1985 720 2.4L Electrical Issues

[storbeck]

Hi, I'm a new user but I really need some help. My battery will not stay charged, it dies a few minutes after taking it off a jump start. I replaced the battery, alternator, starter, battery terminal connectors, fusible links. All grounds and other wires look OK.

I've had it in to a few mechanics and some how they end up making it worse than when I brought it in and I end up having to fix what they broke so I'd really like to fix this myself rather than taking it in but I've completely run out of ideas on what else to look for.

Thanks

[cheeks]

Start from scratch unwire everything alternator battery starter check to make sure all your wires are good nothing broken melted etc. Have your alternator tested and your battery, then rewire according to chiltons or haynes. Sorry for the caps lock

[86 720]

I would take the starter, alternator and battery out and take them to Autozone to get individually tested. I always have them test these parts a minimum of 5 times each.

I've alternators and starters fail on the 3rd test, so I had them get a diff. alternator.

Would also strip everything and start from scratch.

[nisrod]

sounds as if something is staying on when the truck is off...try pulling fuses one at a time and wait to see if the battery dies..may find the bad circuit that way...

[storbeck]

Thanks everyone for the help!

I took everything back apart and had the starter, alternator, and both batteries re-tested.

It turns out that both brand new batteries were bad, I put in a new battery and everything seems to be working fine. :thumb:

Now on to replacing the coilpacks, thermostat, and shocks!

Thanks again everybody

[86 720]

crazy how "new" stuff fails eh?

[cheeks]

pepboys? there batteries suck

[storbeck]

It was actually a NAPA battery, I've never had any luck there.

I got this truck wrecked and have been slowly putting it back together, I'm trying to figure out why the heck it keeps overheating and where it's leaking coolant from now :bang:

[86 720]

If there isn't a puddle under the engine or inside the cab, and your still losing coolant, it's going to be engine internal.

[storbeck]

Yeah it's dumping coolant on to the floor. I did just replace the thermostat on it and put on a new gasket so I'm thinking I need more silicone sealant on it too

[cheeks]

on the ground or the floor of the cab?

[storbeck]

The coolant is dumping out on the ground, it's somewhere between under the carb and the thermostat.

[zanegrey]

there are a few hose under neath there to be check..

when it leaks there it seems to me that it is the cross over hose from the t-stat heater core hose leading back and under the manifold toward the heater core...