95 1500 4x4- Electrical Nightmare

pthompson7 · 07-20-2008, 11:20 PM

I was pulling my wave runners back from the lake, as we have done lots of times. When I got in fromt of the garage, my truck stalled. I tried to start it and it wouldnt crank. When the key was turned, the motor turned about a 8th of a turn then nothing. As I was cranking the wire that runs from the under hood light started smoking and pretty much burned up as far as I was able to see (the black wire). I thought I may have trashed the starter, so we replaced the starter......nope that was good. We still have the problem. We pulled off the serpentine belt to see if it would crank and we were able to start it with the belt off. Put the belt back on and no crank. We were able to push start it and it ran for a few minutes. I started to take it for a test drive and pulled to the street and it died. I parked it and am not sure where to start. Manual trans. 4.3 V6, it was sounding like the bearings in the AC compressor were going, but would that cause the wire to burn up like that?

I would appreciate any assistance I can get on this one.

Case 7230 · 07-21-2008, 04:33 AM

It sounds like you have a bad ground. Check battery grounds and engine to frame/body grounds. These should all be clean and tight.

Chevy_Finatic79 · 07-21-2008, 06:21 AM

if your A/C compressor clutch locked/seized up then yes you will not be able to run the motor with the belt on. when had the belt off could you turn the A/C pulley/clutch freely by hand? if not thats probably your problem

as for the hood light you got me

leolkfrm · 07-21-2008, 06:51 AM

had a similiar problem with a neighbors 4.3 it was the alternator siezed.. pull the belt back off and see if all the pullys spin on all accessories

stumpuller454 · 07-21-2008, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Case 7230

It sounds like you have a bad ground. Check battery grounds and engine to frame/body grounds. These should all be clean and tight.

^ yeah and also check for a short to ground in your underhood light

pthompson7 · 07-21-2008, 03:23 PM

Hey guys,

I removed the belt and all pulleys are moving freely, so there goes my theory on the AC compressor. (I think) I am trying to trace the shorted wire, (the underhood service light) to see if I can trace it to it's source.

Is there anything else that may be causing this problem, aside from the starter?

Here is something else that is wierd, when I have the key in and the accesories on, the guages go crazy when I try and start the truck. The Oil and Battery guage go all the way to the right and the fuel and Temp go all the way to the left. It sounds crazy, right?

Update, I was just out looking things over and doing some checking. There is a ground wire that runs from the passenger side, rear of the motor, to the chasis, but it was laying on the exhaust manifold and burned in two. Is this a result of a bigger problem, or the problem?

Help!!!!

leolkfrm · 07-21-2008, 06:23 PM

So does it still start with the belt off?

pthompson7 · 07-21-2008, 06:45 PM

Well, here is the results. What happened was the main engine ground wire was laying on the exhaust manifold. The melted through and the electrical system found the under the hood light ground wire to be the path of least resistance. I replaced the ground wire and taped up the ground wire fro the under the hood service light, and it runs fine. I just dont have that handy light under the hood. How important is it that I trace the light ground wire.

Thanks

Case 7230 · 07-22-2008, 05:45 AM

Glad to hear you got it fixed. As far as the ground wire to the light is concerned it is only important if you want the light.

pthompson7 · 07-22-2008, 02:41 PM

Thanks Guys. I really appreciate your help.

07-20-2008, 11:20 PM	#1
pthompson7 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 4	95 1500 4x4- Electrical Nightmare I was pulling my wave runners back from the lake, as we have done lots of times. When I got in fromt of the garage, my truck stalled. I tried to start it and it wouldnt crank. When the key was turned, the motor turned about a 8th of a turn then nothing. As I was cranking the wire that runs from the under hood light started smoking and pretty much burned up as far as I was able to see (the black wire). I thought I may have trashed the starter, so we replaced the starter......nope that was good. We still have the problem. We pulled off the serpentine belt to see if it would crank and we were able to start it with the belt off. Put the belt back on and no crank. We were able to push start it and it ran for a few minutes. I started to take it for a test drive and pulled to the street and it died. I parked it and am not sure where to start. Manual trans. 4.3 V6, it was sounding like the bearings in the AC compressor were going, but would that cause the wire to burn up like that? I would appreciate any assistance I can get on this one.

07-21-2008, 06:21 AM	#3
Chevy_Finatic79 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Lincoln NE Posts: 442	if your A/C compressor clutch locked/seized up then yes you will not be able to run the motor with the belt on. when had the belt off could you turn the A/C pulley/clutch freely by hand? if not thats probably your problem as for the hood light you got me __________________ "She's gonna Freak when she see's my wheels" 85' Chevy C-10 Longbox (Rat) TBI 5.7 Liter/THM350 90' Chevy Suburban 4x4 TBI 350 Cu.In./700R4 http://www.truckforum.org/forums/truck-pictures-176.htm

07-21-2008, 03:23 PM	#6
pthompson7 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 4	Hey guys, I removed the belt and all pulleys are moving freely, so there goes my theory on the AC compressor. (I think) I am trying to trace the shorted wire, (the underhood service light) to see if I can trace it to it's source. Is there anything else that may be causing this problem, aside from the starter? Here is something else that is wierd, when I have the key in and the accesories on, the guages go crazy when I try and start the truck. The Oil and Battery guage go all the way to the right and the fuel and Temp go all the way to the left. It sounds crazy, right? Update, I was just out looking things over and doing some checking. There is a ground wire that runs from the passenger side, rear of the motor, to the chasis, but it was laying on the exhaust manifold and burned in two. Is this a result of a bigger problem, or the problem? Help!!!! Last edited by pthompson7; 07-21-2008 at 03:45 PM.

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07-21-2008, 04:33 AM	#2
Case 7230 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 253	It sounds like you have a bad ground. Check battery grounds and engine to frame/body grounds. These should all be clean and tight.

07-21-2008, 06:51 AM	#4
leolkfrm Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: N.Y. Posts: 1,456	had a similiar problem with a neighbors 4.3 it was the alternator siezed.. pull the belt back off and see if all the pullys spin on all accessories

07-21-2008, 06:23 PM	#7
leolkfrm Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: N.Y. Posts: 1,456	So does it still start with the belt off?

07-21-2008, 06:45 PM	#8
pthompson7 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 4	Well, here is the results. What happened was the main engine ground wire was laying on the exhaust manifold. The melted through and the electrical system found the under the hood light ground wire to be the path of least resistance. I replaced the ground wire and taped up the ground wire fro the under the hood service light, and it runs fine. I just dont have that handy light under the hood. How important is it that I trace the light ground wire. Thanks

07-22-2008, 05:45 AM	#9
Case 7230 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 253	Glad to hear you got it fixed. As far as the ground wire to the light is concerned it is only important if you want the light.

07-22-2008, 02:41 PM	#10
pthompson7 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 4	Thanks Guys. I really appreciate your help.