electrical help.....no power

My OT (71 Torino) had a bearing noise in the alternator...replaceed the alternator, easy switch...replaced the ground battery cable at the same time because it looked bad, (had a clamp on end etc).
Now I have no power except for the idiot lights when I hit the key, no headlights, no radio, of course no start, nothing.... no click.
Checked the battery, it is charged, test light shows power from bat to solonoid, power from hot side of solonoid to alt post, another small wire looks like a fuseable link type, has power before and after the little black bulge which I think is the link. Even with battery charger running I have no lights etc. It seems like a fuseable link or a master fuse.......but I have no idea where else to look or check. any ideas? thanks Dale

 

anybody?

 

When the batt. cable was replaced did you make sure the part it bolts to was clean and paint/rust free? Also, when you took the old one off were there any other ground wires hooked to the same spot that may have been left loose? I know its simple **** but thats what normally gets me..

 

I even put the old cable back on, makes no difference....I used my test probe to check gnd at the connection, it has gnd. Tha alt has power to the main post, that is one fusable link wire, the other wire is marked fuseable link and has power thru the link......the alt should not effect the starting or the headlights......or the radio....anyone know is there another link k

 

I'm with Iceberg 460 on this one, it's likely the ground cable. Since the cable is new, it might help to scuff the negative post and the terminal with a battery terminal wire brush to ensure a good connection. Also clean and sand the other end, where it attaches to the block.

I'm not sure if you're car has a master fuse, I add them to older cars more often than I find factory ones. if you accidentally shorted the battery during installation, it's likely it would have blown it. Maybe find a wiring diagram online?

Good luck!
Art.

 

Thats very true too, on a lot of the older cars the fusable link is the master fuse for the system. You may wanna try replacing the link. I know you said you have voltage on both sides of it but on rare occasions I have seen fuses and fusable links that will still allow full voltage to flow, even after they pop, they just allow little or no amps to p***.

 

Have you checked the fuses in the fuse box? How about looking to make sure that you have landed all the wires on the alternator; I don't recall if the '71 has plugs or wires.

 

Make sure the battery posts are clean,the pos wire that go to soinode there should be power wires, wirers are for lights ect make sure they are clean and tight.

 

Are you sure that you have a good ch***y ground? My OT 1968 Firebirds had a ground wire from the battery to the fender. If that came loose, I would lose power , the car would die and no power. Try putting a jumper cable from neg on battery and clamp to fender or body.

 

Just for giggles, clamp some jumper cables to the block and other end to the frame. See what happens.

 

Thanks guys..I found it....the gnd cable had a little clip that was screwed to the fender well. upon a closed look, the clip is wrapped around the uninsulated cable providing the body gnd.....kind of a hokey method I think. Rapid whippit had the answer. The whole body gnd is a sheet metal screw to the inner fender.
I ran a new gnd wire from the neg post to the inner fender and I've got power. I guess Ford had a better idea. thanks for all the help, I figured it was a gnd biy never thought of this answer. Dale