Intermittent no start... need help

[White70C20]

So last Sunday I was planning on taking my green '70 C20 for a drive. I go out and try to start it and it acts like the battery's dead, it turned over slowly a couple times and then it just clicked. I left it until Friday when I had more time to deal with it. Just for kicks I decide to try and start it. It starts right up. Thinking it was just an almost dead battery I drove it around for a while to charge it up. It restarted several times over the course of the afternoon, until I stopped for gas. I get back in and try to start it and it turns over slowly and then just clicks. I checked the battery connections and everything is good.

I get a buddy to come jump start me and it fires right up! I'm not sure what the problem is. I'm working on the truck later today and I'd like to be able to fix this problem while I have access to a hoist and tools at my college's shop.
Thanks!

[Sklptrljay]

Check for a good connection on the neutral safety switch on the firewall (inside the cab) over your steering column. They work themselves loose sometimes.

[geezer#99]

Starter or solenoid is getting old. You can replace just the solenoid or the starter too at the same time.

[Lee H]

If it starts right up when jumping I would suspect a weak battery or the cables are not making a good connection, or both. First thing to do is make sure your electrical system is up to snuff. Alternator is throwing a good charge to the battery, battery is good, including a load test. Next is battery cables, make sure they are good (no corrosion inside the insulation, loose terminals, etc) and the connections are good and clean, that means taking them apart and cleaning the connections. Then make sure the ground straps are in place and have a clean connection. If they are gone it's pretty easy and cheap to run a 12inch negative battery type cable from the engine to the frame. Once this all checks out then it's time for a starter, IMHO. Lee

[White70C20]

Thanks guys!

[White70C20]

I'm thinking it's probably going to be the starter. Is it possible to just take the solenoid apart and clean the contacts up and reuse it? Since I have my other truck I'm working on restoring I'd really like to save as much money as I can.

[litew8]

Not sure about cleaning up a solenoid, doubt it. Chances are higher it is the solenoid going bad and not the starter itself. If it were me, I'd troubleshoot it first, but replace both if it isolates to either. Could be your alternator is going south.

"Most vehicle starting problems are a result of a lack of current moving through the large magnetic coil of a starter solenoid. When you hear a clicking sound but the engine does not turn over, the battery does not have enough life to magnetize the large coil and pull the plunger into place. Several things can cause this. In most cases, the battery does not have enough charge to power the solenoid because the headlights or other electrical component were left on and drained the battery's charge. Battery drainage can also be caused by short circuits in more severe cases. A lack of charge reaching the solenoid an also be caused by corroded battery terminals, loose cable connections or a damaged positive battery cable."

Read more: http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5511222...#ixzz2vRTZRZVE

[NoNeck]

Sounds like a "Dead" cell in the battery. Since all lead/acid batteries are constructed using a series of lead cells sometimes a cell will become internally grounded or lose connectivity somehow. When you start the engine, a random battery cell produces reserved current to the starter solenoid. Kind of like Russian Roulette. Your truck will start until the bad (or Dead) cell is called on.

My advice, get the battery checked out at your auto parts store. If the battery is old, if your truck has rarely been started over the winter or if the battery has been stored on concrete, chances are this is your problem.

POP

[White70C20]

Thanks!
The battery was new in December. I took it back to get it checked in late January and it was still good at that point.

So far, the common suggested problem is the starter/solenoid. I guess I'll have to replace it soon.