something still working

[shortbedCUSTOM]

ok, hope some of you can help me. when it comes to electrical work I'm completely lost and have no clue.

I have a '70 with a 302 and the problem is that when I got home from work this morning I turned the truck off and the radio stayed on and my tach started jumping and my volts indicator light came on. I poped the hood and you can hear something is still working.

anybody have a clue on where to start troubleshooting. everything was perfectly fine until I got home and turned it off.

[FORDification]

Based on your slightly vague description, I'll venture a guess that your ignition switch is on the way out. The next time it does that, try wiggling the switch and see what happens.

[shortbedCUSTOM]

I've done that to no avail. oh, and it does it all the time. I had to unhook the batt. so it won't drain.

[bluef250]

You might try the starter solenoid. If its sticking, the coil would continue to receive power after you turn off the engine, but might not be enough contact to engage the starter.

[shortbedCUSTOM]

I tried that too. I tapped at it with a wrench, no difference.

[heep70]

Test it with a volt meter to see if it is still feeding juice. It maybe perminatly stuck open. The same with the ign switch.

[shortbedCUSTOM]

well, I'll have to borrow one.

I went back out there to fiddle with it a little more and I definitely here something still powered up. what do you guys think about the voltage regulator? does it stick also? when I plug and unplug the battery I can here it cutting on and off. I've tapped it pretty hard with a pair of pliers. is it possibel that it just went bad in an engaged position?

[heep70]

I don't think so? Try unplugging different things one at a time and see if it shuts off.

[68F250]

Voltage regulator is sticking, unplug the connector on the side of it.

Replace it with the low profile solid state version, much more reliable and your lights will flicker a lot less at idle speed.

[shortbedCUSTOM]

I bought a new regulator yesterday and I'm going out there in a few minutes to install it. I'll let you all know how it turns out.

[68F250]

Make sure it's bolted down real good, that's where it gets its ground.

[shortbedCUSTOM]

greatness!! the new voltage regulator fixed the problem.

thanks for the help everyone.

Carlos

[shortbedCUSTOM]

well, I thought I was done with this issue but I drove the truck to work last night and when I got off this morning I went to start it and it was dead. I jumped it and drove over to my parents house and it sat for about an hour. when I went to start it again, again it wast dead. is it possible that the bad voltage regulator damaged something like the alternator or battery. it starts right up on the first try when I jump it?

someone once told me that you can check the battery by removing one of the battery cables while the truck is running. the truck should keep running. can anybody tell me how to do it?

[heep70]

Yea, it should stay running if you take the poss cable off and the alt is working. You really should get yourself a volt meter.

Is the noise like "something is still running" happening still?

[shortbedCUSTOM]

Is the noise like "something is still running" happening still?

no the noise is gone. everything seems normal the truck just won't start if it sits for more than an hour. when I attempted to start it there was absolutely no juice. a low batt. would of given me some kind of response but I got nothing. so, I went with my gut and got a new batt. and it's starting like a champ. I'm assuming that if it happens to this batt. it might be the alternator. Correct????

also, I noticed that before I had any problem at all when I turned the key to the first position the oil and volt lights would come on and then shut off once the truck was started. now, when I turn the key to the first position only the oil light comes on. what do you guys think about that?