Ignition or Starter?

[77ChevySharkBite]

I need your guys help!!!

Today we went to go drop off some scrap metal which was closed on off subject well we went to go get some rope from a local parts store cause there weren't any stores super close, well got to the part store turned off the truck went back out to crank up all it did was make a click and didn't turn over or nothing. So i tried it again, nothing gauges didn't move didn't show power or anything what so ever, thought it was possibly the battery had them check it battery is good, so now is where I need you guys, is it the starter or ignition?

[tard01]

you able to throw a voltmeter/probe onto the starter? easiest way to tell right there. if it gets over 12.1, then its starter. if it stays below, then its ignition (since battery was fine)

[tard01]

that test is during a crank, btw. need 2 people or a remote trigger.

[77ChevySharkBite]

Okay, looks like I got to go do some shopping then lol because I don't have a voltmeter.

[tard01]

a light bulb works... no need to blow money. just need longer wires ;p

[77ChevySharkBite]

but how would I know the volts and what not?

[tard01]

if your battery tested fine, you're probably above 12.1v....
and... if the light comes on, then its probably telling you (guessing) your solenoid is the problem and your ignition is ok... which is where i am currently guessing this will go (but thats a guess, thats what troubleshooting is for)

[77ChevySharkBite]

yeah, thats actually what the guy suggested at the part store is that it could be the solenoid thats bad.

[tard01]

Not sure if you got the trucj home or not, but if you did... There are videos on YouTube that show you how to diagnose a starter vs the solenoid. Jumper cables can double as leads for testing :P
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[77ChevySharkBite]

Yeah I had a buddy come tow me home.
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[tard01]

here is a weirdly done video... but it doesnt get much more clear than it...

How To Test Your Car Starter - YouTube

[77ChevySharkBite]

Yeah weird but gets the job done looks like I might have to get kind of close to my truck today then lol
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[THE "10" SILVERADO]

If the ignition switch was bad there wouldn't be a click at the starter. Probably your solenoid is going bad and it stops working when it is hot because the engine was running. When the power wires to the starter heat up, there is more resistance and once they get to a certain point the solenoid stops working because it isn't powered enough or it just got to hot and stopped working. Been there, done that lol.

[77ChevySharkBite]

Well a detail I forgot to add is that when it happened my battery volt meter doesn't even do anything when I go to act like i want to turn it over wouldnt that be caused by a bad ignition?
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[77ChevySharkBite]

Well my dad had to take something to my cousin so he asked him what could be wrong with the truck, so now I need your help how many grounds does the truck have and where are they located my cousin seems to think maybe a ground came loose.

[Moostifer]

just had the same thing happen... ended up being the red 10ga wire from the firewall that splits to the starter and alt.

The wire came loose inside the factory split.
figured this out after replacing solenoid, neutral safety switch, and ignition switch...

also check your fusible link wires...

[bnoon]

Buy yourself a voltmeter and test for voltage at the starter. You should have constant 12V at the large terminal coming from the battery and 12V at the small terminal on the solenoid when the ignition is turned on. You can get a voltmeter for less than 10-15 bucks and you'll spend WAAAAAY more time and money than that if you start troubleshooting by shooting from the hip like it sounds that you're trying to do.

If you don't have 12V at the switched small terminal, then you KNOW it's a bad ignition switch or fused link. If you have a bad ground you will be able to test that with the meter too.

Even with a meter it took me quite a bit to troubleshoot my truck with the same problem. I had a battery that tested good at the parts store, but had a cell going bad and it didn't show up until a load was placed on the battery, then it would drop to around 9V. But I also had a cracked solenoid housing on my starter and a sticky solenoid bushing causing more voltage drop. It wasn't until I removed the battery and starter and bench tested everything that I could determine my issues and see them happen all at once. Most important tool was that voltmeter.

[77ChevySharkBite]

Okay, so get a volt meter, take out the starter and then test them and the battery together correct or incorrect?

[77ChevySharkBite]

Well truck is running it was just a loose terminal on the positive terminal well took it around the block just to let it run now if you stand in my garage too long you might die, I'll let you make the assumption
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[THE "10" SILVERADO]

Originally Posted by 77ChevySharkBite

Well truck is running it was just a loose terminal on the positive terminal well took it around the block just to let it run now if you stand in my garage too long you might die, I'll let you make the assumption
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Glad you got it running, now I need a idleing video

[77ChevySharkBite]

Yeah that's going to happen most likely tomorrow or later in the week
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[77ChevySharkBite]

I know it's backfiring for sure any other reason why it would be blowing out a lot of gas/fumes?
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