strange noise like a bad relay under the steering column but no lights. Push in the cig lighter and the digital clock goes out. With the key removed from the ignition in the off position and I open the door I get the beep as if the key is still in the ignition. Radio came on for a few seconds then stopped. Very strange, makes no sense to me. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Ron

[crushers]

my first guess is dead battery
did you leave the key on? were you listening to the tunes while you were loading up? did you leave the lights on?
boost it and see what happens...

[Ron_85BJ60]

I thought about it being a dead battery issue, I had issue over the winter months when it was really cold. The truck is in a field next to my apartment so getting it boosted will have to wait until a can get another truck over there. I did not leave anything on and I can't believe my batteries would suddenly die. I'd been using the truck all day with no problems. Maybe if it shorted out internally and fried itself. I have a dual battery set up, I don't know how that changes the equation.
Thanks,
Ron

[crushers]

you might have blown the inline fuse, i doubt it but it might be good to check...
cheers

[tlcruiserman]

If you had the doors open while loading the dome lights would have been on, maybe that pushed it over the edge.

[Rigpig]

Ron, I have have had the same issues in the past. Turned out to being bad battery leads and grounds. I replaced the leads with new ones, grounded the engine to the frame, frame to body and worked perfectly! My relays were showing the same symptoms yours were.
HTH
Cheers!
Dan

[Ron_85BJ60]

Thanks everybody for the ideas.

Dan, now that you mention it I had noticed that the ground going to the frame is pretty crusty looking. I did have some issues with the leads this past winter also, probably time to replace those.

[brownbear]

I have had a glowplug relay do some funny stuff, It kinda got stuck on and make a crackling sound, as the volt meter sat at 8v, so it was doing some weird grounding out thing. I cycled the key a few times and it cleared. After I went to a manual switch for my glow plugs it happened again. I was pushing the button, they came on, and made that sound, I let off and it continued, I had to push the buttom a few times to clear it. Then it never did it again. It wasn't as bad when I was on manual, cause I knew what exactly it was.

What is your voltmeter showing?? A sticking relay does funny stuff. try pulling fuses to clear the problem. But I agree it could just be a dead battery. Let us know how it is going.

[Ron_85BJ60]

Looks like Dan was right on with his suggestion. I can't tell you how much it made my day when my truck fired up! I owe you a beer or two.

I took a hammer to the ground on the frame and rechecked the neg lead on the battery and she had power. I'll clean things up for a more permanent fix but I was able to complete my move.
Thanks again to everyone, the board (& Dan) saved my butt on this one.

Ron

[David*BJ70]

Originally Posted by Ron_85BJ60

I owe you a beer or two.

Ho ! Come on man !! One or two... you will see trough the months... you gonna have to offer thousand of beer (specialy if your have a good old rusty Cruiser )

[Rigpig]

Ron, glad to hear you got things going again! It seemed like the easiest fix for me at the time and cheapest... I was too lazy to replace the batteries at the time... Get a few new 3$. cables from "Newfie Sport and Custom"aka:Canadian Tire, as "Crusty BJ60" on the board here likes to call it, and you're good for another 15 or so years.
And hey, if you're offering beer, i'm always in!
Cheers!
Dan