thats a good one... i would have the battery checked along with the alternator...most places will check them for free


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That is odd... I'd suspect the battery first off for reasons said it seems like somehow it's grounding out so you'd loose power to the entire vehicle, it could be a bad connection on the posts even or on the main feed into your fuse pannel. Something would need to basically cause a short on your battery for it to kill the entire vehicle but if it's not popping fuses or burning any wires it all points to the battery or the connection from the battery to the system in my mind. I'm not sure why your mechanic would suggest ignition/distibutor as possible causes?

I'd be sure to check your ground from the battery to the frame first, then the posts, and the try checking out the main feed into the fuse pannel. And like OrangeSonoma said take the battery in for a test since they'll do it for free anyway

 

I did test the battery/starter/alternator with a Snap-On MicroVat. They all tested good, but that was a while ago, so I think I'll take your advice and get the battery/alternator tested again. The part about the main feed into the fuse block is interesting as well. I disassembled the bulkhead connector at the firewall and inspected everything there. I didn't see anything that would cause an intermittent blackout. I don't remember if I did anything with the fuse block though? I'll check out the battery, and inspect some things around the fuse block, and I'll post an update when I find anything out...

thanks again for the suggestions!

 

try the positive connection on the starter. i had a similar problem on mine, everytime id hit a bump in the road i would kill all the power. the connection was loose

 

I did some more investigating of grounds and wiring today, and found nothing so far. I checked the starter connections, and the main feed into the fuse box. My girlfriend's dad agreed to swap batteries with me for a couple of hours tomorrow. I'll put his battery in and see what happens.

Also, does anyone know if there's any relays that could cause something like this? All my relays look like they are original, from 1987! There's one in particular that I'm not sure what it is. It's a big one that is mounted in front of the blower box on the passenger side, right next to all of the AC lines?

 

I think I found the problem!!!!! My girlfriend's dad stopped by today, and we put his battery in. I started it up, and the first time I turned the headlights on, the truck died. NOT THE BATTERY! I was a little upset that it wasn't the battery, because that's an easy fix. Anyway, I started the truck back up and I couldn't duplicate the problem. I was flicking the headlights on and off, and flashing the high beams, which will usually always duplicate the problem. As I was doing this, my girlfriend's dad said "you head lights look like f'n turn signals!"

It turns out the low beam on the passenger side was not working, and the high beam did work. I pulled the headlight out, and i was going to run the truck again with the light out to see if it would do the same thing. When I pulled the plug off of the back of the headlight, one of the prongs stayed in the connector. You could see where the prong was bumping against the headlight (where the prong used to soldered). I had a new headlight, and put it in right a way. The truck runs beautifully! I can't get the issue to come back, even after about 45 minutes of trying to duplicate it. Before replacing the headlight I could easily get the truck to shut off 5 times within 45 minutes.

I'm very happy, and have my fingers crossed, but I think a loose post on the back of the headlight was my problem! (I've been troubleshooting this for months!!!):rotf::rotf::rotf:

 

that has nothing to do with it....


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i agree that has nothing to do with it...watch it'll come back...like my red truck doesnt start anymore..just gettin connection losin it the next...till it permanently does.

 

itscypha:

Did you have a similar problem that lead to having no power at all, or was you condition different at the beginning?

 

I agree. I got a little excited because I found something that was faulty! The more I think about it, the more that doesn't make any sense. How can a loose headlight pin cause all of the truck's power to instantly drop out? That makes no sense...

I think it will return, and I'm not looking forward to it.

 

I agree. I got a little excited because I found something that was faulty! The more I think about it, the more that doesn't make any sense. How can a loose headlight pin cause all of the truck's power to instantly drop out? That makes no sense...

I think it will return, and I'm not looking forward to it.

My friends truck done the same thing...turn his lights on his control switch would click and spark so i unplugged his headlight and the problem went away so i replaced the socket off of a donor ride and it fixed the problem

 

it was different at the beginning. truck wouldnt start for a while. then it would after a minute. while drivin with radio it would randomly shut off. then it would start up again n be fine. next day wouldnt start at all. several hours later it would. then i was drivin to my new house and it died didnt start for 45 min got it to run ran horrible and made it there and hasnt started since. still trying to figure it out...it cranks but doesnt turn on now. what are your problems to be exact maybe we can figure it out and have 2 fixed..

 

Mine started maybe 2 years ago. It only happened once in a while though, so it didn't bother me that much. I noticed it to happen most often with my high beams. I would be driving at night, and flick my high beams and and all power would drop. the lights, the radio, the engine, everything. (I even ended up in a field one night because of this!) The condition got worse over time to where it would shut off by turning the headlights on, and in the very worst case the truck died when I opened my door and the dome light came on!

I can only recall one time that the truck shut off without me doing anything that would cause it to. One night my radio kept randomly turning off, and I would turn it back on. I kept shutting off, so i left it off. about a mile down the road after I had left the radio off, the truck lost all power again. That's the only time that it did it randomly, without turning some sort of lighting on first.

Every time it shuts off. I turn the key back, and lights come back on. Then I start it up, and it runs perfect. (at least until I need to turn a light on) I've never had a problem with it not starting after it shuts off.

One thing that we have in common is the radio acting funny...

 

I just took the s10 out for drive. I was out about 30 minutes. The entire time I was f'n with the headlights and high beams. The damn thing won't duplicate the problem. I don't have it inspected, so I'm going to get that done, so I can drive it daily and see if the trouble comes back.

 

intermittent problems suck! i hope it stays gone, even if you never figure out why!

 

yea good luck! hope it doesnt. mean while stay looking around for corrosion on the wires if it doesnt show nice copper orange shine to it either sand it down get some acid or something to clean it up. and grease it and bolt it or plug it back in. id say major grounds or alternator do you have the two wires to the alternator(think its two) another thing to try is put lower fuses in every single one

 

oops...hit send by mistake...try lower fuses like from 25 to 20, 20s to 15... see which ones blow quickest. from it or check relays...or jus replace ones that seam to deal with your problem...mine just doesnt throw gas anymore...no reason why power to fuel pump ignition sparks jus lost..

 

did you ever blow a fuse actually forget that. if its ground u arent gonna blow anything.

 

^^^with the ig key on run a jumper wire to the fp test lead on the driver side firewall. check ecmB fuse

 

34blazer:

Could you explain that a in layman's terms? PLEASE!!!

 

I have blown a fuse. My cigarette lighter blows the fuse when used. I learned that years ago and removed the plug from the back of the socket. I haven't used it since. Also when I installed my head unit I blew a fuse because I had a hot wire tied to my ground wire. I removed the connection and never had problem with that fuse again. That's about it though.

 

np=no problem

 

good help will try that today! thanks!!!!

 

New update about this crazy problem...

On the passenger side, both rear manifold bolts were rusted off. (the heads came off of them) I puled all the sh*t off of that side of the engine so that I would have good access to the broken studs. When I finally got the manifold out, I noticed I had really good access to the connections on the starter. I decided to mess around with them while I had easy access. They were tight, but the main power was loose enough that it moved a tiny bit. It took a little force but I was able to rotate the connector, enough to see that the entire post was moving. Basically the post is held tight with a nut, the main wire attaches, then another nut goes on to hold the wire in place. The first nut that holds the stud in place was loose!

When I tool the wire off, you could see that there was a very poor connection right there. I tightened the first nut to what it should have been, then cleaned the connections really well, then put the final nut on. I can no lunger spin the stud in the starter.

As mentioned earlier, I don't understand how a loose headlight pin can cause the truck to shut off? I do understand how a crappy connection on the starter can cause that though. I may have found the problem this time, but it may be a while until I can find out!

I can't find studs for the manifold! Every parts store I go to gives me a course thread set, and my studs have finer threads. I'm going to try a Pep Boys tonight on my way to work, but they're about last place that I can try. Anybody know where I can get some of these things???

 

itscypha:

If you didn't get yours figured out yet, pull the wires off of your starter and take a look at them. Mine looked perfectly fine visually. When I took them off, that's when I noticed that the connection was junk. It's worth a shot anyway!

 

the 660 is built with metric nuts and bolts. you should be able to find a set somewhere....

 

Read all the posts. A short in a headlight that is intermittent will cause a problem like this, but the headlights woould appear to work funny. Another REAL good possibility is that even though all of you have checked lots of things, I didnt see any mention of FUSIBLE links. The one to the alternator is the single most important one and all of you that have ever shorted anything and had a major fuse blow, should check this one at the very least. A weak spot in the fusible link will work intermittently till it finally fails all the way. heck a semi burned fusible link will work for years.

Most of this is caused by larger than stock amps and such. Better headlights, you know what I mean. The wiring in the truck was not designed for any of this and the alternator takes the load. The load goes through a fusible link. Check it, if in doubt replace it.

(btw its hard to find, all taped up in that factory harness and all, different years are in different places, so investigate before unwrapping the tape)

 

Mine still cranks but no power to radio cig lighter or lights ??