I drove home and went to attach a fuel pressure gauge to the filter housing and when I went to hit the starter it blew the "40A IGN RUN" fuse. I rigged the fuse remnants up with a 40A self resetting one and got it to turn over, until it blew out the weakened remnants... The truck doesn't throw the check engine light and with the key set to "ON" the lights, radio, and accessories all work like normal . I had a fuel leak from the filter housing and the starter looks to be covered in fuel. I need the truck back on the road ASAP. All ideas are welcome and needed. I gotta get this thing fixed!

I've disconnected the shutdown solenoid and the heater relay...still poppin fuses.. I'm beat so I'll disconnect the starter as well tomorrow and try it to see if I still pop it. I guess it'll be down to a short in a relay or the ignition switch after that. Electrics suuuuck.

 

The stud for the starter coil exciter wire came loose from its housing. Seems like its just a stud wrapped in an insulated collar and the tail end of the stud was resting on the coil case causing the short. Geez that was a PIA problem for something so simple.

 

thanks for the info... thats a new one for the memory bank!