Eagle Dead Help??????

[brettb]

83 wagon 1,000 miles on new battery, starter, new plugs, wires, coil, ignition module and ingnition upgrade (Larger distrib cap)...newer belts and hoses and newer alternator ..... stock carb

was dealing with hot start issues for a while.. couldnt figure that out ever

headlights have been dimming with braking and such since I've owned the vehicle (3 yrs now)

dealing with a "kick down" in engine power at about 35 mph as well...

parked it the other night and went to start this morning I got NOTHING... not a single light or buzzer... tried it in neutral etc.

dont know where to start? truck gets picked up from shop today so I can try a jump? any help much appreciated!

[amcinstaller]

check the fusible links under the hood by the solenoid on the fender. also have a look at the battery posts if they have any black between the cable and post, or if they are green and fuzzy. thats where id start, i had that happen once, tuned out it was the fusible link. drove to work, all was good, got in after work, turned the key, acted like a dead battery.

[brettb]

fusible link? are you referring to all wires connecting dist. and selenoid and control module together? hope its that simple..

any advice on the other issues prior to being dead would be great

[craigp29690]

First, do you have voltage at the battery?  If yes then check your grounds.  Take it off the engine and clean both the connector end and the point on the block or AC compressor, where ever it connects.  I've had cars do the very thing you describe and if I had power at the battery but nowhere beyond, the ground was the culprit.

[amcinstaller]

does the dome light work?

[brettb]

my battery is but a year and a half old? clean no corrosion.
bought the 50 battery charger the other day.. hooked it up and it read 0
then went to work for 4 hours came back and still read 0
still nothing.. no lights no click nothing. played with wires around selonoid and I.M. and still nothing
I'm stumped

[jim]

If the wire is off the bottom of the starter relay the motor won't start.  I don't know that it would cause those other symptoms.

[brettb]

no 12V tester.. how much are they? i will double check all wires once again but will have to do it in dark I'm working 18 hr shifts right now because hunting season starts saturday for me!

[brettb]

evrythings clean and shiny as I just did all the upgrades within a year.. would the selenoid actually cause no power at all?  If memory serves me right my 78 ranger selenoid would allow power but I would have to jump it with pliers to start

[craigp29690]

You need to start at the battery and begin verifying where voltage is present and where the break appears.  It's kind of hard to school someone on electrical troubleshooting if they've never done it before because there are so many variables involved.  But start at the source and work from there.  Also don't to check the ignition switch itself.  They do go bad.

[Whuntmore]

As far as testing a battery goes, take the two connectors off, then see if there's anything.  then charge it (in or out of the car, but still unhooked)  then if there's still nothing, could be a bad battery.

Whenever I'm testing something electrical or electronic, take the unit out of the circuit to get a proper reading.

[brettb]

Thanks for the help!

 dont know why but after trying everything else I tried jumping it again and it started? just in time because my truck and daily driver died 5 days later? and is still dead.. still not sure what the problem was? but

while I'm here wondering about my Hot Start issues? the colder the easier it is to start? I've got upgraded ignition, plugs , wires , fuel pump,new IM last sept. and starter 1 year agao, cat cut off and replaced with pipe and manifold line plugged, battery 1 yr old, carb cleaned, fresh oil change..
what are some of  the causes of hot starting problems?

[martinflok]

 yes also agree with the TC