So i was working away on a heater refurb. I had several tools laying around in the engine bay. Something sparked as a tool made a connection somewhere. Now the engine won't turn over. All the electrical accessories are working as well as all the lights. But engine is dead as can be....no sound at all when I turn the ignition key. I know the battery is good. How do I begin to solve this one??? The lesson here is to always disconnect the ground on the battery when working under the hood!
Something shorted in engine bay - help
- Thread starter lcarter3177
- Start date
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If it were the fusible link then the accessories wouldn't work, right?
- Thread starter
- #6
No fuses in the fuse block are blown. Keep trying out there!
The starter has a heavy gauge power connection from the battery and a heavy gauge ground, there are also wires from the ignition, check the condition of all the wires and replace if they are toast due to the short that you experienced earlier.
- Thread starter
- #9
Sounds like a solid plan. I'll give it a try. Thanks. I'll let you know how it goes.
I can't tell from the pictures
Is this an FJ40 or a VW Bug?
What year?
The starter also has a smaller wire, with a female spade terminal, that plugs into a male spade on the starter.. It's easily knocked off when you drop a tool... Ask me how I know
IIRC it's Black, with yellow stripe.
- Thread starter
- #12
I checked the wiring on the starter and the ignition. All seems in good shape. How can I tell if the solenoid is still good or the starter is working?
You still haven't said...
Help us help you...
You said, "something sparked"... Where exactly?
There are only Three or four wires to the starter, depending on the starter...
One is the starter body ground to the passenger frame rail... make sure it's still well grounded.
One is the heavy duty (2ga?) positive from the battery to the starter... You said it's still good.
One is the ignition from the coil+ to the male spade terminal on the starter... You said it's still good... I would suspect this wire over the other two... It's much more fragile.
I can't recall the fourth wire... I have a gear reduction starter with three wires... Mike? (@78fj40mg)... It would be a more fragile wire that comes out of the harness, IIRC... It could have been broken easily too, depending in the weight of the tool.
You should be able to disconnect the smaller wire(s) and temporarily replace them with jumpers, from the same source to target and see if it works.
Beyond that, have you thoroughly checked for melted insulation in wires?
Also, if we knew the year... Some have a couple of inline fuses.
- What year?
- Are we talking about a 2F engine?
- What year engine?
- Factory wiring?
- Stock OEM starter for that year?
- Or, OEM Gear Reduction Starter?
- Or, aftermarket starter?
- Are the distributor, coil, voltage regulator and alternator stock?
Help us help you...
You said, "something sparked"... Where exactly?
There are only Three or four wires to the starter, depending on the starter...
One is the starter body ground to the passenger frame rail... make sure it's still well grounded.
One is the heavy duty (2ga?) positive from the battery to the starter... You said it's still good.
One is the ignition from the coil+ to the male spade terminal on the starter... You said it's still good... I would suspect this wire over the other two... It's much more fragile.
I can't recall the fourth wire... I have a gear reduction starter with three wires... Mike? (@78fj40mg)... It would be a more fragile wire that comes out of the harness, IIRC... It could have been broken easily too, depending in the weight of the tool.
You should be able to disconnect the smaller wire(s) and temporarily replace them with jumpers, from the same source to target and see if it works.
Beyond that, have you thoroughly checked for melted insulation in wires?
Also, if we knew the year... Some have a couple of inline fuses.
You still haven't said...
Pictures of the passenger side of the engine compartment might help... Especially the starter, dissy, coil, alternator, battery and fusible link. Also a picture that shows as much as possible of everything on the passenger side.
- What year?
- Are we talking about a 2F engine?
- What year engine?
- Factory wiring?
- Stock OEM starter for that year?
- Or, OEM Gear Reduction Starter?
- Or, aftermarket starter?
- Are the distributor, coil, voltage regulator and alternator stock?
Help us help you...
You said, "something sparked"... Where exactly?
There are only Three or four wires to the starter, depending on the starter...
One is the starter body ground to the passenger frame rail... make sure it's still well grounded.
One is the heavy duty (2ga?) positive from the battery to the starter... You said it's still good.
One is the ignition from the coil+ to the male spade terminal on the starter... You said it's still good... I would suspect this wire over the other two... It's much more fragile.
I can't recall the fourth wire... I have a gear reduction starter with three wires... Mike? (@78fj40mg)... It would be a more fragile wire that comes out of the harness, IIRC... It could have been broken easily too, depending in the weight of the tool.
You should be able to disconnect the smaller wire(s) and temporarily replace them with jumpers, from the same source to target and see if it works.
Beyond that, have you thoroughly checked for melted insulation in wires?
Also, if we knew the year... Some have a couple of inline fuses.
Great list Danny! Regarding the fourth wire, the OEM starters came with two control wires, one from the ignition and the other I have no idea. When I installed the GR starter the second control wire had to be abandoned since the GR has only one spade for the ignition wire. I hope this helps.
Things to start with: confirm battery voltage at starter wire ( have someone turn key while you use test light, or spring for volt/ohm meter) then if you have voltage reading there, leave wire off and go to step 2
2nd: confirm you are in neutral, block wheels, and jumper a hot lead from starter battery lead to male spade where black/white stripe wire was. At this point, starter should turn over. No click, bad solenoid.
3rd: if starter doesn't operate, remove starter and drop kick across street...(j/k, take to parts store and have them confirm it's toast)
2nd: confirm you are in neutral, block wheels, and jumper a hot lead from starter battery lead to male spade where black/white stripe wire was. At this point, starter should turn over. No click, bad solenoid.
3rd: if starter doesn't operate, remove starter and drop kick across street...(j/k, take to parts store and have them confirm it's toast)
- Thread starter
- #17
Thanks to everyone. I have not yet had time to try all of these suggestions. I'll report back.
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lcarter3177,
Please add your truck information (Model, month/year) to your signature line so that folks don't have to beg you to provide basic information about your truck.
Idea for Woody: When someone signs up on MUD add the sig line automatically by having them fill out a form that asks for this information.
Please add your truck information (Model, month/year) to your signature line so that folks don't have to beg you to provide basic information about your truck.
Idea for Woody: When someone signs up on MUD add the sig line automatically by having them fill out a form that asks for this information.