Sweptline.ORG

Hello everyone!
Last night I pulled into a parking spot, when I pulled in I noticed I was getting some light flickering when turning the wheel.
I go to leave and have a complete electrical failure! Bad news!
I am however still able to turn the engine over by jumping the starter relay on the fender wall.
Now this has happened to me before where I just do that and then the system is restored. I tried that last night and again this morning but nothing.
The pickup is a 1970 W200 318 stock and no accessories beyond factory.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Ian

Besides the obvious fuses, I would be looking closely at fusible links (think they have these on a 70 sweptline). and the ballast resistor as my first stops.

I called AAA to have the rig towed back to my apartment. Went and got breakfast and a fresh can of copenhagen. came back, put the winch on my Suburban to drag it out of the parking spot. WHen I turned the ignition on to get it into gear I had full electrical power again.
In the past when this has happened i lose everything, not even headlights would work. But in the past jumping the points on the solenoid on the fender wall restored it. lastnight and this morning that did nothing. But leaving it alone for awhile fixed it. I'm so confused and frustrated!!

Have checked the battery ground wire ?

Check the 12 ga. (black probably) wire (main alternator power line to amp) at the firewall bulkhead connector for corrosion or burnt connector (both sides of the connector). I'd go with Earl's and Txas2step's comments also. Your main power line(12 ga.) maybe grounding against something before it even gets to the bulkhead connector. This thread may help....viewtopic.php?f=21&t=34977

Lay under the dash and pull gauges to look at every connection. Also, for kicks - check the nuetral safety wire at the trans if its an auto. That would not explain total failure but could mess with starting....

Txas2step wrote:Have checked the battery ground wire ?

to echo other comments it sounds like grounding problems to me.

Check the ignition switch?

Best guess is going to be the ammeter. The ammeter carries current through it that feeds most of the truck. Sometimes they get flaky and start to not pass current causing the symptoms you are having. Bypass the gauge by putting the wires from one stud on to the other and try it out. If you don't have power at the ammeter to begin with, check out the connections in the big plug in the firewall. Good luck, Erik