Let me first say that I know next to nothing about engines and how to fix them... That being said, I have a problem with my Raider that I am hoping is an easy fix. It has only run a few times in the past year (and has needed jump started the last two times). I went to start it a couple of weeks ago, and nothing. Stone dead. I figured I could jump it. Wrong. It did not get any power. Did not turn over, there was no audible "click" when I turned the ignition, nothing was getting power (lights, radio, fan, etc). I pulled the battery and all of the cells were full. I hooked it up to a trickle charger, and it seems to have taken a charge (although it took 2.5 days). Cleaned terminals and reinstalled battery. Same thing... Stone dead. Is there an easy way to check the battery? If I hooked it up to a volt meter and there was even a little juice, it should read 12 volts, but I have no idea how many amps? Is this right. Is there an ignition fuse somewhere that I am missing? If there is, how could that have blown by sitting all these months?
What else could this be???
Keep in mind... I'm an idiot when it comes to these types of things! Thank you for any suggestions.
Greg

most auto parts stores will check your battery out for you, and even charge it up, take it out and bring it in. Can start your process of elimination there.

A 87 Raider is almost 20 years old. They need lots of TLC so you better study up <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

If it has been sitting dead for long, you probbally have a dead batt. Go pick up a new one, clean your terminals, and that should give you a good basis for fixing the rest of your electrical problems.

After you have gotten the battery checked on the battery cables are another place to look. I had similar symptoms no click no power etc, was because the battery cable had grounded itself to the engine block. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Gas could be bad, fuel filter clogged. Trucks that don't run....don't run <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ignore.gif" alt="" />

A voltmeter placed between battery (+) and (-) should read ~13.6VDC if it's fully charged. You can't read Amps if no current is flowing, and even if it is flowing, you'd need an inductance pickup ammeter or a shunt to be able to read amperage - so don't worry about amps.... that's a job for an electrical shop or well-equipped mechanic.

If the battery has any life at all, you should at least hear the solenoid switch try to engage.... if you don't, check the main fuses near the battery and the sub-fusible link that supplies B+ to the ignition switch circuit.

Frank

if you don't, check the main fuses near the battery and the sub-fusible link that supplies B+ to the ignition switch circuit.

Frank [/quote]

I did not see any fuses near the battery... Also, what do you mean by the sub-fusible link that supplies B+ to the ignition switch circuit??

I had the battery checked out... it was fine. I can get the snow plow lights to work as they are directly wired to the battery. If there is a ground problem I suspect that even these snow plow lights would not operate. I am still getting zero battery to the rest of the vehicle... no lights, radio, fan, etc. There is defintely an interruption somewhere. Is there an easy way to check the ignition?
Thanks again for any help.

Here's a picture:



See the box directly in front of the battery with the cover that's loose? The blue, green and pink things you see in the box are main fuses. Now look just in front of the main fuses and you'll see 3 red wires that are in a box that has no cover (it should have one)... those are sub-fusible links - wires that plug into the box and act as fuses. Check all of those.

[EDIT] The above picture is for a 3.0L - I see you have a 2.6L - don't know if your model has the same fuse location, but it may be similar - maybe a 2.6L owner can shed some light on the location(s). [EDIT]

Frank

I have a '94 Monty 3.0L. My starter went at about 180,000 mi. You might take a look at it if you are sure that battery is charged.