What's wrong with my truck? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

HotRod73 · 03-08-2009, 08:35 PM

I have a 85 C10... I went to start it and it started up fine and then i killed it and ran inside for a minute and then came back out and tried to start it again and it did nothing acted like the battery was dead didnt turn over or anything but the door buzzer was going off so i know it had a little juice i had hood open and as i kept trying i saw a little smoke come from what looked like the firewall ... does it have a short or something? anyone ever had this problem??

JohnC · 03-08-2009, 08:43 PM

Hey another OKIE!!! Sorry, had to say hey first! I'm actually just down the road from you here in Noble.
Now onto your problem. If you have a battery charger I would start there first, or take it and have the battery checked. I've had a truck start just fine one minute, and then not the next time. Checked the battery and sure enough dead. However since you said there was smoke on the firewall that opens a new can of worms. Did you see any wires that were burned, or that had the insulation gone? Wish I could help more, but you may just have to trace wires and see if there is a short from the ignition switch or somewhere like that.

HotRod73 · 03-08-2009, 08:46 PM

battery is brand new... the steering column is busted so you have to pull the rod to start it, no key... but its been this way and has been fine... im thinking there is a short but i dont know anything about the wiring on these trucks

JohnC · 03-08-2009, 08:50 PM

You may have pinched a wire under the dash while using the rod? You may just trace the wires from the iginition switch on the column through the firewall and see if you see something obvious. Maybe someone else will have had the same problem and will post something on here. Sorry I can't help you any further.

HotRod73 · 03-08-2009, 09:50 PM

no problem thanks for your help... i also installed headers today and thought maybe it hit the starter wire or something and shorted it out but i cant find a fuse... and i dont see the header touching the wire but i didnt look too well since its dark out... i got power and all lights work it just doesnt turn over no click or anything and i tried again but this time it didnt smoke but still didnt turn over

**old Rusty C10** · 03-08-2009, 10:31 PM

have y ou checked the fusible links up there?

HotRod73 · 03-08-2009, 11:36 PM

No, where do i look?

James McClure · 03-09-2009, 08:18 AM

Hotrod, By virtue of your descrption you definately have a burned fuse link, no question. There is one link high on the firewall next to the brake booster in a small terminal block. There are 2 and sometimes 3 on the B+ terminal of the starter (battery cable connection) When you find the one that burnt, back trace until you find the short. Fix the short, then replace the fuse link. Keep us posted, jim.

HotRod73 · 03-09-2009, 10:29 AM

Ok, Thanks for that info... I will dig into it today and see if i cant get the beast running again

HotRod73 · 03-09-2009, 12:14 PM

went out this morning and it fired right up... i shut it off.... and again it started... i left for a while and came to try again and its back to doing nothing again, i also cant find a fuse anywhere on the firewall on the wires

James McClure · 03-09-2009, 02:22 PM

Horod, there aren't any fuses persay. Fuse links are just wires with a special insulation on them. To locate one and see what it looks like, go down to the starter and look for wires with a large black rubber plug on the wire. The fuse link is in between that plug and the large (B+) terminal on the starter. The smoke you saw may have been from the starter itself. There is the possibility you have a dead spot(s) in the armature. To check this, the next time it happens, have someone try to start it while you whack the starter with a hammer. If it turns over then, replace the starter. jim

HotRod73 · 03-09-2009, 06:12 PM

its just a loose wire somewhere because it i wiggle wires under hood it starts and runs just fine ill trace it down thanks for all your help...

us111 · 03-09-2009, 10:44 PM

hello,know it's always said but first thing i would do
is take both cables off battery,clean good,put back on
be ABSOLUTELY sure they are nice and tight and go from
there.bad connection at battery can cause you to replace
starter and everything else before u figure it out.i would start there.

03-08-2009, 08:35 PM	#1
HotRod73 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Norman, Oklahoma Posts: 553	What's wrong with my truck? I have a 85 C10... I went to start it and it started up fine and then i killed it and ran inside for a minute and then came back out and tried to start it again and it did nothing acted like the battery was dead didnt turn over or anything but the door buzzer was going off so i know it had a little juice i had hood open and as i kept trying i saw a little smoke come from what looked like the firewall ... does it have a short or something? anyone ever had this problem?? __________________ 1973 Chevrolet C20 (Under Construction)

03-08-2009, 08:43 PM	#2
JohnC Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 7,461	Re: What's wrong with my truck? Hey another OKIE!!! Sorry, had to say hey first! I'm actually just down the road from you here in Noble. Now onto your problem. If you have a battery charger I would start there first, or take it and have the battery checked. I've had a truck start just fine one minute, and then not the next time. Checked the battery and sure enough dead. However since you said there was smoke on the firewall that opens a new can of worms. Did you see any wires that were burned, or that had the insulation gone? Wish I could help more, but you may just have to trace wires and see if there is a short from the ignition switch or somewhere like that.

03-08-2009, 08:46 PM	#3
HotRod73 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Norman, Oklahoma Posts: 553	Re: What's wrong with my truck? battery is brand new... the steering column is busted so you have to pull the rod to start it, no key... but its been this way and has been fine... im thinking there is a short but i dont know anything about the wiring on these trucks __________________ 1973 Chevrolet C20 (Under Construction)

03-08-2009, 08:50 PM	#4
JohnC Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 7,461	Re: What's wrong with my truck? You may have pinched a wire under the dash while using the rod? You may just trace the wires from the iginition switch on the column through the firewall and see if you see something obvious. Maybe someone else will have had the same problem and will post something on here. Sorry I can't help you any further.

03-08-2009, 09:50 PM	#5
HotRod73 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Norman, Oklahoma Posts: 553	Re: What's wrong with my truck? no problem thanks for your help... i also installed headers today and thought maybe it hit the starter wire or something and shorted it out but i cant find a fuse... and i dont see the header touching the wire but i didnt look too well since its dark out... i got power and all lights work it just doesnt turn over no click or anything and i tried again but this time it didnt smoke but still didnt turn over __________________ 1973 Chevrolet C20 (Under Construction)

03-08-2009, 10:31 PM	#6
old Rusty C10 Robert Olson Transport Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: recent transplant to NC USA Posts: 20,287	Re: What's wrong with my truck? have y ou checked the fusible links up there? __________________ 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!!

03-08-2009, 11:36 PM	#7
HotRod73 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Norman, Oklahoma Posts: 553	Re: What's wrong with my truck? No, where do i look? __________________ 1973 Chevrolet C20 (Under Construction)

03-09-2009, 08:18 AM	#8
James McClure One shot, one kill. Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Saratoga Springs NY Posts: 859	Re: What's wrong with my truck? Hotrod, By virtue of your descrption you definately have a burned fuse link, no question. There is one link high on the firewall next to the brake booster in a small terminal block. There are 2 and sometimes 3 on the B+ terminal of the starter (battery cable connection) When you find the one that burnt, back trace until you find the short. Fix the short, then replace the fuse link. Keep us posted, jim. __________________ 1984 K20 350M engine with 465,000 miles. Well, it's finally done!! Almost 2 years of work, but it was really worth the effort. Little stuff left to do is mount winch, wet sand & buff out and build belly pan\running boards. Body work takes lots and LOTS of beer!!!! God, Guts and Guns made America and God, Guts and Guns will preserve it! The worst thing you could do is get into my sights, but that don't matter, you'll never know it, cause you'll never hear the shotJim or Paladin whichever you choose.

03-09-2009, 10:29 AM	#9
HotRod73 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Norman, Oklahoma Posts: 553	Re: What's wrong with my truck? Ok, Thanks for that info... I will dig into it today and see if i cant get the beast running again __________________ 1973 Chevrolet C20 (Under Construction)

03-09-2009, 12:14 PM	#10
HotRod73 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Norman, Oklahoma Posts: 553	Re: What's wrong with my truck? went out this morning and it fired right up... i shut it off.... and again it started... i left for a while and came to try again and its back to doing nothing again, i also cant find a fuse anywhere on the firewall on the wires __________________ 1973 Chevrolet C20 (Under Construction)

03-09-2009, 02:22 PM	#11
James McClure One shot, one kill. Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Saratoga Springs NY Posts: 859	Re: What's wrong with my truck? Horod, there aren't any fuses persay. Fuse links are just wires with a special insulation on them. To locate one and see what it looks like, go down to the starter and look for wires with a large black rubber plug on the wire. The fuse link is in between that plug and the large (B+) terminal on the starter. The smoke you saw may have been from the starter itself. There is the possibility you have a dead spot(s) in the armature. To check this, the next time it happens, have someone try to start it while you whack the starter with a hammer. If it turns over then, replace the starter. jim __________________ 1984 K20 350M engine with 465,000 miles. Well, it's finally done!! Almost 2 years of work, but it was really worth the effort. Little stuff left to do is mount winch, wet sand & buff out and build belly pan\running boards. Body work takes lots and LOTS of beer!!!! God, Guts and Guns made America and God, Guts and Guns will preserve it! The worst thing you could do is get into my sights, but that don't matter, you'll never know it, cause you'll never hear the shotJim or Paladin whichever you choose.

03-09-2009, 06:12 PM	#12
HotRod73 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Norman, Oklahoma Posts: 553	Re: What's wrong with my truck? its just a loose wire somewhere because it i wiggle wires under hood it starts and runs just fine ill trace it down thanks for all your help... __________________ 1973 Chevrolet C20 (Under Construction)

03-09-2009, 10:44 PM	#13
us111 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: ashland oh Posts: 660	Re: What's wrong with my truck? hello,know it's always said but first thing i would do is take both cables off battery,clean good,put back on be ABSOLUTELY sure they are nice and tight and go from there.bad connection at battery can cause you to replace starter and everything else before u figure it out.i would start there.



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