Problem Suddenly Dying?? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Bill72BB · 06-04-2003, 11:29 AM

Just when I start redoing the Dining room and Daugthers Bathroom, The truck has been Dying while driving.
It shuts down without notice ,No radio or anything .I wait a couple of seconds or a minute and it will fire back up ,also notice the radio stations are not set .Like I had disconnected the battery ,but it was running when it happened?

any suggestions
THANKS

Baradium · 06-04-2003, 11:31 AM

Bulkhead connector?

**nightmare** · 06-04-2003, 11:42 AM

could be the wires that go to the battery not making a good connection

Old Chevy · 06-04-2003, 11:46 AM

Also dont forget the positive junction on the inner fender just beside the battery.

**StingRay** · 06-04-2003, 11:48 AM

Check your igniton switch wires. I just went through this and had 3 seriously heat damaged connections. I also found my heater switch wiring and connectors in need of serious attention. I had the exact same symptoms!

*Randy70C-10* · 06-04-2003, 11:48 AM

Make sure that the alternator brackets, bolts, wires ect. are all tight.

bouncytruck · 06-04-2003, 11:51 AM

I'd check to make sure it is grounding properly too. Are your cables in good shape?

Big69C20 Toy · 06-04-2003, 12:00 PM

Bill i had that happen too. it looked like the wires were connected well but when i checked them better they had shorted. Simple connectors fixed it and make sure that ground is somewhere good. Good luck.

Bill72BB · 06-04-2003, 12:09 PM

Thanks for all the quick responces ,
After I get out of my paint suit and finish sanding the plaster walls ,I 'll start checking .

Big69C20 Toy what wire did you find shorting?
Thanks Bill

cheyenneman · 06-04-2003, 05:23 PM

I had this happen also. It was my ignition.

ckenwright · 06-04-2003, 06:03 PM

I had a vehicle do this and it turned out my ground to the motor was bad. Since my alternator was on the engine and the battery ground was connected to the engine block it would die when ever I hit a bump.

**COBALT** · 06-04-2003, 06:34 PM

I've seen alternators do this.

bouncytruck · 06-04-2003, 07:28 PM

Mine was dying a lot & it was the plug into the back of the ignition. Since I don't have a radio, I couldn't tell you if the station presets were gone when it worked again. The plug was heating up while I was driving and then it would loose the connection. When I pulled it, the plug was totally melted.

Bill72BB · 06-05-2003, 01:11 AM

The only thing I found so far was the Alt connection at the Battery was loose so I soldered it .I don't think this would affect the radio though. The battery was 12.4 V and with the truck running the Alt is puting out 14.4 V
I'll try to find another ignition switch ,
Thanks

**StingRay** · 06-05-2003, 01:34 AM

Check the ig switch plug and each individual contact in it. Mine was like bouncy's and acted up after it heated up. You can insert a small wire or jewelers screwdriver into the contact housing and remove the idividual contacts. Then you can take a dremel with a super fine wire brush and burnish the copper or brass contacts on the plug side and the switch side. You can also tweak the spring tang on the wire contact so it has a better bite. If severe heat has occured then the spring tang will loose it's temper and will no longer make proper contact with the switch contact. These can be repaired by cutting a donor piece from another harness and grafting it in with solder and heat shrink. Remember to bend the retaining tang back up before re-inserting the contact back into the plastic housing. Plastic contact housings can also melt down and require replacing as well.

casey · 06-05-2003, 02:09 AM

this just happened to my sons truck, it was dirty battery post, we kept over looking the battery posts, cause from the out side they looked clean. he was driving along and all of a sudden every thing would quit working, cleaned them and it hasn't done it since

**COBALT** · 06-05-2003, 04:19 AM

Well you could---ARGH...BLAU.....

(Cobalt suddenly died).

06-04-2003, 11:29 AM	#1
Bill72BB Thats the Hillbilly way Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Torrance,Ca Posts: 5,980	Problem Suddenly Dying?? Just when I start redoing the Dining room and Daugthers Bathroom, The truck has been Dying while driving. It shuts down without notice ,No radio or anything .I wait a couple of seconds or a minute and it will fire back up ,also notice the radio stations are not set .Like I had disconnected the battery ,but it was running when it happened? any suggestions THANKS __________________ BILL Torrance Calif 90504 Member DUF Club Member Old Farts Club 72 3/4ton Custom Camper BB402/400 trans Dynomax Cerama-coat headers , Hei distributor ,Edelbrock 1411 air,ps,pb,leafsprings ,98 chevy 60/40 seat,S10 shoulder belts tilt,3.54 Dana 60 rear. 16" Eagle wheels with LT265/75 16 tires,Gaylord Lid,H4 headlights with 100W relay conversion. " If I knew I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself " Marriage changes passion...suddenly you're in bed with a relative. A GUY'S PRAYER.... Lord, I pray for a nympho with huge boobs who owns a liquor store and likes to fish and hunt and has a Harley .Amen ,

06-04-2003, 11:48 AM	#5
StingRay Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Saskatoon,SK,Canada Posts: 2,476	Check your igniton switch wires. I just went through this and had 3 seriously heat damaged connections. I also found my heater switch wiring and connectors in need of serious attention. I had the exact same symptoms! __________________ Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada Last edited by StingRay; 06-04-2003 at 02:06 PM.

06-04-2003, 11:51 AM	#7
bouncytruck SKINNY TIRES RULE! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Bothell, WA Posts: 11,049	I'd check to make sure it is grounding properly too. Are your cables in good shape? __________________ bouncytruck 1972 K5 The Hauler 1994 K1500 Suburban The Daily2010 Kia Soul Wife's Ride2014 Fiat 500L

06-04-2003, 12:00 PM	#8
Big69C20 Toy Livin' it up. Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Richland, MI Posts: 2,212	Bill i had that happen too. it looked like the wires were connected well but when i checked them better they had shorted. Simple connectors fixed it and make sure that ground is somewhere good. Good luck. __________________ -Greg; Sold the 69 C20. It's off to a better home with more love! Now onto the 86 CUCV M1009; K5 blazer with 6.2L diesel, corp 10 bolt axles, Detroit locker in the rear, trutrac front, 3.73 gears, 35" tires.

06-04-2003, 12:09 PM	#9
Bill72BB Thats the Hillbilly way Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Torrance,Ca Posts: 5,980	Thanks for all the quick responces , After I get out of my paint suit and finish sanding the plaster walls ,I 'll start checking . Big69C20 Toy what wire did you find shorting? Thanks Bill __________________ BILL Torrance Calif 90504 Member DUF Club Member Old Farts Club 72 3/4ton Custom Camper BB402/400 trans Dynomax Cerama-coat headers , Hei distributor ,Edelbrock 1411 air,ps,pb,leafsprings ,98 chevy 60/40 seat,S10 shoulder belts tilt,3.54 Dana 60 rear. 16" Eagle wheels with LT265/75 16 tires,Gaylord Lid,H4 headlights with 100W relay conversion. " If I knew I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself " Marriage changes passion...suddenly you're in bed with a relative. A GUY'S PRAYER.... Lord, I pray for a nympho with huge boobs who owns a liquor store and likes to fish and hunt and has a Harley .Amen ,

06-04-2003, 11:31 AM	#2
Baradium Binder Rep Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Salcha, AK Posts: 1,506	Bulkhead connector?

06-04-2003, 11:46 AM	#4
Old Chevy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Posts: 498	Also dont forget the positive junction on the inner fender just beside the battery.

06-04-2003, 11:48 AM	#6
Randy70C-10 Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Virginia Beach, Va. U.S.A. Posts: 15,320	Make sure that the alternator brackets, bolts, wires ect. are all tight.

06-04-2003, 05:23 PM	#10
cheyenneman Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Spokane WA. Posts: 53	I had this happen also. It was my ignition.

06-04-2003, 06:03 PM	#11
ckenwright Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 104	I had a vehicle do this and it turned out my ground to the motor was bad. Since my alternator was on the engine and the battery ground was connected to the engine block it would die when ever I hit a bump.

06-04-2003, 06:34 PM	#12
COBALT Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Seattle, WA, USA Posts: 5,817	I've seen alternators do this. __________________ '69 3/4 ton C20 2wd-350ci/TH400 '69 3/4 ton Custom 20 2wd-350ci/4sp Manual '99 2wd 5.7 Chevy Tahoe Seattle, WA.

06-04-2003, 07:28 PM	#13
bouncytruck SKINNY TIRES RULE! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Bothell, WA Posts: 11,049	Mine was dying a lot & it was the plug into the back of the ignition. Since I don't have a radio, I couldn't tell you if the station presets were gone when it worked again. The plug was heating up while I was driving and then it would loose the connection. When I pulled it, the plug was totally melted. __________________ bouncytruck 1972 K5 The Hauler 1994 K1500 Suburban The Daily2010 Kia Soul Wife's Ride2014 Fiat 500L

06-05-2003, 01:11 AM	#14
Bill72BB Thats the Hillbilly way Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Torrance,Ca Posts: 5,980	The only thing I found so far was the Alt connection at the Battery was loose so I soldered it .I don't think this would affect the radio though. The battery was 12.4 V and with the truck running the Alt is puting out 14.4 V I'll try to find another ignition switch , Thanks __________________ BILL Torrance Calif 90504 Member DUF Club Member Old Farts Club 72 3/4ton Custom Camper BB402/400 trans Dynomax Cerama-coat headers , Hei distributor ,Edelbrock 1411 air,ps,pb,leafsprings ,98 chevy 60/40 seat,S10 shoulder belts tilt,3.54 Dana 60 rear. 16" Eagle wheels with LT265/75 16 tires,Gaylord Lid,H4 headlights with 100W relay conversion. " If I knew I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself " Marriage changes passion...suddenly you're in bed with a relative. A GUY'S PRAYER.... Lord, I pray for a nympho with huge boobs who owns a liquor store and likes to fish and hunt and has a Harley .Amen ,

06-05-2003, 01:34 AM	#15
StingRay Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Saskatoon,SK,Canada Posts: 2,476	Check the ig switch plug and each individual contact in it. Mine was like bouncy's and acted up after it heated up. You can insert a small wire or jewelers screwdriver into the contact housing and remove the idividual contacts. Then you can take a dremel with a super fine wire brush and burnish the copper or brass contacts on the plug side and the switch side. You can also tweak the spring tang on the wire contact so it has a better bite. If severe heat has occured then the spring tang will loose it's temper and will no longer make proper contact with the switch contact. These can be repaired by cutting a donor piece from another harness and grafting it in with solder and heat shrink. Remember to bend the retaining tang back up before re-inserting the contact back into the plastic housing. Plastic contact housings can also melt down and require replacing as well. __________________ Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada

06-05-2003, 02:09 AM	#16
casey Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kelowna B.C. Canada Posts: 2,048	this just happened to my sons truck, it was dirty battery post, we kept over looking the battery posts, cause from the out side they looked clean. he was driving along and all of a sudden every thing would quit working, cleaned them and it hasn't done it since



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06-05-2003, 04:19 AM	#17
COBALT Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Seattle, WA, USA Posts: 5,817	Well you could---ARGH...BLAU..... (Cobalt suddenly died). __________________ '69 3/4 ton C20 2wd-350ci/TH400 '69 3/4 ton Custom 20 2wd-350ci/4sp Manual '99 2wd 5.7 Chevy Tahoe Seattle, WA.

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