M1009 no power suddenly

[PAm1009]

Good evening I know this has been covered MANY MANY times but I am in need of help. My 1009 is my DD went to start it after work today and all I get is click click click then goes to dead I repeated that operation agian. The resistor bypass is done, new batteries.. After the second time trying to turn the key over I saw a little puff of smoke from the rear battery then everything DEAD no headlights, blower motor nothing at all. I didn't have time to check fuses or get a multimeter out as I'm leaving for my second job. Thank you for your help I greatly appreciate it! I'm in a real bind and also don't have access to a PC.. Hoping its simple I.e fusible link

 

[doghead]

Maybe a bad cable or battery connetction?

 

[MakersTeleMark]

Sounds like a blown link, but you are going to have to test to find out. There is no way around it.

 

[Barrman]

Start with the basics. Make sure both batteries are fully charged and load tested. Just because they are new doesn't mean they are good. Remove all 4 cables and clean them. Along with the battery terminals. Then see what you get.

It reads like your front battery is low or dead and your back battery terminal is dirty, arced and now won't conduct anything.

 

[PAm1009]

Thank you for your feedback.. The cables do look old and nasty.. There's a bundle of fusible links behind the rear battery is it noticeable to see a burnt fusible link they seem to look alright by eye? Thank you again

 

[doghead]

I'd say about 1/2 the time, it is noticeably visible when a fusible link is burnt/bad.

 

[MarcusOReallyus]

Fusible links can burn without showing any sign. Sometimes they look fried, other times, not. A meter or test light is needed.


I feel for you. Been there, done that.

Clean things up as best you can and try again, but if it won't start, there's no way around some troubleshooting here.

 

[PAm1009]

Thanks guys. I bought new cables and connectors and will see if I can a battery load tester from my mechanic. I'm hoping your right barrman that's what it seems to me there is a couple little molten specs looks like solder on the rear + terminal

 

[Crash_AF]

Tug on the fusible links. If they burned, they'll pull apart with a small tug. A good one won't.

Later,
Joe

 

[PAm1009]

Did some poking around this morning couldn't get the load tester by looking at the batteries they do say 6/11. I get 12.5 volts from both front and rear battery and 13 volts to the bus bar. Maybe thinking its the batteries that took a crap I know the picture is at a weird angle but you can see a molten drip from terminal to battery

 

[doghead]

So you have a bad connection/terminal.

fwiw, I never use those generic, bolt/plate type terminals unless it's an emergency, and then only temporarily.

Premade, or crimp or solder, or better yet both, only for me.

There is another type that you tighten a compression nut, also.

 

[MarcusOReallyus]

I'm with doghead - lose that garbage terminal! Those things are emergency use only.


Take a look at your picture again. See the red arrow? That's pointing to a place where there's been arcing. Whatever else might be a problem, this terminal is DEFINITELY a problem, so start by replacing it. At least take it completely apart and clean it up.

Now, see the yellow arrow? You've got corrosion creeping into your cable there. That's one of the problems with this kind of battery terminal - they make that kind of creeping corrosion inevitable. You may need to trim the cable back some to get to clean copper. If you have to stretch the cable, don't. Replace it. Don't put mechanical strain on any electrical wires. Ever. (Well, unless it's a roadside emergency kind of thing.)

But a more general tip for you - if you ever have electrical problems, and your terminals are corroded, start there. Don't bother to ask anybody for advice, don't bother to do any other troubleshooting until you have cleaned up your battery terminals. That's Job #1.

 

[PAm1009]

Thank you again. That's what I will be doing cleaning all this mess up for step 1

 

[PAm1009]

Hey guys got the 1009 purring like a kitten. Changed the battery cables all new connectors
today tightend everything up and the truck was up an running. I thank you guys VERY much in helping me out in my time of need the advice was great and did as you guys said. So thank you agian for all your help!

 

[truck1]

Those cables need replacement.I use #4 cable minimum and those crip on cable ends are known to be loose and leak voltage . All that buildup of sulphur is another sign of lost voltage and can contribute to battery decline. If the rest of your terminals and connectors look like that I would do a complete charging- starting system voltage check and replace your batteries and all conducters and cable ends with clean soldered on terminals. You are definitely loosing voltage with that setup.