97, no lights, nothing.

[MichaelV]

I have a 97 XLT & the starter was making a grinding noise for about a week, & wouldn't start usually until about the third try. Today I try to start the truck, same grinding noise, but this time on the third try, everything went out. No interior, no break lights, not even the dash. There's no noise when trying to start either. Could this be the megafuse? Please help, I need my truck to get to work.

 

[bedrck46]

could be but also sounds like a bad connection or bad battery

 

[MichaelV]

Where is the megafuse? & it can't be the battery, the lights only dim, not everything cut out. I tried to jump it as well. Nothing.

 

[bedrck46]

if your lights dim then I would say the mega fuse is good They should be located behind the fuse panel under the hood in that area Check all of your connection from the battery Pos terminal to the mega fuses and also your ground wire from the neg battery terminal

Why do you say it can't be the battery??

 

[MichaelV]

I'm sorry I meant they don't dim, everything is dead. I don't think it's the battery because the starter was going & the radio would play until the 3rd time I tried to start the engine. At that time everything died. So I'm assuming it's a fuse, & if the starter grinds that must mean it needs a new one?

 

[bedrck46]

sounds like the starter is bad and that could cause the mega fuse to blow and then you would loos all power do you know how to read and understand elect prints?

 

[MichaelV]

I don't think I even know what elect points are! Hahahaha

 

[bedrck46]

I gave you the wrong location for the mega fuses they should be mounted on the firewall near the battery

Do you have an owners manual If not you can down load a manual from this site owner.ford.com

look on page 140 of the owners manual it will show the mega fuses position one is what provides power to the main circuits in the expy position 2 and 3 are for the alternator.

Once you located them take a good test light or meter and disconnect the neg battery terminal from the battery place one lead on the neg battery terminal and then the other lead to one side of the mega fuse and then to the other side of the fuse you should get a voltage reading on both sides of the fuse or if your using a test light the light should light when you check both side if the meter or light only indicates voltage on one side then the fuse is blown

Let me know your results

You can also do this to the second mega fuse to check it also

Would be best to use a meter as you will get an actual voltage reading

 

[1997SCEBFEX]

voltage regulator?
when was the alternator, if ever, replaced?
is the serpentine belt possibly slipping leading to the system not charging correctly?

PanHandler.

 

[MichaelV]

Okay I checked & replaced the megafuse, it was good, I just replaced it for precautionary maintenance. Still, nothing. No lights, not starting. What's the next fuse down that it could be?

 

[bedrck46]

did you check the voltage into and out of the mega fuse? or did you just use a ohm meter to check the fuse?

 

[bedrck46]

the next fuse you would want to check is # 22 in the power distribution box (under hood) its a 50 amp fuse it is the fuse that feeds the junction box (fuse panel under the dash) when you pull that fuse check to see if you have voltage to the contact in the fuse block with the fuse pulled you should have voltage to just one side and not the other