Still No Electrical!!!

[VBVA]

Battery was dieing, so I replaced it yesterday. New battery won't even start the Ex, so I bought new cables today and just finished installing those with the new battery, now I don't get any lights, not even the one under the hood! What is wrong with my Ex?!?!

 

[Alec]

will it jump?

 

[VBVA]

haven't tried that, it started raining about an hour ago. will that do it? I get no lights. Before I replaced the cables I could get lights, but no start...

 

[Alec]

always try jumping to see if that helps with any starting issue you think may be electrical.

Though, If you get no lights at all even with the truck off then I'd say either something is wrong with a major ground line, the wires, or the battery is flat.

 

[VBVA]

I think my problem rests in the negative cable. They gave me one that was listed on the computer as being a Ford Explorer cable, turns out it looks completely different than the one in my Ex now. The one in my Ex has one thick wire (4 ga. that goes to the engine block) one thin one (grounded on fenderwell to left of battery) and one thin wire that is attached to some crazy wire harness that continues down the fenderwell behind the fuse box. The one autozone gave me only has two wires, a thick 4 ga. for the ground and then a wire clip like you see on speakers. So, I just left my old one on because it didn't look to bad. You think if I replaced it with the one autozone gave me it woudl work even though it doesn't have the same amount of wires?

 

[Alec]

The thick wire should actually go to the frame.

Why not go ahead and use the new one to go to the frame, and then make yourself 2 other lengths for the other 2 wires. Come-on, I know you can do it!

 

[VBVA]

This wire harness looks pretty nasty though and the short wire on the new neg cable is too short to cut.

 

[Alec]

Then go to Autozone with your old one and tell them they were wrong! They'll make you up a new one exactly like your old one.

 

[VBVA]

I'm gonna have to do that... this is really frustrating...

 

[VBVA]

Just ran some continuity tests on the whole system and everything was good. What is wrong is beyond me and I am sick of standing in the cold workin on this. Gonna get it towed to the shop tomorrow. Unless y'all got some good ideas.

 

[Alec]

ignition switch?

 

[VBVA]

Originally posted by Alec
ignition switch?

Possibly, its goin to the shop tomorrow. I don't have the patience for this anymore.

But would the lights come on even if the ignition switch was bad?

 

[Alec]

Honestly, I'm stumped.

I'm sorry I wasn't able to help more.

 

[VBVA]

Called the tow truck this mornin and was just preppin to Explorer for the ride. I connected everything up and noticed the light under the hood came on. So, I turned the key on the ignition and the thing fired right up! Only thing is, it was makin a horrendous noise in the engine. A really loud screaching. So, I got it towed away anyways cause I don't have any time to work on it. Guys are gonna look it and replace my solenoid too...