1955 Ford F350 -- electrical and starting problem

WKLINGEL

MEMBER
1961 FORD F-350

1955 Ford F350 --took it to a local shop to replace center bearing in rear differential -- when I picked it up, they said had had trouble starting it -- I just put a new battery in a few months back, have had 0 problems with starting (started on a dime before I took it in there) -- also lights aren't working, whereas they were before -- what did these guys do? If they left the key on, had to jump start it, reversed polarities by accident, would this create these kinds of problems? Any other ideas? Thanks

4 Replies

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,937 POSTS

Check that they have not had the battery off and if so ensure that the terminals are clean and tight, you can also get a scan done just to check for any unresolved fault codes, start here.

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Tuesday, September 13th, 2011 AT 11:52 AM

WKLINGEL

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Uh, this is a 1955 (as the question says) - don't think there's much 'scanning' for fault codes you can do

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Tuesday, September 13th, 2011 AT 11:56 AM

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,937 POSTS

UMMM ok, sorry cart before the horse, I thought it said 05 gotta get those new glasses, just check the battery and I doubt that the scan will show much. Lol. Is it cranking strong? Reversing the battery would fry the alternator and ignition, it just would not star full stop. I would be looking at the battery connections first.

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Tuesday, September 13th, 2011 AT 12:02 PM

CJ MEDEVAC

MECHANIC
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IMMA JEEP KINDA FELLER

I HAVE 2, A '77 AND A '46 (I DO THE OLDER STUFF!)

I DO NOT HAVE A WIRE DIAGRAM FOR YOUR TRUCK--PROBABLY NO ONE ELSE HERE EITHER!

I RECKON YOU DO NOT HAVE CHILTON'S OR HAYNES' REPAIR MANUAL W/ WIRE DIAGRAMS? I HAVE 'EM FOR OLD JEEPS, THINGS MAY BE SIMILAR.

IMMA GUESSING, YOU HAVE A FLOOR STARTER SWITCH, A GENERATOR AND A POINTS IGNITION SYSTEM? 12 VOLT SYSTEM?

HOW "ORIGINAL" IS YOUR BABY?...HAS IS BEEN "UPDATED" OVER THE YEARS, MAKING IT MORE USER FRIENDLY? I DID THIS WITH MY '46, AS I HAD TO START FROM SCRATCH, WITH THE WIRING AS I RESURRECTED HIM FROM NOTHINGNESS (SEE PICS OF "WILLY", BOTTOM OF THIS LINK)

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/1996-chevrolet-s-10-humming-grinding-sound-rear-end

DO YOU KNOW YOUR WAY AROUND UNDER THE HOOD?

DO YOU HAVE/ KNOW HOW TO USE A VOLTMETER?

I WILL ATTEMPT TO HELP YOU....MORE BETTER EXACT "WHAT'S HAPPENS, OR DON'T HAPPEN INFO", MIGHT HELP ME ON THIS END.

YOUR RIG HAS THE SAME "BASIC WIRING" AS ANY OLD VEHICLE....JUST THE WAY IT IS RUN THRU SWITCHES OR COMPONENTS ON IT'S WAY TO IT'S DESTINATION MAY VARY.

I'M GONNA SEND YOU ANOTHER LINK, DISREGARD THE CRAP YOU DO NOT HAVE!

CONCENTRATE ON THE WIRE ASPECT OF THIS...YOU MAY NOT HAVE A "OLD STYLE" SOLENOID, BUT THE WIRES THAT GO TO MY SOLENOID, DO GO SOMEWHERE ON YOUR TRUCK. LIKE THE POSITIVE BATTERY AND STARTER CABLE, MAY RUN TO YOUR FLOOR STARTER...ACCESSORIES MAY ALSO GO THERE TOO.

SORTA FOLLOW THEM OUT, TEST WHAT YOU CAN, GO THRU THE MOTIONS OF CLEANING AND TIGHTENING CONNECTIONS

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/1992-ford-ranger-wont-start

I'M GOING NO WHERE...I MAY BE SLOW, AND I MAY SORTA BE "COUNTRY-FIED" OR "RURAL-IZED", BUT AFTER RECEIVING THIS "DOSE" OF ME, IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO STILL TRY TO ASSIST, LET ME KNOW.....PLEASE INCLUDE ANSWERS TO MY QUESTIONS, AND ANYTHING ELSE, IN GREAT DETAIL, THAT MIGHT HELP ME, ON MY END

THE MEDIC

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