Son needs real time help

[Guy ManDude]

Hey all. My son is stuck away from home with the 40. It ran fine this morning (it's his daily driver) but when he went to start it to come home, it won't turn over. He called and I told him to jump it (thinking it was the battery being dead) and that did not work.

He says the radio works and when he turns the key there is no sound.

Any ideas I can relay to him for stuff to check before I leave to get him?

I'll get him to remove and reinstall the battery connections and check the ground to see if that works.

He'll have no tools with him (except for some of his friends---most of which are not tools).

thanks in advance.

 

[tag3]

Turn key on, roll down hill in 3rd., dump clutch, vroom vroom.

 

[Guy ManDude]

Turn key on, roll down hill in 3rd., dump clutch, vroom vroom.

To find a decent hill in coastal SC, we'd have to push it for about 100 hours west! And I sure can't push that thing fast enough.

I don't think it's a dead battery because his buddy spent an hour trying to jump it (with cables).

Would the fusible link kill all the electronics (i.e the radio also)? just trying to rule stuff out.

 

[Sethro60]

If he has a buddy there, have him push or tow it, then bump start it.

 

[Guy ManDude]

If he has a buddy there, have him push or tow it, then bump start it.

Can't hurt to try that. I'll pass it on.

the thought of them pushing it to bump start it makes me kind of nostalgic......

 

[fireflyr]

What year? Stock engine? I'd check the wiring to the starter first and the wires on the ignition switch. On my '67 (no fusible link) I fried the wires in the amp gauge and it did the same thing. You can jumper around it but he'll need tools.

pat

 

[Guy ManDude]

What year? Stock engine? I'd check the wiring to the starter first and the wires on the ignition switch. On my '67 (no fusible link) I fried the wires in the amp gauge and it did the same thing. You can jumper around it but he'll need tools.

pat

1976. completely stock engine. I'll pass on your suggestions for the other things to check. He's been quiet for a bit now. I hope that means he's looking for something out of place. I hope it does not mean they've invented some dumb game of push the truck around the parking lot laughing like idiots while dumping the clutch.

 

[SteveH]

Have him get a buddy to hold the key in the 'start' position while he smacks the starter with a hammer or stick.

 

[DSRTRDR]

starter wire fell off ?

 

[Guy ManDude]

Another good thing I'll check. Thank you.

Heading out now to go to the 40.

 

[cjgoode]

I use to push start my 1976 fj40 in college all the time by myself on flat ground. Engine only has to turn over 1 time to start. I would push and jump in and put in gear and pop the clutch. Now not knowing why his will not start you might want to make sure you push it were it is Ok to still leave it. Mine was a dead battery and no money to replace it.

 

[pb4ugo]

No electronics like lights, blower motor,radio, etc. No anthing? Check fusible link or ballast resistor.

 

[Guy ManDude]

Standing at truck now. Fan in cab and radio work. Battery is tight. Starter is tight. Ground is tight. What should I look for next?

 

[Guy ManDude]

If all that works should I just go ahead and push it to bump it?

 

[kurtnkegger]

You only have a hand full of fuses to check. See if one is popped.

 

[John Smith]

Yes, try to bump start it. Then report back if that doesn't work.

 

[Guy ManDude]

Ones in the cab are fine. Where is the fusible link one?

And to everyone that has helped, thank you.

 

[Guy ManDude]

Starting to push now.

 

[John Smith]

White with light blue stripe coming off positive terminal will be fusible link, unless it was replaced with something else.

 

[Solace in Solitude]

starter wire fell off ?

As Claudia said... I know you said you checked the starter, but your symptoms are identical to symptoms I caused when I changed the fuel filter - I knocked the middle wire (I'm colorblind - it looks black with some stipe running down it) in this picture off - I had power to lights, etc., but nothing when I turned the key to start it. Pleas check one more time.