1972 chevy pickup doesnt start - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

moreno4164 · 12-05-2010, 11:14 PM

last week my truck didn't want to start, i have power to the ignition switch, but when i turn it to start nothing happens. i have checked the starter, the ignition switch, the safety neutral switch, i have checked the wiring and everything checks okay. i dont have any other clues as to what might be causing it to not start. any ideas.

foamypirate · 12-05-2010, 11:23 PM

I know you said you checked the wiring, but what about the postitive and ground cables from the battery? Quite often, they will corrode from the inside out, and can cause issues like this.

stockish shawn · 12-05-2010, 11:24 PM

Do yo have power coming from the ignition switch on the start pole?
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moreno4164 · 12-05-2010, 11:52 PM

i have power from ignition to the start pole.

moreno4164 · 12-05-2010, 11:54 PM

the positive cable was replaced about 6 months ago, the negative was not, i could replace it, but before last friday, this was not an issue, it was starting without any problems. i will change out the negative cable and see what happens, thanks.

stockish shawn · 12-05-2010, 11:56 PM

If you have a battery load tester I like checking the load @ the starter. Alternitivly you could arc the starter to try an isolate the problem
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moreno4164 · 12-06-2010, 12:03 AM

i did arc the starter and that started, so some where from the starter to the ignition switch lies the problem. i even went as far as replacing the wiring from the starter all the way to the ignition switch. i did locate a couple of problem areas and thought that would have taken care of the problem, but it did not

stockish shawn · 12-06-2010, 12:19 AM

Did you ohm the nutrual safety can't remember but I think power goes from ignition to saftey and then starter
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moreno4164 · 12-06-2010, 12:58 AM

no but i did replace the neutral safety switch, so unless i got a faulty switch i dont think that would be it. but i will still check it out. thanks

**Papa Smurf** · 12-06-2010, 03:29 PM

Sounds like you have a problem with the solenoid internals or the connection to the solenoid. Check to see if you have power to the purple wire when the switch is in the start position. If so it in the solenoid, if not it is in the wire to the ignition switch. Also if you get the two small wires on the solenoid reversed, nothing happens.

moreno4164 · 12-06-2010, 05:06 PM

thanks Papa Smurf, i will try that out

Shyguy · 12-06-2010, 06:23 PM

I had a problem with my '67 L6 250 not turning over so I agitated the solenoid with a rather large hammer and it started ok for a while. I finally got tired of agitating the solenoid so I replaced it and have not had a problem since.

moreno4164 · 12-06-2010, 11:53 PM

i want to thank Papa Smurf and Shyguy, i replaced the solenoid and that did the trick. the funny thing was, i took the starter in to have it checked out and the starter and solenoid had checked out fine. so much for the testing huh. again thanks i will soon take a picture of the truck, i am having the bench seat redone and should be completed by this weekend.

12-05-2010, 11:14 PM	#1
moreno4164 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Tucson, Az Posts: 7	1972 chevy pickup doesnt start last week my truck didn't want to start, i have power to the ignition switch, but when i turn it to start nothing happens. i have checked the starter, the ignition switch, the safety neutral switch, i have checked the wiring and everything checks okay. i dont have any other clues as to what might be causing it to not start. any ideas.

12-05-2010, 11:23 PM	#2
foamypirate Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Pflugerville, TX Posts: 594	Re: 1972 chevy pickup doesnt start I know you said you checked the wiring, but what about the postitive and ground cables from the battery? Quite often, they will corrode from the inside out, and can cause issues like this.

12-05-2010, 11:24 PM	#3
stockish shawn Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: paso robles ca. Posts: 20	Re: 1972 chevy pickup doesnt start Do yo have power coming from the ignition switch on the start pole? Posted via Mobile Device

12-05-2010, 11:52 PM	#4
moreno4164 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Tucson, Az Posts: 7	Re: 1972 chevy pickup doesnt start i have power from ignition to the start pole.

12-05-2010, 11:54 PM	#5
moreno4164 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Tucson, Az Posts: 7	Re: 1972 chevy pickup doesnt start the positive cable was replaced about 6 months ago, the negative was not, i could replace it, but before last friday, this was not an issue, it was starting without any problems. i will change out the negative cable and see what happens, thanks.

12-05-2010, 11:56 PM	#6
stockish shawn Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: paso robles ca. Posts: 20	Re: 1972 chevy pickup doesnt start If you have a battery load tester I like checking the load @ the starter. Alternitivly you could arc the starter to try an isolate the problem Posted via Mobile Device

12-06-2010, 12:03 AM	#7
moreno4164 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Tucson, Az Posts: 7	Re: 1972 chevy pickup doesnt start i did arc the starter and that started, so some where from the starter to the ignition switch lies the problem. i even went as far as replacing the wiring from the starter all the way to the ignition switch. i did locate a couple of problem areas and thought that would have taken care of the problem, but it did not

12-06-2010, 12:19 AM	#8
stockish shawn Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: paso robles ca. Posts: 20	Re: 1972 chevy pickup doesnt start Did you ohm the nutrual safety can't remember but I think power goes from ignition to saftey and then starter Posted via Mobile Device

12-06-2010, 12:58 AM	#9
moreno4164 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Tucson, Az Posts: 7	Re: 1972 chevy pickup doesnt start no but i did replace the neutral safety switch, so unless i got a faulty switch i dont think that would be it. but i will still check it out. thanks

12-06-2010, 03:29 PM	#10
Papa Smurf Active Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Ben Wheeler, TX Posts: 119	Re: 1972 chevy pickup doesnt start Sounds like you have a problem with the solenoid internals or the connection to the solenoid. Check to see if you have power to the purple wire when the switch is in the start position. If so it in the solenoid, if not it is in the wire to the ignition switch. Also if you get the two small wires on the solenoid reversed, nothing happens. __________________ 72 Sierra Grande 2500 BB 72 Sierra 2500, 42K miles, factory buckets 72 Cheyenne 20 72 Chevy SWB, Factory BB, Leaf Spring

12-06-2010, 05:06 PM	#11
moreno4164 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Tucson, Az Posts: 7	Re: 1972 chevy pickup doesnt start thanks Papa Smurf, i will try that out

12-06-2010, 06:23 PM	#12
Shyguy Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southeast Missouri Posts: 2,436	Re: 1972 chevy pickup doesnt start I had a problem with my '67 L6 250 not turning over so I agitated the solenoid with a rather large hammer and it started ok for a while. I finally got tired of agitating the solenoid so I replaced it and have not had a problem since. __________________ '67 Chevy C-20 short stepper - build complete, 454/SM-465. '75 C-30 Single Cab DRW-350 small block/NP-435. '77 GMC-6500 Dump Truck, 427 Tall Deck. '92 GMC K-3500 Duallie, 454/4L80E.

12-06-2010, 11:53 PM	#13
moreno4164 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Tucson, Az Posts: 7	Re: 1972 chevy pickup doesnt start i want to thank Papa Smurf and Shyguy, i replaced the solenoid and that did the trick. the funny thing was, i took the starter in to have it checked out and the starter and solenoid had checked out fine. so much for the testing huh. again thanks i will soon take a picture of the truck, i am having the bench seat redone and should be completed by this weekend.



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