The Stovebolt.com Forums Home | Tech Tips | Gallery | FAQ | Events | Features | Search
Fixing the old truck

BUSY BOLTERS
Are you one?

Where is it?? The Shop Area

continues to pull in the most views on the Stovebolt. In August alone there were over 22,000 views in those 13 forums.

Searching the Site - a click away
click here to search
New here ??? Where to start?
Click on image for the lowdown. Where do I go around here?
====
Who's Online Now
4 members (John L., 32Fordpuchoptop, JW51, 68ironhead), 560 guests, and 2 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Forum Statistics
Forums66
Topics126,776
Posts1,039,271
Members48,100
Most Online2,175
Jul 21st, 2025
Step-by-step instructions for pictures in the forums
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#1062706 10/16/2014 10:32 PM
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 150
G
Wrench Fetcher
Wrench Fetcher
G Offline
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 150
I re-wired my 54 3/4 ton 2 years ago and have been driving it on short trips with no problems. I try and at least go out and start it up every so often. It has been sitting for a couple months. I went out to start it and nothing. I put a charger on the battery ans tried again. Still nothing. I noticed when i push down on the starter the fuel gauge immidiatley drops to zero, until i let off the starter and then it jumps back up. I also noticed the amp meter does not seem to be working either. It looks like a short to me, but at first visual inspection everything looks fine, not that many wires on it to begin with. Does anyone have any suggestions on where to start from the symptoms? There was one fuse blown. Any ideas would be appriciated.

Last edited by gtreasur; 10/16/2014 10:33 PM.

[Linked Image from i1188.photobucket.com]
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,988
B
Sir Searchalot
Sir Searchalot
B Offline
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,988
First thing to do is take battery to have it load tested after charging it up. It's always best to start there, Do not trust a test at home showing 12+ volts. Needs load test also. Then you can begin to track down trouble. What fuse was blown? Are there other fuses? If so, what do they protect?

Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 150
G
Wrench Fetcher
Wrench Fetcher
G Offline
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 150
I'll start there. Same thing when i turn the headlights on, gas gauge drops to E till i turn them back off.


[Linked Image from i1188.photobucket.com]
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 12,029
F
Cruising in the Passing Lane
Cruising in the Passing Lane
F Offline
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 12,029
replace the battery, not enough juice to do anything, it's dead

Bill


Moved over to the Passing Lane

"When we tug a single thing in nature, we find it attached to the rest of the world" ~ John Muir
"When we tug a single thing on an old truck, we find it falls off" ~ me
Some TF series details & TF heater pics
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 150
G
Wrench Fetcher
Wrench Fetcher
G Offline
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 150
I tried jumping it with the charger and nothing, so i will replace the battery. Always start with the simplest answer.


[Linked Image from i1188.photobucket.com]
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 28,674
H
Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer)
Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer)
H Offline
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 28,674
You have a high resistance connection at one of the battery cable terminals. Pull both cables and CLEAN them thoroughly. Wire brush the posts and scrape the inside of the cable clamps. I've seen hundreds of identical problems, and it's very unlikely you have a bad battery.
Jerry


"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 150
G
Wrench Fetcher
Wrench Fetcher
G Offline
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 150
Thanks guys. It seems it was the battery. I had never had it act like that before (always gotten it to at least attempt to turn the motor over). Now that i think about it it makes sense that whenever i would add a load by engaging the starter or turning on the headlights that the fuel gauge would go to E (no longer enough power to the gauge). At least it was something simple. Thank you for all your help guys.


[Linked Image from i1188.photobucket.com]

Moderated by  Jon G, Rusty Rod 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Home | FAQ | Gallery | Tech Tips | Events | Features | Search | Hoo-Ya Shop
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 8.0.0
(Release build 20240826)
Responsive Width:

PHP: 8.3.11 Page Time: 3.808s Queries: 14 (0.101s) Memory: 0.6157 MB (Peak: 0.6865 MB) Data Comp: Zlib Server Time: 2025-09-22 14:32:57 UTC
Valid HTML 5 and Valid CSS