No power at all not even buzzing or dash lights

[kdurham1982]

I have a 1982 sierra stepside with the 250 v6 in it that I’m getting ready for a 350 ci swap. I went to move it one day and hooked battery up and it started smoking from the firewall/ wiring harness area. After that I had no power to ignition, no dash lights, no buzzing noise, no crank, nothing at all. I have replaced the ignition lock, have switch otw, and have cleaned up some grounds. I jumped the starter to solenoid other day to make sure battery had juice, starter was good and motor still turned over and it did. Any ideas on what could be my problem, I have a feeling the switch isn’t going to do it but it needed to be replaced regardless by the looks of it. Any info would be appreciated, thanks.

 

[CalSgt]

There’s a few fuse-able links you should check.

A few at the connector on the firewall just to the left of the brake booster. IIRC these are the ones that feed the fuse box and ign. circuits

Also I think there’s one down on the starter solenoid and one one the line to the alternator.

Someone will chime in on exactly where they’re at. I just got done hacking up my harness but can’t remember exactly where they’re all at.

 

[kdurham1982]

Calsgt thanks man

 

[kdurham1982]

Believe I found my problem I found this spliced on not so good. What’s the best way too replace this do I need the whole knew wire or can I splice it with connectors

 

[kdurham1982]

And also could that cluster on the fire wall being so dirty cause this problem

 

[75gmck25]

Based on personal experience, you hooked the battery terminals up backwards. It’s easy to do since both original GM battery cables are black.

The smoke was probably from the fusible link that runs downward from the junction on the firewall next to the brake booster. The link wire can burn through internally and still look like the wire is connected.

It’s a 14 gauge fusible link to protect a 10 gauge wire. Most parts store sell the replacement as a “GM fusible link”, in the Help! section (or maybe Dorman) of carded parts.

 

[Matt69olds]

If the cables were connected backwards, it’s almost a certainty the diodes in the alternator will be junk.

 

[CalSgt]

And also could that cluster on the fire wall being so dirty cause this problem

Your bulkhead connector on the firewall actually looks really nice. They’re all dirty and gross from the black gooey sealant they use.

 

[CalSgt]

Believe I found my problem I found this spliced on not so good. What’s the best way too replace this do I need the whole knew wire or can I splice it with connectors

Where was the one loose wire connected? Did it go to the bare wire coming off the starter solenoid?

 

[kdurham1982]

UPDATE: I cleaned some ground up and spliced in some fuseable links and now I have power to dash and everything again however, now when I turn the engine over and it starts as soon as it starts it blows the fuse in the fuseable link I just installed. The fuse near the starter is fine but the one by the solenoid keeps blowing every time. Any ideas on what it is now?

 

[BadBowtie]

 

[Lift3d1]

did you solve your problem?

Im having same issue. is there/was there a short in the wire from the positive battery terminal to the starter solenoid?

any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Lift3d1]

there are 2 wires on 2 terminals on the solenoid. there is a fat terminal and a small terminal. the fat terminal has a single eyelet connector that has 2 fusible wires connected to it. one wire leads out to a connector to a single wire. the other fusible wire goes to a connector that has 2 10 guage wires connected to it.

the small terminal has a single wire and on my truck there is NO fusible link on this terminal. Should there be??

i replaced the other connections. i replaced the fusible link near the fuse block. i removed both grounds off the negative battery terminal and cleaned and replaced them. Nothing i did today improved my circumstances. When i put the key in the light comes on dash and then when i turn the key it clicks and everything goes black.

I took the starter in and had it tested and they tell me the solenoid/starter is good. i could hear it activate/run.

i replaced the neutral safety switch. made no difference.

Does anyone have any suggestions for me to get my daily driver running again?

 

[Snoots]

the small terminal has a single wire and on my truck there is NO fusible link on this terminal. Should there be??

No.

 

[Jgonick]

When i put the key in the light comes on dash and then when i turn the key it clicks and everything goes black.

Could be a short in the ignition wire (purple wire) Or possibly a bad ignition switch on the column. - when everything goes “black” is a fuse or fusible link blown? If so which one. If nothing is blown- I would start with checking the battery connections (like you did) and probably replace the battery cables if they are old.