Won't start!!!!!

[BigPoser]

I'm about ready to sell this damn truck I'm so frustrated. If it's not one thing it's another. Just when I think I've got her operating well, something else happens.

Today I fire her up to warm everything up. Fires on the first crank. Gotta stop and get gas. Put the key in to crank and nothing. Everything comes on electrically, but no crank. Then magically it fires, but I get a low voltage warning on my dash. Get to work and try again. Same thing, but this time it won't crank at all. I was getting some low voltage warnings before I replaced my alternator with a 100 amp unit a week ago, and haven't had anything happen since until this morning.

ALL the wiring in the truck is new from American Autowire. I replaced the steering column a few weeks ago because something had broke internally in the old one. I'm at a loss on just what this could be, but I suspect something electrical.

Could it be a lack of a ground somewhere? I have no idea, and I'm so pissed. This is my daily and I have got to get this figured out.

Any thoughts or suggestions are totally appreciated right now. I'll look at anything, although I'm a bit limited with tools since I'm at work.

Thanks in advance.

Brandon

 

[Georgeb]

Check the simple things first like the connections at the battery, alternator and starter.

 

[1987 GMC Jimmy]

The most important thing is to just think of the ignition system as a simple entity that you can figure out expediently. Try to curb your anger with the state of mind that you can figure it out because you can. First, just make sure your ignition fuse is tight and continuous and the correct fuse. I would then start from the battery and see if the integrated side posts are not rusty and de threaded. That's happened to me, and it sounds a lot like your problem. I would have all my electrical stuff, and then I'd try to start it, then nothing. It's really easy to overlook. Make sure the battery ground is tight and clean. If all that's good, it's likely that the starter and/or wires are grounding out, causing electrical system functionality, and then a lack of fire once the key is turned. I'm not as good as some of the other members, but it's frustrating not to hear back when you're in a jamb.

 

[BigPoser]

Check the simple things first like the connections at the battery, alternator and starter.

I grabbed a volt meter and will check those first.

The most important thing is to just think of the ignition system as a simple entity that you can figure out expediently. Try to curb your anger with the state of mind that you can figure it out because you can. First, just make sure your ignition fuse is tight and continuous and the correct fuse. I would then start from the battery and see if the integrated side posts are not rusty and de threaded. That's happened to me, and it sounds a lot like your problem. I would have all my electrical stuff, and then I'd try to start it, then nothing. It's really easy to overlook. Make sure the battery ground is tight and clean. If all that's good, it's likely that the starter and/or wires are grounding out, causing electrical system functionality, and then a lack of fire once the key is turned. I'm not as good as some of the other members, but it's frustrating not to hear back when you're in a jamb.

Battery and cables are all new as well. I know the ground is tight since I just tightened it last night because I had to adjust my steering wheel and didn't want to keep hearing the horn blare. I have power elsewhere in the truck which makes me thing it's something with the starter wiring. Maybe the wires got too close to the manifold or something and melted? Hope not but I'll be looking for something out of the ordinary.

 

[BigPoser]

So I went out to diagnose my problem. All the connections at the starter are good and tight. Wires look good and aren't melted. Battery, alt, and ground wires are all good and tight. Put the key in and it fired right up. F'ing weird. Something to note though is that my battery voltage with nothing on was 12.52 volts. When running my volt gauge always shows like 14 volts.

I'm at a loss.

 

[Georgeb]

could it be the ignition switch on the column?

 

[BigPoser]

could it be the ignition switch on the column?

I suppose it could be, although there was a new one on the new column that I got. Anything is possible however.

Could the starter be going bad?

 

[Georgeb]

Could the starter be going bad?

Yup

 

[87scotty]

Sounding like a starter to me

 

[87scotty]

Worn out starters act up when hot

 

[DoubleDingo]

could it be the ignition switch on the column?

That's what I'm thinking. Or the starter, as stated.

 

[1987 GMC Jimmy]

I guess if all that stuff is good, the starter being bad (as aforementioned) is a good bet. I feel like if it were the switch in the column, your problem would be chronic rather than intermittent, plus if it were the switch in the column, I feel like if you tried again, you'd be able to start it. As stated, starters will misbehave in such a way when they're going bad. But anything's possible.

 

[BigPoser]

Thanks all for the help. I discovered that I have a serious draw from something (probably cause it's an old truck). Tested the battery with everything off and it was at 74% charge at 12.78 volts. With the engine running the voltage was at 14.1 so i know that my alternator is working fine. Turned the heater on full and the radio on for a while. Turned off the motor and it cranked, but barely, and not enough to get it started. Cranked better with everything off, but still slow. Hooked up a charger/starter and it fired no problem. Now with the engine running, I disconnected the charger and you could hear the RPM's drop.

I'm thinking that I need to try to get the battery up to 100% and see what happens. I'll also pick up some relay kits and add them throughout the system. Might end up needing a bigger battery, although I got this one back in June of last year.

Hell is could also be the starter I suppose.

 

[Georgeb]

You can check for a drain using a 12v test bulb between the positive terminal on he battery and the disconnected positive cable. Just start pulling fuses until the light goes out. Honestly it is more likely a failing battery or starter. You could have the battery load tested. It doesnt seem like a drain issue because it sits overnight and starts right up but wont restart once its warmed up. If the starter has a shorted winding it will draw a large amount of current to crank over and leave your battery drained. A short trip may not recharge it and the next time you go to start it you don't have enough power to crank it.

 

[kdo58]

sounds like the starter solenoid to me, i had the same problem. i modified my solenoid and added a ford solenoid to the firewall, starts every time now.