Truck shuts off when anything electrical is used

Tiny
INDIANONBASE2
  • MEMBER
  • 1983 CHEVROLET 2500
  • 140,000 MILES
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.
Tuesday, July 30th, 2019 AT 3:44 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 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
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Wednesday, July 31st, 2019 AT 6:40 PM

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