Completely Dead 1970 F250

[rocketma1n]

OK so I bought a 1970 F250 this past weekend from the original owner. It died when I got home so I brought the battery to have it tested. It was fine. When I hooked the battery back up I pulled the most amateur move ever and only looked at the color of the lines. When I put what I thought was the negative (it was the positive) on the negative battery, it started sparking and everything was smoking at the starter relay.

Tonight I replaced both battery lines, the starter relay and the main in line fuse that runs from the starter relay to the cab. The hood light (under the hood) works so I know power is there but that is the only power I am getting to the car. Still no crank, no other lights, nothing.

Any ideas? Am I missing a fuse somewhere? They all checked out in the fuse box. Any ideas will help. Thanks.

[67fordman1]

Check your power at the starter with a multimeter, re-check continuity at the wires you replaced,(sounds like you still may have a wire fried somewhere).

[bluef250]

Also, make sure you check the engine to body ground.

[fordman]

check all of the above plus check the ignition switch. one thing to watch for that i did wrong once. is to make sure the small wiress and the starter relay are in the right place. red in small front terminal and brown to the small rear terminal.

[basketcase0302]

Tonight I replaced both battery lines, the starter relay and the main in line fuse that runs from the starter relay to the cab. The hood light (under the hood) works so I know power is there but that is the only power I am getting to the car. Still no crank, no other lights, nothing.

I didn't know there was any such "main in line" fuse?
Aint' that suppose to be the fusible link wiring, instead of a fuse there?
I would start at the starter solenoid, (make sure you put the main power wires back on the correct side of the solenoid). This will be on the terminal where where the main + from the battery is hooked onto, (left side when facing the solenoid).
Here's the wiring diagram for your truck, maybe it will help.

http://www.fordification.com/tech/wirin ... master.jpg
P.S. Stop by here when you get a chance:
http://www.fordification.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=1

[rocketma1n]

I meant the fusible link. Sorry. New to all of this.

I took the old starter relay out piece by piece and made sure all of the wiring went back on in the right places.

I am going to check the power at the starter tonight.

Is there anything else that my mistake could have blown out that would be causing this?

Thanks for the help. Hoping your advice saves me the trip to the mechanic.

[fordman]

the starter wont have power until you turn the key and the starter relay is activated by the turning of the key. check the wiring to the ignition switch.

[rocketma1n]

Maybe time to test every wire. I replaced the fusible link, the starter relay, the ignition switch and the battery cables. I also checked every fuse. Still dead.

Anything else this could be besides a fried wire?

[Thunderfoot]

Just a couple questions:
Do you have power to anything- lights, horn, break lights, radio, ect...
When it originally died did anything work like listed above, did anything change after the battery cable incident?
Do you have a test light to do some checking of wires with? really need this to have you do some checking of some wires to help you out.

[rocketma1n]

Everything worked before the battery incident (im really paying for that move) and now I have power to nothing.

I have a multimeter tester only. Not the same I take it. Thanks for the help with this.

[fordman]

i am looking at this diagram. http://www.fordification.com/tech/wirin ... master.jpg

wire numebr 37 which is the main power wire into the cab. comes from the fornt of the starter relay and goes right into the fuse box for main power. just before it goes into the fuse box it jumpers with wire number 25 which supplys power to the headlights switch and also has wire number 21 to the igintion switch coming out of it. wire number 37 is the wire to check and chase for power to everything.

[Thunderfoot]

The multimeter will work
Set it on DC voltage and put the positive lead on the (+) battery post and then put the negative lead on the fender, then the engine block, and firewall and see if it reads voltage in all these places. If it does then follow that wire #37 that fordman showed in that diagram and see where it is loosing power, If you don't have a voltage measurement in the test above, let me know where you didn't see a voltage reading.
Also, let me know if your truck has the factory full gauges or the idiot lights, as it makes a difference in the wiring of the main power wire into the cab, that one in the link is for idiot lights...

[rocketma1n]

I think the original gauges because everything is all original on the truck.

I tested the power and found it up to the point of the connector before it comes into the cab. It has power to that point. I changed all the fuses and still dead. I guess I need to check the in the cab portion.

[Thunderfoot]

Unfortunately it sounds like that is the next move, hopefully it will be obvious and you find it fast...

[rocketma1n]

What's the best plan of attack since I already replaced the ignition switch? So new to this that I feel lost.