truck wont start, neutral safety switch? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bufmatmuslepants · 07-03-2008, 11:06 PM

radio comes on, lights go on, wont start, not even try to turn over. if you rock it back and forth it might start. just got back to WV, my roomate is giving me this info, need the truck tomorrow. any ideas?

screwballl · 07-03-2008, 11:16 PM

if the neutral safety switch is loose it can cause that... if you hear it "tick" or click when you turn the key, it may be low battery or frozen starter as well... I would get the battery checked and check the neutral safety switch connection itself.
i have also seen a rash of solenoids going bad here in the south so that may be something else worth looking into.

**old Rusty C10** · 07-03-2008, 11:18 PM

does it start in neutral ? also check the fusible links by the battery also beat on the starter a couple of times maybe the starter is going? is the battery too dead to start it? does it click when you try to start it?
if its n ot cranking at all gotta be one of them

f.monroe · 07-03-2008, 11:21 PM

Does it have tilt steering ? If so , try it with the tilt all the way up and all the way down . Seems to pull the rod that activates the actual switch a little farther that way . I have had a truck in the past that did the same thing . It started with the tilt all the way up or all the way down but not in the center . It was just a little out of adjustment .
Frank

bufmatmuslepants · 07-04-2008, 10:51 AM

it is not a tilt wheel, and the battery is not dead beause if you rock the truck back and forth sometimes it will just fire up like nothing was wrong. where is the neutral safety switch? and the problem could be it is just loose or broken? thanks for the replys guys keep em coming

us111 · 07-04-2008, 10:59 AM

saftey switch is on column almost down to the floorboard.

bufmatmuslepants · 07-04-2008, 11:09 AM

ive been searching through the forum and on 67-72s there is a heavy gage purple wire that goes down to the bottom of the steering column to the switch, is it the same iwth 73-87s?

dammitmitchell · 07-04-2008, 11:25 AM

honestly to me it seems like your starter is going, the worm gear on the end of the starter could be still engaged or improperly aligned (from being old or close to dead) and is sticing to your flywheel a bit.... and the rocking can jar it loose..
check the connections on your starter also.. they hve a tendency (on the less expensive starters) to loosen up especially on trucks that re beaten on alot (like me)
but my vote is check starter make sue starter is happy seems like the easiest place to start... then go to the safety switch,

07-03-2008, 11:06 PM	#1
bufmatmuslepants Junior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hampstead, NC Posts: 313	truck wont start, neutral safety switch? radio comes on, lights go on, wont start, not even try to turn over. if you rock it back and forth it might start. just got back to WV, my roomate is giving me this info, need the truck tomorrow. any ideas? __________________ 1979 K10 reg cab short bed 33x12.50s - GONE 1988 4x4 reg cab long bed 337k miles - GONE 1995 Z71 GU6 G80 F44 ext cab short bed 149k 305/70/16s - GONE 1995 NZZ GT4 2dr Tahoe 3" lift 14 bolt sf 155k 305/70/16s - GONE 1994 Z28 M6 1995 Z71 GT4 G80 ext cab short bed 215k GONE 1997 GT4 G80 Yukon 4 door leather, sunroof 168k miles GONE 2003 Avalanche Z71 GT4 G80 165k miles

07-03-2008, 11:16 PM	#2
screwballl Tonawanda 454 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Liquid Sunshine State Posts: 2,755	Re: truck wont start, neutral safety switch? if the neutral safety switch is loose it can cause that... if you hear it "tick" or click when you turn the key, it may be low battery or frozen starter as well... I would get the battery checked and check the neutral safety switch connection itself. i have also seen a rash of solenoids going bad here in the south so that may be something else worth looking into. __________________ 91 Chevy Suburban Tonawanda 454 R2500 - SOLD!!! 04 Dodge Durango 5.7L Hemi 2WD, 24K miles (as of July 2011) In the past 30 years about 90% of Fords are still on the road, the other 10% made it home. -------------------

07-03-2008, 11:18 PM	#3
old Rusty C10 Robert Olson Transport Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: recent transplant to NC USA Posts: 20,277	Re: truck wont start, neutral safety switch? does it start in neutral ? also check the fusible links by the battery also beat on the starter a couple of times maybe the starter is going? is the battery too dead to start it? does it click when you try to start it? if its n ot cranking at all gotta be one of them __________________ Bob 1951 International running on a squarebody chassis "If a man's worth is judged by the people he associates himself with, then i am the richest man in the world knowing some of the fine people of this board" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...t.php?f=25&a=9 (you can review the site rules here!) PM Me for your vehicle/parts hauling needs in the North East US or see my Facebook page Robert Olson Transport Live each day to the fullest.. you never know when fate is going to pull the rug out from under you... I hate cancer!!

07-03-2008, 11:21 PM	#4
f.monroe Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Caldwell,Tx. Posts: 3,648	Re: truck wont start, neutral safety switch? Does it have tilt steering ? If so , try it with the tilt all the way up and all the way down . Seems to pull the rod that activates the actual switch a little farther that way . I have had a truck in the past that did the same thing . It started with the tilt all the way up or all the way down but not in the center . It was just a little out of adjustment . Frank __________________ Born and proudly residing in a Red State !

07-04-2008, 10:51 AM	#5
bufmatmuslepants Junior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hampstead, NC Posts: 313	Re: truck wont start, neutral safety switch? it is not a tilt wheel, and the battery is not dead beause if you rock the truck back and forth sometimes it will just fire up like nothing was wrong. where is the neutral safety switch? and the problem could be it is just loose or broken? thanks for the replys guys keep em coming __________________ 1979 K10 reg cab short bed 33x12.50s - GONE 1988 4x4 reg cab long bed 337k miles - GONE 1995 Z71 GU6 G80 F44 ext cab short bed 149k 305/70/16s - GONE 1995 NZZ GT4 2dr Tahoe 3" lift 14 bolt sf 155k 305/70/16s - GONE 1994 Z28 M6 1995 Z71 GT4 G80 ext cab short bed 215k GONE 1997 GT4 G80 Yukon 4 door leather, sunroof 168k miles GONE 2003 Avalanche Z71 GT4 G80 165k miles

07-04-2008, 10:59 AM	#6
us111 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: ashland oh Posts: 660	Re: truck wont start, neutral safety switch? saftey switch is on column almost down to the floorboard.

07-04-2008, 11:09 AM	#7
bufmatmuslepants Junior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hampstead, NC Posts: 313	Re: truck wont start, neutral safety switch? ive been searching through the forum and on 67-72s there is a heavy gage purple wire that goes down to the bottom of the steering column to the switch, is it the same iwth 73-87s? __________________ 1979 K10 reg cab short bed 33x12.50s - GONE 1988 4x4 reg cab long bed 337k miles - GONE 1995 Z71 GU6 G80 F44 ext cab short bed 149k 305/70/16s - GONE 1995 NZZ GT4 2dr Tahoe 3" lift 14 bolt sf 155k 305/70/16s - GONE 1994 Z28 M6 1995 Z71 GT4 G80 ext cab short bed 215k GONE 1997 GT4 G80 Yukon 4 door leather, sunroof 168k miles GONE 2003 Avalanche Z71 GT4 G80 165k miles

07-04-2008, 11:25 AM	#8
dammitmitchell the pollock Join Date: May 2008 Location: abilene, texas Posts: 4,423	Re: truck wont start, neutral safety switch? honestly to me it seems like your starter is going, the worm gear on the end of the starter could be still engaged or improperly aligned (from being old or close to dead) and is sticing to your flywheel a bit.... and the rocking can jar it loose.. check the connections on your starter also.. they hve a tendency (on the less expensive starters) to loosen up especially on trucks that re beaten on alot (like me) but my vote is check starter make sue starter is happy seems like the easiest place to start... then go to the safety switch, __________________ Jack of ALL trades, Master of none.. (but one... procrastination) Army vet 02-08 RIP El Jay! Miss you brother! http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=343538 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=386042



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