Electrical Problem? Need Help, PLEASE
IslandLady
06-24-2005, 02:13 PM
'86 RAM250 van, slant six (225) :crying: This Island Lady is in deep Kim Chee.
I was heading into town (Kailua-Kona) when my left blinker light came on ... not blinking, but on solid. The blinker lever didn't work. I then saw that my gas gauge had dropped to zero (I just filled it before I left), my heat gauge was clear to the top, the oil gauge was clear to the top. I pulled over and my rear brakes were locked up and rolling smoke. I turned off the key, and the engine kept running. It finally shut off about two minutes later.
I popped the hood and checked the radiator first ... it was not overheated. Sat there for a few minutes trying to figure it out ... short in the steering column? In the dash? Why would the rear brake lock? Isn't that totally mechanical? Would it be a separate issue and just coincidence?
After sitting for 5 minutes or so I tried the key and it started right up. Drove home slowly while the instrument panel went from normal reading to crazy ones and back again. When I started up the mountain it began to run rough and lose power. Just barely made it home. I could feel the rear brake locking and releasing several times.
Now I'm stuck on the mountain; I have tools, but know next to nothing about electrical. Anyone got any advice? Please?? HEEEELLLPPPPP!!
IslandLady
I was heading into town (Kailua-Kona) when my left blinker light came on ... not blinking, but on solid. The blinker lever didn't work. I then saw that my gas gauge had dropped to zero (I just filled it before I left), my heat gauge was clear to the top, the oil gauge was clear to the top. I pulled over and my rear brakes were locked up and rolling smoke. I turned off the key, and the engine kept running. It finally shut off about two minutes later.
I popped the hood and checked the radiator first ... it was not overheated. Sat there for a few minutes trying to figure it out ... short in the steering column? In the dash? Why would the rear brake lock? Isn't that totally mechanical? Would it be a separate issue and just coincidence?
After sitting for 5 minutes or so I tried the key and it started right up. Drove home slowly while the instrument panel went from normal reading to crazy ones and back again. When I started up the mountain it began to run rough and lose power. Just barely made it home. I could feel the rear brake locking and releasing several times.
Now I'm stuck on the mountain; I have tools, but know next to nothing about electrical. Anyone got any advice? Please?? HEEEELLLPPPPP!!
IslandLady
frankendart
06-25-2005, 10:49 AM
I'd Check the Ground lead going to the engine block first. I experienced a similar problem, and that's what I found to be the cause.
fredjacksonsan
06-27-2005, 10:13 AM
Also, I've had of weird problems with a corroded positive side battery cable. Worth checking that out; I've had two vehicles that did very strange things until I replaced the positive cable.
IslandLady
06-30-2005, 02:14 AM
Thank you for the input gentlemen ... I'm pursuing the possibilities, even though I have still utterly failed to find the apparently-mythical "grounding strap" supposed to ground the block to the frame/firewall. I'll be hitchhiking 40-odd miles down to the coast this weekend for a new strap and new battery cables. (Ick)
IslandLady
IslandLady
fredjacksonsan
06-30-2005, 06:50 AM
Good luck; I'd offer a ride but I'm on the east coast. :icon16:
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