I killed my bronco :(

[rydog1130]

So I killed my bronco tonight....took it for about a 5 mile drive and noticed my fuel guage and alt gauges weren’t working. My dad and I decided to head back and fuel up just in case it was reading right. Anyways, while I was sitting in the driveway it was starting to get dark so I decided to turn my lights on. I hit the switch and noticed they were flickering like a fluorescent light when the ballast goes. My interior lights were ok like my shift indicator lights so I turned them off. I then decided to see if my cigar lighter still worked and when I pushed it in my heater fan slowed, and my engine died. I quickly pulled the lighter back out and tried to restart my truck...nothing. My radio still works, the cigar lighter believe it or not still works, Heater fan switch still works. When I go to turn the ignition the speaker makes a buzzing noise and that’s it. I checked all my fuses and they are all good. I’m thinking that my ignition switch and light switch got shorted out or corroded on the way back from super Cel. My soft top didn’t do the greatest job of keeping the water out like I hoped. My cigar lighter is powered by the accessory power wire and not the constant power wire. I used my constant power wire labeled cigar to run my radio because it needs constant power. I wanted my cigar lighter to only work when the key is on. Anyways, your thoughts are welcome, I’m guessing bad Chinese switches....

 

[Slowleak]

I killed my bronco

The first thing I check when weird electrical stuff happens is the negative battery cable. Particularly where it connects at the engine block. Bad grounds can really mess with things.......

 

[DirtDonk]

Yes, and I would really check the battery voltage as it sits right now. If it's below 12 it's a bet your alternator was not charging. Do you have a volt-meter and was it reading anything?
It's a start anyway. You have that big hydraulic pump being worked, so I assume it's the largest draw on the electrical system at this point? Could any of it's wiring be effected?

Good luck. Give us any more info you can too, such as what modifications you've made. Maybe even some pics?
Yeah, that's it, some pics! We need pics!;D

Paul

 

[DirtDonk]

And hey, look on the good/great side. It made it to the party and back!
It just waited until things had calmed down to mess with you a bit.

Paul

 

[sanndmann3]

Saw the title and feared the worst... Fire or accident was. 1st thing that came to mind. Glad it wasn't that!
Sounds more like a flesh wound. Hope you make a quick recovery.
Checking grounds is good advice and great place to start.

 

[rydog1130]

Yes, and I would really check the battery voltage as it sits right now. If it's below 12 it's a bet your alternator was not charging. Do you have a volt-meter and was it reading anything?
It's a start anyway. You have that big hydraulic pump being worked, so I assume it's the largest draw on the electrical system at this point? Could any of it's wiring be effected?

Good luck. Give us any more info you can too, such as what modifications you've made. Maybe even some pics?
Yeah, that's it, some pics! We need pics!;D

Paul

I’ll give it a check, the seat has its own separate power source wired directly to the battery protected by a 20 amp fuse. The seat system still works great as I used it to get out of the truck lol. It’s odd...turn signals work, heater fan switch works, iginition accessory position works, cigar lighter believe it or not works, just no headlights, fuel guage, or alt guage and not even a click on the starter when I go to turn it over...I’ll try to isolate the circuit by pulling all the fuses, and checking the ground.

 

[rydog1130]

Saw the title and feared the worst... Fire or accident was. 1st thing that came to mind. Glad it wasn't that!
Sounds more like a flesh wound. Hope you make a quick recovery.
Checking grounds is good advice and great place to start.

Yeah that was my fear too when the car died I’m like man did I just smoke a wire???

 

[swmrdrn]

Unlikely that it is anything major. Although major has different meanings to different people.

 

[chuck1022]

Broncos never really die...they just rest a while

 

[Dannyboy71]

Broncos never really die...they just rest a while

Ha ha too funny....... yes mine has rested quite a bit over the last five years!

 

[Bonefizz]

Mine's downright lazy!

 

[sprdv1]

Dammit man... LOL

So I killed my bronco tonight....took it for about a 5 mile drive and noticed my fuel guage and alt gauges weren’t working. My dad and I decided to head back and fuel up just in case it was reading right. Anyways, while I was sitting in the driveway it was starting to get dark so I decided to turn my lights on. I hit the switch and noticed they were flickering like a fluorescent light when the ballast goes. My interior lights were ok like my shift indicator lights so I turned them off. I then decided to see if my cigar lighter still worked and when I pushed it in my heater fan slowed, and my engine died. I quickly pulled the lighter back out and tried to restart my truck...nothing. My radio still works, the cigar lighter believe it or not still works, Heater fan switch still works. When I go to turn the ignition the speaker makes a buzzing noise and that’s it. I checked all my fuses and they are all good. I’m thinking that my ignition switch and light switch got shorted out or corroded on the way back from super Cel. My soft top didn’t do the greatest job of keeping the water out like I hoped. My cigar lighter is powered by the accessory power wire and not the constant power wire. I used my constant power wire labeled cigar to run my radio because it needs constant power. I wanted my cigar lighter to only work when the key is on. Anyways, your thoughts are welcome, I’m guessing bad Chinese switches....

 

[rydog1130]

Unlikely that it is anything major. Although major has different meanings to different people.

yeah im hoping its just 2 - $15 dollar switches and a new voltage regulator...

 

[rydog1130]

Broncos never really die...they just rest a while

ha ha.....

 

[rydog1130]

UPDATE: I threw a charger on the battery and vehicle started right up. I’m going to check all grounds and do a retest to see if my cigar lighter has any gremlins. Thanks for all your input! If it dies again gotta find what’s draining the battery, alternator is brand new along with everything else. Maybe the direct lead to the power transfer seat is causing a drain? I put a break in the circuit so it can only run when the door is open.

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Good luck RyDog, you got this.....