Already bypassed the neutral safety switch and it still won't start. Ideas?

[jon6.0]

I thought the neutral safety switch wasn't working due to the column being misaligned. Board members here told me to twist the two purple wires together and it still won't start. When I try to start it I get a clicking sound from a relay of some sort under the dash. Sounds like it's behind the ac/heater controls somewhere. It only clicks once when you turn the key. Could my ignition switch have failed? I am truly at a loss. I just bought the truck 2 days ago and now it's stuck in my driveway.

[kbs71]

More than likely the clicking sound you hear is the starter solinoid. the starter is right on the other side of the floorboard/dash of the heater box. It sounds like if it clicks your getting power to it.
It could be several things. Lack of voltage from the battery, a bad starter solinoid, bad conection at the starter. bad contacts in the solinoid. I would look at the starter next.

[mrein3]

Grab your framing hammer.
Get a friend to turn the key while you whack the starter motor with the WOODEN HANDLE of your hammer.
If it starts, replace/rebuild the starter.
If it doesn't start, you need to look at the battery and/or alternator. A weak battery will supply just enough juice to click your starter solenoid. A weak alternator will slowly make your battery weak.

[Rdub]

Mine was doing the same thing..... I thought it was the battery, as suggested, sounds like not enough juice from the battery, checked mine and it had more than 12V output.... cleaned up the terminal connections at the battery, starter and ground..... problem solved.

[68speedalert]

Originally Posted by mrein3

Grab your framing hammer.
Get a friend to turn the key while you whack the starter motor with the WOODEN HANDLE of your hammer.
If it starts, replace/rebuild the starter.
If it doesn't start, you need to look at the battery and/or alternator. A weak battery will supply just enough juice to click your starter solenoid. A weak alternator will slowly make your battery weak.

You're being WAY too delicate!

Smack the sucker HARD with a LARGE hammer. Seriously, start lightly, but don't be afraid to go hard on it.

Before you shimmy your little butt under the truck, turn on the headlights and watch them while someone tries to start it. If the lights dim a little, probably bad starter.

If the lights go ALL THE WAY OUT, loose battery/ground connection.

If lights don't change, bad wiring to switch, from switch to neutral switch, switch to starter solenoid.

[sneakysnake]

To rule out bad connections make sure the battery is charged and connections are clean.If you have a test light or meter you can check to make sure you are getting 12v on the purple wire to the starter solenoid.An easy test to bypass all the ing and safety switches is use a screwdriver and jump between the purple(sol) wire and the main (pos+) on the back of the starter.If it starts then you have a ing switch problem if the (N) switch is still bypassed. If it doesnt start then you need to look towards the starter itself and battery/connections.

[68speedalert]

Holy crap, sneakysnake!!!

Awesome graphics! Accurate too!

[texascowboy593]

Sounds kinda like a problem mine had til I installed the remote mount solenoid. My original cable from + post to the starter looked like rats had been chewing on it! There was a drop in voltage and the remote mount solenoid and new cables solved it... Here's the linky: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=227528

Maybe worth a try...Just my .02!

[jon6.0]

After much frustration and a missed appointment at the alignment shop I figured it out. After thinking it was the neutral switch and it still didn't start I started using the search feature on the forum. I originally checked the battery voltage, but didn't bother to see if the cables were tight. The negative was very loose. I tightened it and still nothing. Then I noticed that the PO had the battery grounded to the AC bracket on the engine. Not the best spot for grounding, plus it looked corroded as heck. So I cleaned up the connections and retightened everything and voila, truck starts now. Now all I have to do is reconnect the neutral safety switch. Thanks for the advice and the cool illustrations.

-Jon