Scared myself today - Steel Soldiers::Military Vehicles Supersite

wallew · 03-15-2006, 15:51

Went out to start the deuce. Flipped the accessory switch and hit the start button. I saw sparks arcing underneath the space next to the drivers seat. Opened the panel up on the drivers side floor and hit the button again. HUGE sparks and then nothing.

I crawled up under the truck but didn't SEE anything remotely electrical.

So, exactly what did I short out? Truck now has zero power to anything.

HELP!! Also, any TM suggestions would be appreciated.

jim

cranetruck · 03-15-2006, 16:01

Jim, you may simply have burned up a battery terminal. If the connection was loose, you may have seen the sparks across the bottom of the cab. The second try could have opened the battery terminal completely. Should have made a bit of noise too.

wallew · 03-15-2006, 16:35

Bjorn,
I thought of that and inspected the batteries. They LOOK ok, but I'm going to go out and check them with a voltmeter.

Having said that, is there ANYTHING under the 'trans tunnel' that IS electrical??

thx.

jim

wallew · 03-15-2006, 16:44

OK, upon closer inspection, one of the neg connectors was loose just a little. I tightened that up and now have power back.

BUT as soon as I touch the start button, MEGA SPARKS under the cab. What have I DONE??

thx in advance.

jim

CGarbee · 03-15-2006, 16:56

Did you check the cable running from the battery to the starter?? It runs under the cab on it's way forward and may have chaffed along the way and be shorting out when you crank the truck... You also have the electrical line to the pump in the fuel tank running along the rear edge of the cab, but if that was shorting out I would expect it to do so when you turned the power on unless it is doing it when the turck rocks as the starter engages (intermittent contact with the cab...), rear harness runs along the driver's side frame rail as well (in fact, it includes the lines running to and from the fuel tank)...

Crawl under the truck and look...

Good luck,

cranetruck · 03-15-2006, 17:12

I think you should check your battery connections one more time. Take them off, clean and reinstall and don't forget the jumper between the batteries.
After the spark occurs, go around and CAREFULLY touch the terminals, a bad connection will be very hot. (Use common sense here)

wallew · 03-15-2006, 17:58

ALL of you were dead bang on the money. The culprit was the bolt that attaches the negative cable to the frame. Boy did I fry that puppy!!

I'll post the results after I replace it with a better one.

thx to everyone. SCARED MYSELF SILLY!

jim

wallew · 03-15-2006, 19:33

One new bolt, washer, lock washer and nut later she fired right up. Purred like the kitten she is.

I started today being scared silly by loads of sparks from an unknown problem.

I finished today having my ego boosted by reconfirming that this is absolutely THE BEST VEHICLE I've ever owned.

I owe it all to this website AND everyone here who gave me the courage to purchase this truck and then the knowledge and prodding to stand firm and fix my own truck.

I CAN'T THANK YOU ALL ENOUGH. Long live Steel Soldiers!

jim

WillWagner · 03-15-2006, 20:42

Ditto.The knowledge and info and the willingness to share the previous, is awsome

emmado22 · 03-15-2006, 21:18

So where exactly was the bolt, and what did it do?