Detroit Series 60

[MobileHomie]

I have a '94 KW with the series 60, 450 hp. Only had it a couple of months and the truck doesn't get driven much. I left the CB on and drained the batteries. When I put jumper cables on it (I should mention that I crossed the cables the first time...) I see the dash lights are on, I check every switch and cannot turn them off, finally I pulled the breaker from the panel. While on the jumper cables (batteries only 3 ~ 4 months old) I turned the key on, the overhead idiot lights all came on, then some went out, as usual, "air" and "oil" lights stayed lit as usual, however the "engine fan" light stayed on as well. Engine cranked over strong but would not start.

Thoughts???

Thanks in advance Drivers.

 

[mndriver]

This has nothing to do with it being a series 60.


It has everything to do with it being a kw.


Something is shorted. I wish you luck finding it. Personally, I'd start pulling fuses and killing circuits to find it.

 

[MobileHomie]

mndriver, thanks for the response!

But please do tell, how I am I supposed to correct a no start condition by pulling fuses? I am looking for some direction here...

Maybe there is a "Tech Section" here that I missed?

 

[mndriver]

because.....

You said you left the CB radio on.
You said the dash lights are on regardless of turning switches on / off.
when the key is turned on, the overhead light comes on.

Something is causing a ground or short in the chassis somewhere.

Why and where?

 

[Duck]

Ok I'd tend to think something was wrong before you left the CB on.

Unless you have a big super hopped up CB, or you left it on for 2 weeks or something, it shouldn't have drained batteries that are only 3-4 months old.

If it's cranking but not starting, something's not getting power.

When multiple circuits share a ground connection, and that ground fails, really confusing & strange things happen. I'd start hunting for corroded ground wires, starting with the one that grounds the engine to the frame.

Beyond that, and pulling fuses out one at a time like mndriver suggested, I'd have no other suggestion other than to find a good old school mechanic with some electrical diagnostics skills.

 

[MobileHomie]

because.....

You said you left the CB radio on.
You said the dash lights are on regardless of turning switches on / off.
when the key is turned on, the overhead light comes on.

Something is causing a ground or short in the chassis somewhere.

Why and where?

Yes, the radio was on, the overhead light being the "idiot lights"

Thanks man, bad grounds can make ya chase yer tail!

 

[MobileHomie]

Ok I'd tend to think something was wrong before you left the CB on.

Unless you have a big super hopped up CB, or you left it on for 2 weeks or something, it shouldn't have drained batteries that are only 3-4 months old.

If it's cranking but not starting, something's not getting power.

When multiple circuits share a ground connection, and that ground fails, really confusing & strange things happen. I'd start hunting for corroded ground wires, starting with the one that grounds the engine to the frame.

Beyond that, and pulling fuses out one at a time like mndriver suggested, I'd have no other suggestion other than to find a good old school mechanic with some electrical diagnostics skills.

So you don't think it has to to with crossing the Jumper Cables? Frying some computer stuff? I will be checking grounds!

 

[Duck]

So you don't think it has to to with crossing the Jumper Cables? Frying some computer stuff? I will be checking grounds!

I really don't know.

But checking grounds is something you can do yourself.
Checking to see if you fried the computer stuff requires a laptop with an expensive proprietary software program installed on it. Rule out the grounds before paying a dealer to look at it.

 

[AlexG]

I didn't read most of that, but there should be some fuses by the battery. Remove them, give it 10 mins and put them back it, crank it, it should start, if not, something got shorted out during the mixed up. Those dudes are like a safe for the ECM.

 

[MobileHomie]

Thanks for the responses guys! I have the batteries disconnected now and charging them. I am hoping you are right AlexG and the ECM is ok. Find out later this afternoon...