Okay so i've been working with an 86 pickup 4x4 and when i turn the key to the on position nothing comes on like the radio, any thing electrical in the cab. But when i turn the lights on everything comes on. And i can't figure out what's going on. Can someone please help me.

Thanks!

 

define just what you mean by everything comes on??

Like the radio plays
the wipers start
the horn blows
the engine starts to crank.
Blower motor blows on high
The lights are on

At one time had someone installed a alarm??

Has this always been like this or did something happen??After market wiring added??

Just what have you checked??

You need to work on one circuit at a time

 

Like I can turn the headlights on and the radio will come on, blower motor will come on a other things. But they only come on when they are already in the on position. Could it be dealing with the main fuse?

 

Most likely a bad ground .

Most of the things you mention ground on the left door post.

Sounds like some major ground issues

These devices come on weather the ignition is off or on??

Poor grounds will cause all kinds of problems.

Not a fuse problem if it was nothing would work and the fuses would be open

 

And I don't think there was ever an alarm. This is a project truck I just got going so I have no clue about if it's always been like this. And no it doesn't try to start the engine. It's just acting like the headlight switch is the switch for everything in the cab.

Oh and you can hear a popping noise in the speakers everytime you shut the lights off

 

The previous owner most likely cut the factory stereo wires and hardwired everything instead of buying an adapter. I would remove all or any aftermarket wiring and get it back to stock setup. Have they installed a trailer wiring as well? That is another culprit. Just start looking for any non factory wiring and remove it and see what happens.

If they used any pinch connectors, remove those as well and at least electrical tape to cover any exposed wires. Normally things like this have fixed 90% of any electrical issues I have dealt with. After that start looking at each circuit and make sure no wires have rubbed bare somewhere.

 

Okay thanks guys. I'll work on that this afternoon

 

Still can't find the problem. Actually it's gotten worse. Now nothing will come on inside the cab

 

Just what if anything did you do??

Do you have a multimeter and know how to use it ??

If not time to get one and learn.

Start at the battery is it charged ??

Terminals clean tight not corroded not broken.

Work on one circuit at a time other wise it gets way to confusing

With these trucks no telling what the last owners may have done.

 

Terminals are brand new. I removed as much aftermarket wiring as I could find. And the battery is a little old but It was charged enough for the headlights to come on. And I used a testing light on the ground and it seemed to be alright

 

I figured out so far that the radio is acting like a connector because when i hooked the old one back up the blower fan starting working again. The old head unit must have gotten fried cuz i can smell burnt electricity in it. But they only work with the lights on. I disconected the ground on the left door and they still worked, what should i do now??

 

Trying to figure this mess out being so far removed is almost impossible

All I can say is look for non factory wiring and try removing it .

Bottom line none of those other things are tied into the headlight circuit except via the ground.

Have any friends good with automotive electrical??

 

This afternoon I'm going to check under the steering wheel to make sure the po didn't do something crazy.

 

Got it all straightened out today. The PO had a wire going from the radio to the light switch instead of going to the key. Thanks for all the help guys