Help! Battery went in Backwards...now no power at all.

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lcnmbronco

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Ok...I am brand new to the bronco world...just got a rust free clean running 1986 with a 5.0 and auto. Got bearings redone due to clunking during low speed...still does it so now I think it is the u joints. When I went to start it, it was dead so I got a new battery...was dumb and in a hurry...was hooked up for maybe 3 seconds and I knew what I did so I quickly removed the cable....now nothing. I replaced the solenoid, battery is ok...but absolutely no power. No lights, no anything. All the fusible links right off the solenoid are good.....ugh....ideas? HELP!

 

Bully Bob

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Hi & welcome..!!

"When I went to start it, it was dead so I got a new battery..."

This is suspicious., could be the prob. was there B4 the cross-wire issue.

Could be something as simple as a bad battery cable/cable connection.

 
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lcnmbronco

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Thanks for the welcome! It started and ran.....battery was old and corroded from previous owner. Barely turned over. I tried to direct wire the fuseable links just to see if one of the 4 off of the starter solenoid went bad. No go....checked battery voltage...its fine...what other fuses should I look for? Ugh....love the new bronco but this is frustrating. I can get it to crank by hot wiring the solenoid but no lights, nothing.

 

miesk5

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yo, Welcome!

Fusible Links:

S Location in Wiring Diagram in an 86 5.0; Fusible Link S, Blue, 20 gauge to the fuel pump relay

Source: by Ryan M (FireGuy50) at http://fordfuelinjection.com/files/bronco_1986_103.gif

B Location in Wiring Diagram in an 86, Fusible Link B, Yellow wire to the fuel pump relay (splices into red wire) & EEC relay and onto the EEC (computer)

86-bronco-wiring-diagram-section-2.jpg

& Link Green, 14 gauge from battery to alternator in same diagram as above

Source: by Xris at http://www.supermotors.net/registry/media/648663_1

Location pics (two) in an 86 (scroll down)

Check BROWN FUSIBLE LINK (HOT at ALL TIMES)to Ignition Switch - Yellow wire in diagram 86-bronco-wiring-diagram-section-1.jpg

Source: by Chris B (Blue, bronco boy) at http://chrisb.users.superford.org/Bronco/Misc/'>http://chrisb.users.superford.org/Bronco/Misc/

Site is down, temp I hope!

Starter/Relay, etc. Wiring Diagrams in an 86 & Ford truck

Source: by Agnem (The Moosestang) at http://community.webshots.com/album/202816966sObdCc

Unfortunately, these diagrams are not scanned well and I can view some colors and nomenclature only by using a keyboard w/built-in magnifier

I'll see if SuperMotors is back on line later for more diagrams.

Fuse Block Diagram in an 86 w/ Nomenclature

Source: by Steve83 (Steve, That dirty old truck) at http://www.supermotors.net/registry/media/830800

Electrical Symbols in an 86 from Electrical and Vacuum Troubleshooting Manual (EVTM) Partial

Source: by Ford via Chris B (Blue, bronco boy) at http://chrisb.users.superford.org/Bronco/Misc/1986_EVTSM_Page_04.jpg

Chris also has the Electrical and Vacuum Troubleshooting Manual (EVTM) Partial, Bronco for 86; Speed Control on pages 135-139, A/C & Heater on pages 140-145, Radio on pages 127-129

Source: by Ford via Chris B (Blue, bronco boy) at http://chrisb.users.superford.org/Bronco/Misc/

No Start Troubleshooting; "...First thing to check is wiring. Between the large posts of your starter relay should be a smaller post with a wire attached. This is the wire from your ignition switch through the Park/Neutral Safety Switch (NSS)/Manual Lever Position Sensor (MLPS), Or clutch safety switch on a manual trans, or NSS/MLPS with an AOD/E4OD, to the starter relay and the on to the starter solenoid (if equipped) and starter. Check this wire for cracks, open insulation, or anything that could possibly cause an open circuit. Next, check your upper ignition actuator. Find the ignition rod (on top of the column, running from the steering wheel down to the ignition switch at the base of the column) and make sure it's moving back and forth when you turn the key, through all positions. If it is, your upper actuator is probably not the problem. Lastly, check your ignition switch (again, at the base of the column). Manually push the switch back and forth through the different positions. Push it all the way forward (or down) and see if it will engage the starter. If it does, then your ignition rod is probably bent, which can be remedied quite easily. & If it's an auto, try starting in neutral or while pulling up on the lever while it's in park. If that works, look to the Park/NSS/MLPS. If it's a stick, check the clutch switch. You could try jumping from hot to the small terminal on the starter relay to test it's operation. Sometimes new ones are bad out of the box. If it won't turn over when jumped to the small terminal, you'll know that it's a starter relay issue (Bad part, bad ground or a bad starter. Check to see if da relay is tight to inner fender with no corrosion because the relay's body is ground path via inner fender). If it does turns over jumped to the small terminal, then you'll be looking for something in the small circuit that includes the ignition switch & the park/neutral safety switch (NSS/MLPS) Or clutch safety switch. There should be 12v running from the ignition switch, thru the NSS/MLPS, to the small terminal on the starter relay. Disconnect the small wire to the starter relay (So it doesn't start by surprise, I'd pull the coil wire too). With someone holding the key in the start position, you should be able to read 12v between any point on that small circuit & ground. When you find where you lose 12v, then you'll know where the issue is..."; MIESK5 EDIT; changed a few terms; Also, see Starter (@) Relay Jumping Image in 92-96 @ http://www.broncolinks.com/gallery_images/StarterRelayJumpinin92-96.JPG - Sewiw shows a remote start switch's Jumpers; you can use a small jumper; MIESK5 NOTE; from Ford EVTM; The Control Module (PCM) runs the pump{s} for one second when it receives an ignition- on signal. It also runs the pumps as long as it receives a PIP signal from the Hall-effect devices, it continues pump operation even after the key is released from START. If the PIP signals fall below 120RPM, the control module cuts off the signal to the fuel pump relay or the integrated relay control module. The pump will also run when the terminals of the fuel pump test connector are jumped. the Control module signals the pump when it receives a CRANK signal, and when the Control module gets PIP signals that the engine is running. the pump does not run if the PIP indicates the engine is not running even with ignition ON {except for that first one second}. Hopefully it could be a dead cell in da battery.

Source: by BigUgly88EB and ElKabong (Ken, El Kabong)

 
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lcnmbronco

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I will keep you guys posted. Had to head to Denver this week....but will be back checking out the bronco when I return. I just hope it is something simple! Does it matter the order the wires are on the battery terminal of the starter relay? I just put them back on but stacked back on top of each other like they were. The guy I bought the bronco from says the order DOES matter. This baffles me as I just can't understang why the order would matter when all the connectors are in contact with each other.

 
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lcnmbronco

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OK...still can't find the problem. I know its a fusible link...but can't find the correct one. I tested for conductivity....found a suspect one near the driver's side firewall as it feels like spaghetti but still has conductivity. A local mechanic told me it could still be bad. Here are the pics of it.

SAM_1058.JPG

 

miesk5

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yo,

OK, go back to the diagram I posted (by Xris) & test for power at the key points starting from Battery + to:

Starter relay;

Neutral Safety Switch (NSS)- mounted above the valve body on the driver's side of the transmission

This is one of Xris's diagrams again

Wiring Diagram in an 86 C6

86-bronco-wiring-diagram-section-1.jpg

Miesk5 NOTES; "...Red with Blue stripe - from IGN SW thru NSS to Starter Relay;

See Page 2, it shows Red/Lt Blu from Ignition Switch to NSS;

Black with Pink stripe - Could be PNK/BLK from NSS to BACK-UP LIGHTS

Purple with Orange stripe - PPL/ORN, based on Xris diagram is from Fuse 5 to BACK-UP SWITCH (NSS) [on page 2 of XRIS's Diagram)

Red/Lt Blu from Ignition Switch to NSS Red/Lt Blue from NSS to Starter Relay

b]Gry/Yel from NSS to EEC PIN # 30

READ RYAN'S INFO - DO NOT hook up the EFI to the Neutral Safety Switch That is for the start circuit, between the ignition switch and starter relay. If you put 12volts on pin 30 you risk frying some circuits on the computer!

 

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