86 f250 plow truck issue

[perchking]

I plowed for about 15 min this morning, got out of the truck for something came back in went to lift the Older Western plow and the truck wanted to stall which has never happened before. Tried it a few more times, then all of a sudden it would not idle and stalled. Now I have nothing, not even a click on the starting solenoid. I changed out the starting solenoid just because I had another one and still nothing. Voltage seems fine on battery and on solenoid. New starter last year, but it really doesn’t matter right now because I am not even getting to the solenoid. When I try to jump the starting solenoid, I get a small spark but the starter doesn’t crank. I am inclined to think it may be a battery or a ground issue? Can a battery just go dead? It started fine when I started plowing at -8. I know I need to replace the plow solenoid, but that doesn’t fit into the not starting issue.

Scratching my head, any thoughts?

[B-man715]

Battery connections tight and clean?

[perchking]

yes put on new ones this fall

[CAMAN]

Did you disconnect the plow wires? Sounds like something may have shorted in the plow and is killing the battery.

[perchking]

Interesting thought, but could all of that happen in about 45 seconds?

[delcecchi]

Does it have a fusible link?

[perchking]

Del, I checked and did not see one...

[CAMAN]

If there is no fuse then yes it could happen and possibly start a fire.

Disconnect the plow, charge or replace the battery and see what happens.

[Jeremy airjer W]

Is the alternator charging? Do you have 14 volts at the battery with the engine running? Is it possible that you where running off the battery for the 15 minutes with the alternator not putting out anything?

[perchking]

Very possible Jeremy, I cant test it because I cant get it to turn over. Power is at the solenoid but nothing happens when I hit the key.

[Scott K]

Turn your headlight on for 5 minutes, do they stay bright?

I am with Jeremy on this. More then likely the extra load from the plow, burnt up your alternator, then the battery went dead. I see it a lot with plow trucks.

[delcecchi]

fusible link is just a piece of wire. I had one go out in the work parking lot for no known reason. Took me like two days to figure out what the problem was. Car was basically dead. fuses good, battery good, etc. But there was this one wire sort of out of sight that wasn't.

It was just a thought.

[delcecchi]

Old trick. Turn on headlights. try to start. do they stay bright or dim way down?

[perchking]

Del, they get brighter they are very dim when just the lights are on.

[shamrock7]

Ground all the way. Try taking a jumper cable and just use one side of it. Jump from the negative battery cable to the engine block and see if it now starts. If so, bad battery connection or negative cable from battery to engine block.

[delcecchi]

That is sort of bizarre. I will now defer to those who actually know something. But it sure sounds like a bad connection of some kind.

[fishing tech]

Ground cable rusted off at the frame or block. A lot of things get rattled loose when plowing and rusted up. There should be fusable links coming off the starter solenoid. Make sure the wires at the solenoid are on the right spot.

[perchking]

Appreciate all of the advice, I am heading up this weekend and will report back.

[perchking]

It was the ground, started right up after re-grounding it to the engine...

Thanks Folks, the 86-250 is back in service:)