Grounding issues?

[C4vem4n]

Hi all, I just purchased a 1994 ford explorer xlt. Bought it for my boy. Has had a rebuilt engine and some led lights installed, we had an issue with it dying randomly. But only when you come to a stop or slow down, got home started troubleshooting. The ac compressor was kicking off and on every couple seconds with the ac off, I unplug it and the truck ran smooth and great, plug it in and truck dies? So I was thinking maybe a short in the compressor. Left it unplugged and drove maybe 20 miles around with no issues. My wife takes it around the block last night, comes back and parks it starts turns it off, forgot to roll the window up, try’s to start it has nothing, no power to anything but battery is good, 12.8v. Wake up this morning go out starts right up. Drive about 5 miles dies in the middle of the road with nothing again, no lights no anything, so I am trying to trace grounds right now and need help finding all the main ones that could cause this issue.

 

[410Fortune]

Sounds like the battery is finding a ground through the ac compressor

The battery - terminal should have three wires on it, one goes to the frame and engine
Block the other goes to the radiator support. Basically the negative side of the battery needs to provide ground to the drivetrain (engine block) the frame and the body sheet metal

 

[C4vem4n]

Yes, those are all attached good, I did find a broken ground wire under the dash in the drivers kick panel, the nut and post is there with a piece of broken wire. Any idea where this one goes? I am researching schematics but not the best at it lol

 

[410Fortune]

That ground feeds lots of things but mainly the drivers door and I believe the fuel tank sensors and pump

 

[C4vem4n]

Ok, so what would you suggest to check first? Cause it was running fine and just died and now I have no power to any thing, my fuses are good. Battery is good, main engine grounds are good

 

[410Fortune]

No power to the dash?
Ignition switch is suspect
Battery terminals are suspect
Mega fuse suspect (if you have one)

What does battery test at? Should be 12.2v or so

 

[FordFlintrock]

One more vote to check ignition switch for burning from excess heat.