Help, no power!

[turner16]

1980 gmc 3/4 ton
been off the road since may but always started when needed to. Last Sat I drove it around the block.
Today she is dead! no power inside the cab. I have voltage at the battery and at the ground on the Alt. I have cleaned all the connections, and checked all the fuses.
I have been installing power windows and locks but that shouldn't bugger anything up, right? No radio, no seat belt lights. I have a standard tranny with an automatic shifter, I know the neutral safety switch could be the problem with the start but not the radio?

Any advice would be great.
Funny thing is I just put insurance back on it.

[turner16]

Also checked the fusable link, power on both sides.

[john_p]

ground goes to the block, you checked that.. now look at the cable that connects the block back to the frame.. usually a single wire from the fire wall to the intake manifold..

[crazeetxn]

Originally Posted by turner16

1980 gmc 3/4 ton
I have voltage at the battery and at the ground on the Alt.

Fuses may be good but do you have power at the fuse box? Wondering if since you got the power windows hooked up if something maybe didn't ground out the box???

[turner16]

I'll check both of the above. I also think the connection to the starter may be weak? Could that be the problem?

[crazeetxn]

If you don't have any juice at all, I'm going back to the battery and cleaning the terminals and inspecting the wires as well.

We just put the motor back in my son's truck. Wanted to turn over but the battery was a little weak. Got it jumped and it fired right up. Let it idle for a few to check everything out. He killed it and there was absolutely no juice left. The fact that yours sat for a while may have drained your battery. Run it up to the parts store and have them test if for you.

[turner16]

Wow I am frustrated now! I have power at the starter, I know cause I have just gotten a shock. I took the starter out and cleaned the connectors and put it back in. still no power anywhere in the cab, radio, windows locks seat belt buzzer. I looked at the body ground and it looked clean. I have re cleaned the battery terminals and since I have power at the starter that tells me that I at least have a good Positive connection (right?)

I HATE electrical! Any other suggestions? I tow it to the shop on Monday, but I keep thinking it is a simple thing?

[turner16]

I have head lights. So there should be no issues with the battery connection.

[turner16]

Problem solved. It was the wires that feeds the ignition from the starter.

[crazeetxn]

Glad you got it fixed and didn't have to take it to the mechanic. So was the wire fried or a bad connection from the starter to the fuse box?

[turner16]

The wire was just siting in the heat shield tube. It was not the one that went to the fuse box as I had lights still. it was the ignition wire.