Electrical Short

[badboy47]

I have a 96 4X4 Ext cab Dakota, I have been having some strange problems. Idle, trans shifting, loss of electrical power. I decided to check the Electrical system. Going through the steps it said to disconnect the neg terminal and hook a test light from the neg cable to battery terminal, if it lit I had a short or bad alternator. Checked out alternator it is good, so I started pulling fuses to try and find the short. I pulled all of the fuses (all but the relays) and the light never went out. Anyone have any ideas where I can look next?

I am ready to shoot both my trucks

[slantsixness]

somebody told you WHAT?
They're smoking something.

If the truck runs when the battery is disconnected (after you started it...) then your alternator, should be good.

Take a voltmeter, connect to the battery (not a test light) and it should measure at least 12.2 Volts with the truck off. Now turn the lights on... it should still be no lower than 12 Volts. If it drops down to 11 or 10, with just the lights on, then your battery is bad, which can cause your problems.

Now, start the engine, read the voltage again. It should now be about 14.2-14.6 Volts. If not, rev the mottor slightly off idle and see if it comes up. If it still doesn't, then regardless that it runs and your alternator is putting out "something", your alternator is probably bad. Take it off and have it tested at a store (where they can test it better) and see.

If it's not that, then look for a bad fuse link in the wiring harness (wires with little capsules built into them. A service manual would help you find them.

Good luck,

Slantsixness

[badboy47]

I had already checked my alternator, I was looking for a short. The service manual is were I read about the test light. It was not to test the alternator, only for trying to locate short.

Thanks