door locks go crazy when i turn the key

[bigwick70]

ok i unhooked the battery to charge it and when i reconnected it there was a bad arc like something is grounded...that explains the battery drain but not the cause...somethings pulling amps as soon as i put the terminal on...

Battery. Sounds like a cell inside of the battery doesn't like the cold and finally gave up. A simple check you can do is to turn on a map light and then attempt to start the truck. If it remains nice and bright, problem with the starter solenoid. If the light pretty much goes out, bad/dead battery.

tryed a battery strait outta my friends truck. unhooked his and dropped it right into mine,from a running truck, so not the battery.

 

[bigwick70]

i considered putting my expy on a lift but wasnt sure how it would look. dam some of these trucks you men have here look really good. after i get this minor set back adressed i think ill look into that. ive already done a few minor things to it. Tinted the windows, added fog lights, blue floresant lights interior-gonna put under also but not sure legal in WV. paint job- on fender skirts anyway. they were this god aufil tan color on black so i painted all black, front/rear bumper and all. looks super good i think...had some trouble outta the air bags too so i converted to shocks. LOVE my truck, but i think every man does. i was a chevy man till i got my Expy! lol no offence.ill post some pics

 

[bigwick70]

i considered putting my expy on a lift but wasnt sure how it would look. dam some of these trucks you men have here look really good. after i get this minor set back adressed i think ill look into that. ive already done a few minor things to it. Tinted the windows, added fog lights and blue floresants interior, paint job- on fender skirts anyway. they were this god aufil tan color on black so i painted all black, front/rear bumper and all. looks super good i think...had some trouble outta the air bags too so i converted to shocks. LOVE my truck, but i think every man does. i was a chevy man till i got my Expy! lol no offence.ill post some pics

 

[AWD EXPY]

What is a good output voltage from the regulator?

 

[Thermo]

AWD, any voltage between 13.5 and 14.4 VDC is good (depends on the type of multimeter that you are using. I also recommend doing the test at 2 different points. Do one measurement with the truck at idle and nothing but the motor running. The second check, turn on your headlights, dash blower on high and the rear defroster. The voltage between the first and second check (unloaded and loaded) should be within about 0.1 to 0.2 VDC of each other.

If you question your readings, let me know and I will see what you have and give you my impression of what you are seeing.

 

[bigwick70]

OKAY fellers i unhooked the red wire from the altenator= still a big arc...next unhooked the top wire from the two ********* fuses that come from the split from the solenoid, one just goes to the alt (bottom wire), and the other goes to the starter (top wire)= no arc...or a small arc...I think the starter is grounded out and its one of the few things i havnt had to replace yet lol... guess it was its turn to die... SHEW LORD this truck has really taught me to be a mechanic, but i luv her ... if im not mistaken i can take a jumper and run a wire from the hot wire on the battery and touch it to the starter and see if it cranks cant i? rule out the starter for sure...

 

[bigwick70]

Ran a jumper from the positive on the battery to the starter wire and nothing but a large arc. is it possible the starter could be stuck? going to get under there and check the connections when it warms up tomorrow.

 

[Captain Morgan]

I've been waiting for this. Assuming you jumper-ed to the correct post if the starter motor did not spin then it is frozen and needs to be replaced.

Remove the starter motor and attempt this again as a bench test with the jumper cables. If again all you get is an arc, then buy a new one.


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[bigwick70]

im an old back yard mechanic lol. but these newer models kinda get me.ive done this before with the starter removed and ill try this ...thanks for your help guys...ill keep you posted
i definatly need to invest in a voltage meter for future issues

 

[bigwick70]

Alrighty then... i found the culprit! was the starter... took off the old one and jumper-ed it from the hot post on the battery and nothing but a big spark...oh and the solenoid is on the starter. i thought the round black thingymajigger on the firewall was it but i was mistaken. the round black thingis the starter relay and was what was making the "CLICK" i was talking about earlier. a smaller red wire runs to it from the battery so...
will replace the starter monday and go from there.

 

[Captain Morgan]

Maybe you want to buy both the starter motor and new solenoid? Cables?

When you put on the new starter etc be sure to clean the connections at every point with sandpaper etc and get em all shiny. Make sure the parts, washers, nuts and connections to the battery AND GROUND are clean and tight.


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[bigwick70]

shew that was the first starter i ever took off a ford...was a ***** to get outta there...my last truck was a chevy s-10 89 4x4 and it ate a starter about once a year but wasnt a prob to replace...i hated selling that truck was a little mountian goat in these hills lol...i still luv my expy better though im just afraid of scratchin her all to hell in the mountians here...

 

[Captain Morgan]

I hear you, I camp a lot and get gnarly scratches on my rig.

 

[bigwick70]

well i got my girl going. HOTT DAM... I really appreciate the help guys. couldnt have done it without you all. never in my life seen a starter cause the electric system to go crazy like that, and ive changed 100 starters. Think ill go back in the mountians to celebrate lmao. Later fellas and thanks again

 

[Captain Morgan]

Any time, glad to hear your success!


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[bigwick70]

same ol thing again

ut oh... this morning the ol lady took my son to school and she said the truck did the exact same thing for two trys and then started normally... I hope theres not something else causing the starters to mess up? what do you guys think? Its doing ok 4 now though

 

[Captain Morgan]

She turned the key and "nothing" then she turned the key and "nothing" then she turned the key and it started?

Did you only replace the start motor or did you also replace the solenoid?

It could be the switch but that wouldn't be my first guess.



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[bigwick70]

no she turned the key and crazy door locks ..key again, crazy door locks...key again started. i replaced solenoid and all.

 

[Captain Morgan]

Call a priest?


Do you have any add-on stuff in the truck like an alarm? Key fobs? Is this a bare key? Does this happen with more than one key?

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[bigwick70]

no accesaries. only one key and not sure what a key fob is lol. it seems fine at the moment. ill give it a day or two and see how it goes. might have bought a bum new starter. its possible i guess.