Please help, I need to get my truck running again before spring break is over. I have an 86' Pickup 4x4 22r carb, manual transmission, long bed, single cab... I will start from the beginning and also list everything I have checked. The day before it didn't start I left my head lights on for an hour. It started fine and I also let it run for 20 mins. The next day I drove to school, again started fine.
THE PROBLEM:
-I got in it later that day and it wouldn't start.
-Only light on dash when key is turn to ON(final position before turn over) is battery light(no seatbelt, brake,...)
-Safety cancel switch, to override clutch, won't engage when key is turned to ON, or at all .
WHAT I CHECKED:
-I ran the battery over to the parts store, it tested charged and good.
-Checked all fuses, none are burnt. (not sure how to check two black relays under hood in fuse box)
-Removed alternator had it tested, it tested good.
-Pushed down clutch switch by hand and still nothing.
-All ground connections(i could find) are in tack and have continuity through them.
-starter has 12v of power going to it (checked with multimeter)
-alternator has around 4v of power going to it(not sure if thats normal)

I'm not a mechanic or an electrician, but I
-connected a multimeter to battery, which show 12.6v, and when attempted to start there was not draw on the voltage.


I'm in desperate need for help, I'm pretty mechanically inclined, and have the tools to do most things. Any help would be greatly appreciated

...I also baby this truck, so it doesn't get hard ware on parts, although it does have 487k miles and about 200k on this motor.

 

HMMMMMM.................. the 4volts at the alternator puzzles me. On the driver side inner fender near the small plastic "box" that is the connection point between the alternator and the battery. Mine had gotten BAD corroded and acted like the alternator was bad. I took it apart, cleaned it and put some electrical grease on it. Just a thought.
Hope that helps.

 

Thanks for the reply worshipmentor, I replaced the terminal wire going from the battery into the fuse box. It was barely hanging on, and the screws were very loose.

 

Your starter may be bad. You can take it off and clean all of the contacts and see if it starts then.

 

12 volts at the starter, I assume you tested at the big wire. How about the small wire?
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...shtml#EasyTest

 

Yea I was checking the big wire...I guess all I was ecentially checking was the wire and not the starter.. But anyway changing that lead out got it to work. I am making it a point to change out as many of the wires and hoses that look bad, to eliminate this sort of problem in the future.