85 chevy truck electrical problems

joe cottom · 05-19-2007, 05:08 PM

Im fixing up a 85 chevy truck. The truck did run then one day I turned the key and nothing happend. The driving lights work but nothing else in the cab. I've put a new battery, ignition switch, and starter but still the truck wont turn on.

pbouffard · 05-23-2007, 07:59 PM

troubleshooting wiring sucks, old truck if you plan on keeping it, go with a painless wiring harness, takes about 2 days to do, and will fix everything.

travallenman · 10-24-2007, 06:06 PM

I have an electrical issue myself =

This just started. My truck lights/bulbs all work. For some reason when I pull the lights on the Right Green arrow indicator on the instrument panel glows constantly. When the lights are on the right side turn signals do not operate..also the yellow running light on the right side does not light up.....but with the lights off.........all turn singals/lights work fine. The bulbs seem to be good, flasher is working - any ideas? thanks.

crabtruck · 10-24-2007, 06:37 PM

Welcome to the forum travallenman.
Sounds like a short. Trace back the two non-ground wires coming from the right turn lamp.
You could try replacing the flasher unit, but I think it's an external short.
Think they are the dark blue and brown wires. Happy hunting.
We usually seperate these questions so nobody gets overlooked.

crabtruck · 10-25-2007, 06:03 AM

Welcome to the forum joe-cottom.
Suggest you check your fusible links, sounds like one went.
If not, get the voltmeter out and see where you lose battery voltage.

tjzz4 · 10-25-2007, 09:46 AM

Crabtruck is right.. check the fusible link wires at the starter solenoin... pull on them to see if they are open inside. If they are the wire coating will stretch and come apart.

tjzz4 · 10-25-2007, 09:50 AM

travallenman... I would check the bulbs on the front and rear turn signals.. If someone installed a single filiment bulb it will do exactly what you are talking about by feeding voltage through the contacts in the socket. Does the indicator come on when you step on the brakes?? if not then check the front one first.

crabtruck · 10-25-2007, 04:41 PM

Nice cheat with the brake tjzz4, I missed that.

wojeepster · 10-25-2007, 04:56 PM

The best and easiest to understand book on electrical troubleshooting I have found is "How to diagnose and repair automobile electrical systems" by Tracy Martin. If is available on amazon for the ridiculous price of $12.45 After reading it I understand and have been able to fix every single electrical problem I came up against...quickly. No relationship with author but it is one of the very few books that I have two copies of and have read more than once. If you ask me it is worth its weight in gold.

crabtruck · 10-25-2007, 05:29 PM

You must like it, you've endorsed it twice this month LOL
Read the reviews on it and while it doesn't cover a lot of stuff,
many folks really seem to find it helpful.
We should probably have a section somewhere for good books
and websites with useful resource data.
Can be hard to find when buried in posts.

05-19-2007, 05:08 PM	#1
joe cottom Junior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1	85 chevy truck electrical problems Im fixing up a 85 chevy truck. The truck did run then one day I turned the key and nothing happend. The driving lights work but nothing else in the cab. I've put a new battery, ignition switch, and starter but still the truck wont turn on.

10-24-2007, 06:06 PM	#3
travallenman Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2	86 chevy C10 elect issue I have an electrical issue myself = This just started. My truck lights/bulbs all work. For some reason when I pull the lights on the Right Green arrow indicator on the instrument panel glows constantly. When the lights are on the right side turn signals do not operate..also the yellow running light on the right side does not light up.....but with the lights off.........all turn singals/lights work fine. The bulbs seem to be good, flasher is working - any ideas? thanks.

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05-23-2007, 07:59 PM	#2
pbouffard Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 100	troubleshooting wiring sucks, old truck if you plan on keeping it, go with a painless wiring harness, takes about 2 days to do, and will fix everything.

10-24-2007, 06:37 PM	#4
crabtruck Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,474	Welcome to the forum travallenman. Sounds like a short. Trace back the two non-ground wires coming from the right turn lamp. You could try replacing the flasher unit, but I think it's an external short. Think they are the dark blue and brown wires. Happy hunting. We usually seperate these questions so nobody gets overlooked.

10-25-2007, 06:03 AM	#5
crabtruck Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,474	Welcome to the forum joe-cottom. Suggest you check your fusible links, sounds like one went. If not, get the voltmeter out and see where you lose battery voltage.

10-25-2007, 09:46 AM	#6
tjzz4 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 234	Crabtruck is right.. check the fusible link wires at the starter solenoin... pull on them to see if they are open inside. If they are the wire coating will stretch and come apart.

10-25-2007, 09:50 AM	#7
tjzz4 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 234	travallenman... I would check the bulbs on the front and rear turn signals.. If someone installed a single filiment bulb it will do exactly what you are talking about by feeding voltage through the contacts in the socket. Does the indicator come on when you step on the brakes?? if not then check the front one first.

10-25-2007, 04:41 PM	#8
crabtruck Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,474	Nice cheat with the brake tjzz4, I missed that.

10-25-2007, 04:56 PM	#9
wojeepster Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 92	The best and easiest to understand book on electrical troubleshooting I have found is "How to diagnose and repair automobile electrical systems" by Tracy Martin. If is available on amazon for the ridiculous price of $12.45 After reading it I understand and have been able to fix every single electrical problem I came up against...quickly. No relationship with author but it is one of the very few books that I have two copies of and have read more than once. If you ask me it is worth its weight in gold.

10-25-2007, 05:29 PM	#10
crabtruck Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,474	You must like it, you've endorsed it twice this month LOL Read the reviews on it and while it doesn't cover a lot of stuff, many folks really seem to find it helpful. We should probably have a section somewhere for good books and websites with useful resource data. Can be hard to find when buried in posts.