no electrical power in my 84 anny

[amj1967]

Hello, new here with an electrical issue. The car wouldn't start, so I had a friend try to jump start it. When we tried, I'm told that smoke came from the starter solenoid. I had the car towed home, fortunately only about 5 miles. So, I've replaced the battery (cleaning the cables first), the solenoid and the voltage regulator. There is no power at all in the car. I've double checked what was done and there are no blown fuses. Did I fry something else in the car? The alternator was replaced this summer. It has the 5.0 and 5 speed. Any ideas? Thanks, Andy

[86capri50]

Hello, new here with an electrical issue. The car wouldn't start, so I had a friend try to jump start it. When we tried, I'm told that smoke came from the starter solenoid. I had the car towed home, fortunately only about 5 miles. So, I've replaced the battery (cleaning the cables first), the solenoid and the voltage regulator. There is no power at all in the car. I've double checked what was done and there are no blown fuses. Did I fry something else in the car? The alternator was replaced this summer. It has the 5.0 and 5 speed. Any ideas? Thanks, Andy

My 1986 Capri did the same thing Check your ground cable at the engine block Make sure its CLEAN and making good contact.

Chris

[fgross2006]

Also check the ground to the ECM. If its not solid, the car wont start or run.

Should be a black wire grounded to the negative battery terminal. It pulls apart with male and female connectors. I had tried to clean mine and it made it worse so I mad a new straight run without the connector,

[Ray Dog]

The smoke come from the solenoid or from around the solenoid ?
If you cross the cables when jumping you could fry the fuse links that are near the solenoid
Ask me how I know,been there, fried that.

[JACook]

The most common fuse link to fry if the cables are crossed, is the heavy green-flag one on the battery cable
post of the starter relay. That link is between the battery and the rest of the electrical system, including the
alternator (which provides a direct short circuit to ground when the cables are crossed). Don't be surprised
once you get it running, that you now have an ex-alternator.

The ECU ground is not present on an '84 5-speed car, 'cause it doesn't have one.