Stranded!!

[Fuser1983]

I was driving my truck (87 Silverado R-10) to meet a prospective buyer and it died on me in the middle of the road. The fuel gauge was low, so a very nice lady picked me up and took me to the gas station and brought me back. I got back and put gas in the truck and it still won't crank. It jolts and the battery is on, all lights work, but it doesn't even try to turn over. Any thoughts?!??! Please help! The truck is currently on the side of the road and i need to figure out what is wrong with it!

 

[davbell22602]

Starter. Have you tried jumping the starter? How volts does your battery have? What condition is your battery cables in?

Getting stranded reminds me of the 88 F150 I used to have with the junky 302 fuel injected engine. 100% money pit

 

[Fuser1983]

Starter. Have you tried jumping the starter? How volts does your battery have? What condition is your battery cables in?

Getting stranded reminds me of the 88 F150 I used to have with the junky 302 fuel injected engine. 100% money pit

I tried to jump it off, and the voltage meter was up to the midway point, the cables are crap. Starter sounds accurate. How do you jump the starter?

 

[davbell22602]

I tried to jump it off, and the voltage meter was up to the midway point, the cables are crap. Starter sounds accurate. How do you jump the starter?

Take a screwdriver that will and touch the 2 posts on the solonoid thats on the starter will the metal part of the screwdriver.

 

[nvrenuf]

A starter will not cause it to die while running.

Give more description on how it died? Any sputtering/miss? Lights flicker before hand?

Alt belt still there?

 

[Fuser1983]

A starter will not cause it to die while running.

Give more description on how it died? Any sputtering/miss? Lights flicker before hand?

Alt belt still there?

I was stopped at a light, and i heard a screeching like a loose belt, it shook a little, then died.

 

[bucket]

I was stopped at a light, and i heard a screeching like a loose belt, it shook a little, then died.

Is there oil in it?

Does it crank, but not fire? Or does it not even crank?

 

[Fuser1983]

Is there oil in it?

Does it crank, but not fire? Or does it not even crank?

There's oil. It doesn't crank or turn over at all, just the initial jolt when i turn the key, but that's it.

 

[davbell22602]

Have you tried turning the engine over with a breaker bar on the crank pulley?

 

[crazy4offroad]

Check to see if your alternator belt is still in place, or maybe a belt wrapped around the crank pulley. Have you had problems with the truck idling and dying before?

 

[J Knight]

Sounds like the bat terminals may be loose or the nut for bat cable on starter may be loose.

 

[Fuser1983]

Check to see if your alternator belt is still in place, or maybe a belt wrapped around the crank pulley. Have you had problems with the truck idling and dying before?

Honestly guys i'm not that mechanically inclined, so turning it over with a bar or something, i have no idea how to do that. I need to check if the belt is there. I haven't had any problems with it until now. It's sitting about 2 miles from me so ill have to go back tomorrow since it's already dark.

 

[HotRodPC]

Does it have an oil pressure guage? You didn't seize the motor did you??? Almost sounds you like power somewhere, which would have killed your TBI fuel pump and shut the motor off, now you don't have voltage to crank the motor either.

First thing I'd do is try to turn the motor by hand. On a worn motor you can usually lay under the truck and grab the balancer pully and its a chore, but you can turn the motor by hand, or as Dave is mentioning putting a socket and extension over the balancer bolt and turning the motor with a breaker bar or big ratchet. All that does is confirm the motor didn't seize, then a big sigh of releif and continue troubleshooting from there.

 

[89Suburban]

Sounds like one of the accesories froze up. You got air conditioning?

 

[HotRodPC]

Sounds like one of the accesories froze up. You got air conditioning?

YUP, good suggestion. Certainly check that out.