no start, lights going crazy

[BigDaveZJ]

Went to start the truck to go get somethin to eat, and when I turned the key the dome lights starting blinking, the dash was really dimly lit and I could hear some relays going crazy down in the dash. Wouldn't start, made clicky noises like a gasser does when the batt's dead and it needs a jump. Hooked up a good batt and same thing. When the relays go haywire after I try to start it, the Wait to Start light, Low Fuel light, Water in Fuel light, and the SES light all flash super fast just like the relay. Truck's dead in the water right now, and it's my daily driver. I don't have AE or anything like that to pull a code, and my Jeep is even more dead than the truck right now. Truck drove just fine all day today too . . . any ideas?? I originally thought CPS but everything else that's going on leads me to believe it's something more involved than that. Thanks!!

 

[dpantazis]

do you have a chip or tunes on your PCM?

 

[BigDaveZJ]

Nada, truck is bone stock performance mod wise. Got some gauges, a CB, and a brake controller.

 

[atk]

possibly could be a bad or loose ground somewhere....just an idea

 

[dpantazis]

bad CPS won't do that.

how old are you batteries? you may be due...

step one with electrical gremlins is make sure batteries are good.
check all the fuses and fusible links. make sure all relays under hood are seated.

then worry about what if's.

 

[bushpilot]

sounds like the batteries are TOO LOW...its happened to mine
for no apparent reason TWICE...i charged the batteries and its
been fine

ive had it sit for 8 or 10 days at the airport and it be just fine...
then itll sit at the house for 4 or 5 or more an not start...ive pulled
ALL the fuses over night and not been able to find any possible
drain....only happened twice in about 18months so its kinda hard
to trouble shoot.

 

[BigDaveZJ]

Okay, I THINK I've got it figured out. I pulled the turn/hazard lamp relay (that's according to the owner's guide, it has NOTHING to do with the turn or hazard lamps as they work just fine without the relay, but all interior lights stop working) because it was one of the relays freaking out. Grabbed a batt out of my wife's Jeep (the optima yellowtop in my Jeep was dead as a doornail) and it fired right up without the relay. So my theory is that relay is freaking out, causing a drain on the batt's that caused my no start. It may not necessarily be that relay, but possibly a ground that it shares or something, but the truck is now running. I pulled the pass side batt out of the truck (that's where my wife's optima red went) and it was able to start my wife's Jeep so her Jeep is now charging one of my batt's, well the truck may be charging the other one. My neighbors must be THRILLED at 16 cylinders and 12.5 liters of displacement idling in the driveway right now! (the exhaust on my wife's Jeep isn't stock either, but they're just lucky it's not my Jeep out there idling!!)

 

[BigDaveZJ]

As far as how old the batt's are too, I bought the truck in 9/06 and the batt's have manufacturer dates of 4/06 on them. I didn't put them in, but would assume that the P.O. did prior to selling the truck.

 

[bushpilot]

i DOUBT the batteries will charge @ idle....take 'em out and
run 'em at highway speed for 30 min. (or more).

 

[BigDaveZJ]

They're charged enough now to start the truck no problem. I pulled the suspect relay, which was quite warm to the touch as well after running around for 10 minutes, and hopefully it'll fire up in the morning. If not, I guess I just don't go to work tomorrow!!