Scratching my head here? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

O'l Buck · 10-07-2003, 01:21 AM

I'm hoping someone can save me some time here. I went out today to start my 72 C-10 (307 4spd) today for the 1st time in 6 months or so, put a battery in it, tried to crank, spun real slow like always, then wouldn't crank, just click. Looked at battery cables, almost got sick, put new cable ends on, still just a click.

My son and I pushed it out of the weeds ( he's 3) and I crawled under it and smacked the starter with a hammer ( cure all for electrical parts right?) still just a click. Checked lights and such, no blower motor, only 1 headlight, no dash lights, had tail lights and side markers.

Hooked to it with my other truck and pull started it, it started easy. We drove it around the yard for about 5 minutes and parked it to investigate the electrical gremlins. Hit the switch and it started right up, cranked like brand new. It did this about 10 times and then I started working on the door ( wouldn't open from the inside). I got home from work tonight and it started.

I'm leaning toward a bad ground on the starter, but I wonder if someone else has experienced this and knows where to look for sure. Thanks in advance,
Chad

jorgensensc · 10-07-2003, 01:24 AM

Confucious say: Sounds like mouse eating wiring

jorgensensc · 10-07-2003, 01:28 AM

But really, it sounds like your tranny was binding a little and your starter couldn't kick it over. You pull started it and it freed up the binding. Happened a couple of times on an old '83 of mine. Turns out the tranny and motor weren't mounted together well (READ:loose bolts) Fixed it and it went away.

O'l Buck · 10-07-2003, 01:46 AM

I'd definitely buy the mouse eating wiring senario, judging by the mouse turds on the seat. Could be loose trans, but the starter didn't even get warm, or make an attempt to turn.........btw, I got both headlights back after I drove it..........maybe a good poll comming out of this one. I think I'll make it now.

truckster · 10-07-2003, 01:53 AM

A bad ground on the starter is pretty much impossible unless your negative battery cable is bad, since it's metal bolted to metal. There's a lot of contact there.

If you just got one click every time you tried to start it, it's your starter solenoid. The solenoid uses a low amperage wire coming from your starter switch. When you turn the key, it sends voltage through a coil that closes the contact between the high-amperage positive battery cable and the starter's internal circuit. The contact is made of copper, and sometimes it gets fouled with carbon from arcing, and sometimes (when a vehicle sits for a long time, for example) it just gets some dirt in there.

If the problem doesn't happen again, running it probably knocked the dirt out. If it comes back, I'd replace the solenoid.

tom hand · 10-07-2003, 09:57 AM

IF the battery is good, I would bet you money it is a bad connection. Since you replaced the terminal ends at the battery, I would check the connection to the solenoid and the ground connection on the block

O'l Buck · 10-07-2003, 11:06 AM

The battery is good, I just pulled it out of my boat for the winter ( new interstate deep cycle marine battery) The wires are tight on the solenoid and the ground on the manifold is tight........wait, I didn't check to see if the ground cable between the engine and the firewall is connected. maybe that's it. The reason I am thinking possibly the problem is the ground between the starter and the block is because I had a somewhat similar problem with my 4x4, it had oil between the starter and the block and lost ground so it would only click once when I tried to crank it. Took the starter off and cleaned it and haven't had a problem since.

10-07-2003, 01:21 AM	#1
O'l Buck Recovering Truck Driver Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Orleans, NE USA Posts: 1,883	Scratching my head here? I'm hoping someone can save me some time here. I went out today to start my 72 C-10 (307 4spd) today for the 1st time in 6 months or so, put a battery in it, tried to crank, spun real slow like always, then wouldn't crank, just click. Looked at battery cables, almost got sick, put new cable ends on, still just a click. My son and I pushed it out of the weeds ( he's 3) and I crawled under it and smacked the starter with a hammer ( cure all for electrical parts right?) still just a click. Checked lights and such, no blower motor, only 1 headlight, no dash lights, had tail lights and side markers. Hooked to it with my other truck and pull started it, it started easy. We drove it around the yard for about 5 minutes and parked it to investigate the electrical gremlins. Hit the switch and it started right up, cranked like brand new. It did this about 10 times and then I started working on the door ( wouldn't open from the inside). I got home from work tonight and it started. I'm leaning toward a bad ground on the starter, but I wonder if someone else has experienced this and knows where to look for sure. Thanks in advance, Chad __________________ 67 K-20 350, SM465, Eaton rear, 4.56 no spin option 00 Dodge 2500 4x4, 24V cummins, 5 speed Chad South Central Nebraska

10-07-2003, 01:24 AM	#2
jorgensensc Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cypress, Tx Posts: 4,005	Confucious say: Sounds like mouse eating wiring __________________ 1972 C20 Suburban- Big Blue Betty '56 Chevy Bel Air Sedan- Frame up Restoration -What would you attempt to achieve if you knew you could not fail?- -I Refuse To Tiptoe Through Life, Only To Arrive Safely At Death's Door- R.I.P. EAST SIDE LOW LIFE

10-07-2003, 01:28 AM	#3
jorgensensc Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cypress, Tx Posts: 4,005	But really, it sounds like your tranny was binding a little and your starter couldn't kick it over. You pull started it and it freed up the binding. Happened a couple of times on an old '83 of mine. Turns out the tranny and motor weren't mounted together well (READ:loose bolts) Fixed it and it went away. __________________ 1972 C20 Suburban- Big Blue Betty '56 Chevy Bel Air Sedan- Frame up Restoration -What would you attempt to achieve if you knew you could not fail?- -I Refuse To Tiptoe Through Life, Only To Arrive Safely At Death's Door- R.I.P. EAST SIDE LOW LIFE

10-07-2003, 01:46 AM	#4
O'l Buck Recovering Truck Driver Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Orleans, NE USA Posts: 1,883	I'd definitely buy the mouse eating wiring senario, judging by the mouse turds on the seat. Could be loose trans, but the starter didn't even get warm, or make an attempt to turn.........btw, I got both headlights back after I drove it..........maybe a good poll comming out of this one. I think I'll make it now. __________________ 67 K-20 350, SM465, Eaton rear, 4.56 no spin option 00 Dodge 2500 4x4, 24V cummins, 5 speed Chad South Central Nebraska

10-07-2003, 01:53 AM	#5
truckster Registered User Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Orem, Utah Posts: 8,021	A bad ground on the starter is pretty much impossible unless your negative battery cable is bad, since it's metal bolted to metal. There's a lot of contact there. If you just got one click every time you tried to start it, it's your starter solenoid. The solenoid uses a low amperage wire coming from your starter switch. When you turn the key, it sends voltage through a coil that closes the contact between the high-amperage positive battery cable and the starter's internal circuit. The contact is made of copper, and sometimes it gets fouled with carbon from arcing, and sometimes (when a vehicle sits for a long time, for example) it just gets some dirt in there. If the problem doesn't happen again, running it probably knocked the dirt out. If it comes back, I'd replace the solenoid. __________________ I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man. - Thomas Jefferson

10-07-2003, 09:57 AM	#6
tom hand CCRider Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Olive Branch,MS,USA Posts: 2,232	IF the battery is good, I would bet you money it is a bad connection. Since you replaced the terminal ends at the battery, I would check the connection to the solenoid and the ground connection on the block __________________ 72 GMC Sierra SWB almost finished---- 84 Softail Olive Branch MS

10-07-2003, 11:06 AM	#7
O'l Buck Recovering Truck Driver Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Orleans, NE USA Posts: 1,883	The battery is good, I just pulled it out of my boat for the winter ( new interstate deep cycle marine battery) The wires are tight on the solenoid and the ground on the manifold is tight........wait, I didn't check to see if the ground cable between the engine and the firewall is connected. maybe that's it. The reason I am thinking possibly the problem is the ground between the starter and the block is because I had a somewhat similar problem with my 4x4, it had oil between the starter and the block and lost ground so it would only click once when I tried to crank it. Took the starter off and cleaned it and haven't had a problem since. __________________ 67 K-20 350, SM465, Eaton rear, 4.56 no spin option 00 Dodge 2500 4x4, 24V cummins, 5 speed Chad South Central Nebraska

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