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my 1970 dump truck won't do anything. Where do I start?


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chicken guy
New User

Sep 12, 2017, 4:00 PM

Post #1 of 9 (1464 views)
post icon my 1970 dump truck won't do anything. Where do I start? Sign In

I parked my truck last fall. She ran just fine. Now I charged the battery, tried to start her, and nothing. Not even headlights. Battery was out over winter, and is in good shape. Where do I even start?


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Sep 12, 2017, 8:26 PM

Post #2 of 9 (1458 views)
Re: my 1970 dump truck won't do anything. Where do I start? Sign In

What does this have on it now for battery cables? Asking because of its age pre side posts I think and top bolts were spring loaded lead things wouldn't last this long either. It sat for almost a year matters. Zero reaction to a known tested and charged battery is dropping totally out someplace. Either end of both battery cables must be known right and a clean connection for all,


T



chicken guy
New User

Sep 19, 2017, 3:39 PM

Post #3 of 9 (1409 views)
Re: my 1970 dump truck won't do anything. Where do I start? Sign In

Tested cables. negative and positive both intact acording to voltmeter. even tried jumper cable from negative to ground and positive to starter. no luck.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Sep 19, 2017, 4:54 PM

Post #4 of 9 (1407 views)
Re: my 1970 dump truck won't do anything. Where do I start? Sign In

Unless you are doing a voltage drop test, voltage is not going to tell you anything about the condition of that cable.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Sidom
Veteran / Moderator
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Sep 20, 2017, 12:39 PM

Post #5 of 9 (1389 views)
Re: my 1970 dump truck won't do anything. Where do I start? Sign In

Take ALL the connections apart and clean them with a wire brush. See if that makes any difference


Tom Greenleaf
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Sep 20, 2017, 4:18 PM

Post #6 of 9 (1377 views)
Re: my 1970 dump truck won't do anything. Where do I start? Sign In

Before this gets on forever what type battery cable end is this using now? Not kidding the originals were meant to last forever and were not side posts for sure in 1970 rather a u-bolt that was spring loaded. They don't sell the lead sleeves you (me) would use to make up for cleaning wear. Side posts would have covers and eyelets inside and a bolt usually 5/16th = 8mm or could be different but only that touches the battery pressing on tons of failed eyelets unseen or worse the temporary one you stripped cable and squished in bare wire are meant to be emergency only till fixed with a splice end with or without a pig-tail for either an extra ground or for Bat+ ran to run everything else in the vehicle truck or not.


In brief - the side post bolt may be good but not the eyelet or if still spring loaded ones must be tight enough you can't turn them with pliers or they won't make a connection worth beans as in any load they just go blank (nothing) on you,


T



chicken guy
New User

Sep 20, 2017, 5:29 PM

Post #7 of 9 (1366 views)
Re: my 1970 dump truck won't do anything. Where do I start? Sign In

Progress! Jumped across solinoid and she turned. My mechanic is coming out in the next few days, Just wanted to narrow down the search a bit. Takeing soilinoid in to be tested next.


Tom Greenleaf
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Sep 21, 2017, 1:56 AM

Post #8 of 9 (1353 views)
Re: my 1970 dump truck won't do anything. Where do I start? Sign In

What make and model is this thing? "Dump Truck" is not much to go on. Solenoid can plain be checked (any) with a volt drop test you don't seem to want to do in seconds.
If a GM you'll never figure out how to separate the solenoid if confused so far. Harder if a Dodge engine easier if a Ford but if not working at the age you'll probably break it taking that off if not tending to a little over the decades. Get some test tools you are wasting time with pretty easy stuff,


T



Discretesignals
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Sep 21, 2017, 7:19 AM

Post #9 of 9 (1341 views)
Re: my 1970 dump truck won't do anything. Where do I start? Sign In


Quote
Now I charged the battery, tried to start her, and nothing. Not even headlights.



Quote
Jumped across solinoid and she turned


You never stated which make and model of dump truck this is. Is this the starter solenoid you're jumping across? Don't see how that would tie in with the headlights. Usually highlights have power all time.





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