Truck shuts off when anything electrical is used

1983 CHEVROLET 2500
140,000 MILES
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INDIANONBASE2
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
So i have the truck listed above c20 4 speed 305. when i turn on any thing electrical it shuts off the truck. Example of head lights or turn signal. I have been trying to solve this for many months and am just stumped. The battery and alternator are brand new. The truck can sit for months and i can fire it right up but i can't use anything electrical. And yes this includes my brakes because of the brake lights. I am completely stumped.
Jul 30, 2019 at 3:44 PM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 110,175 POSTS
Welcome to 2CarPros.

It sounds like a ground issue. Check the main ground on the engine and any body grounds to make sure they are clean and tight. Also, there is a brown wire that comes from the distributor and is ground for the control module/distributor. It has a splice in it and a sheet metal ground. See the attached picture. Locate that ground and check it too.

Let me know what you find.

Joe
Jul 31, 2019 at 6:40 PM