need help, I don't really know where to start...
I think my truck has got an electrical short to ground or drain. It was parked for a few weeks, then the batteries were completely dead. The last few times I drove it, I noticed sometimes the radio stayed on when I shutdown. In hindsight, I should've checked other ignition-on things like wipers, but didnt, I just shut the radio off

So there was a good amount of corrosion on the battery terminals, I cleaned them off, and charged the batteries. The negative terminals were very loose, I need to get some new ends (where's a good source for batter terminals?). When I re-connected everything and before I started, I cycled the key off/on and found the radio was still coming on when the key was off. Oh well, I tried to start it...smoke came from the pass.-side battery + terminal, then something popped and I have no power anywhere.

Are there any fusible links in these trucks (98 12V)? all my fuses looks good, both in-dash and PDC. I'm running out to get the batteries load tested, to make sure their still good, they are at 12v.

 

here is my $.02. you may want to check your seats (if they are power) because the switches can stick on just bearly enought to pull power, but not enough to move the seat. if that doesnt work, then get an amp meter and test each of your fuses that shouldn't have any power running through them when the tuck is off.

 

well I'm not getting power anywhere now...are there any fusible links? I found the 2 grid heater links, they seem OK.

 

Smoking from the battery...definitely a short somewhere. Start pulling fuses, and see if any are smoke checked. Also, thoroughly check your cables.

 

He says he has NO power anywhere so that is no help. There are fusible links but I can't tell you where. Usually they are near the batteries and I would check there. Still doesn't solve your problem but it will give you a start when you find which circuit it is.

 

I'm gonna cut the terminals off, then solder some lugs on and bolt the cable to new terminals. I found a thread on here by Dr.Evil linking to pullpall.com or something. My negative terminals had no clamping in them, I was able to pull them off by hand.