retired farmer
Well-known Member
Was coming back from flailing cornstalks two weeks ago with the 1986 Ford 250 pickup, 460 with automatic transmission when the headlights dimmed several times and then stayed on bright. Dash needle never moved from center. Did it two nights in a row. Took the alternator off and had it checked, it was good. Took it to our COOP the next morning to have them replace both battery cables. They did and it seemed to start a little better. Lights dimmed several more times that night coming back from the field. Took it to back to COOP and told them to check the electrical system. Told them you had to lift up on the steering wheel a little to get the ignition to work. Called the next day and said they couldn't find anything. I told them to replace the headlight switch and fix the four way flashers. Went to pick it up and the battery was dead and whoever worked on must have been mad because they couldn't figure out how to start it and managed to break the shift lever casting in half so you couldn't shift the transmission. Left it set there for a week until I could find another good used steering column. Put it in and the battery was dead again. They jumped it and checked the battery, said it was good. Drove it back to the house and went to start it the next morning, battery dead again. Jumped it and it started right up. Went to start it yesterday and it was dead again. I pulled the positive cable and put a volt meter between it and the solenoid and have about a five volt draw with everything shut off. I am not much of an electrician when it comes to vehicle electrical problems. Anyone have an idea what might be drawing the battery down so quickly? I did find one body bolt laying on top of the air cleaner that they had taken out of something and didn't put back. Haven't had time to see where if might go. I know the battery and alternator are good. Thanks.