Hey all, been away for a while...
Wednesday was driving along and the radio drops out and then immediately powers back up. Thought it was my radio wiring, figured I would get in there someday and solder the connections.
Today my GF goes out to start it, and there's no juice, no clock, no sign of electricity. Went out and just pumped the clutch for starters and it fired right up. Clock was reset, but it started normally. Might have rocked the truck while pumping the clutch enough to reconnect a short, or maybe something else.
I would first have guessed my clutch defeat button was going, but the clock wouldn't have reset. I'm going to visually trace everything I can this afternoon, but can anybody think of something obvious that I can try before paying for an electrical diagnosis? I have learned my lesson from previous issues with my 86, and I am planning on it eventually dying totally, so am going to handle this now.

BTW, Virginia people check out http://dbtestsite.tripod.com/

My old S-10 had intermitent total lost of electricity. Turned out to be a corroded battery terminal. I would start by thoroughly cleaning (wire brush) and tightening the battery connections.

Yep, sounds like your battery is dieing.

My voltmeter reads pretty high, why the battery?

It is just corrosion on the terminals or in the cables. When they do not get good contact, your alternator soley runs the truck. If you are listening to the radio, and there is a spike in power usage (bass hits, drums, etc.), the voltage regulator cannot react fast enough, and the radio loses power. If the battery was getting good contact, it would hold the juice above 12V long enough for the regulator to catch up.

When you go to start the truck, the juice just is not there. When you pumped the clutch, you rocked the truck ever so slightly, reconnecting the battery, and it starts fine.

Clean the terminals, lube them up, and see if this happens again. If it does, then replace the battery cables.

FWIW: Mine does the same, and I will be replacing my cables in 2 weeks when I do the rest of my "freshening up."

<small>[ June 27, 2003, 01:19 PM: Message edited by: DRTDEVL ]</small>

If the battery/cables don't do the trick, pull out the main fuse box(es, depending on set up) and check for corrosion there.

The battery is new, only receipt from last owner. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" />
Will remove and check the terminals for corrosion but at first sight they are totally clean, no sign of corrosion. May go ahead and replace the cables, get rid of that possibility then move down the system.
For what it's worth, no recurrence since, will hopefully buy time to find the prob. Thanx all! D!

I had a similar problem with my 87'.It was the starter kill switch on the alarm causing it.Hope you find it.

No Alarm installed, but the truck just did it to me today.
Had been driving around on and off casually for about 2 hours, stopped into Bob Evans and changed my mind. Turned key, engine turned once then stopped. Made sure depressed clutch fully, turned key, power in dash but no engine turn. turned key, clicking from front right, clock and lights fading. Quickly turned key, turned key, turned key, turned key, turned key, started normally. It occurs to that even though the batt is new, I have on several occasions used it to power the stereo for an hour or so and then started to recharge, might get the yellow top optima if batt tests bad.

Otherwise, any clues y'all?

Good to see you back on the board. If it makes you feel any better 2 of mine do the same. I strongly suspect cable corrosion and batery condition in that order. I think the elect. sys. on these trucks are very sensitive to V. drop.