Any tips on trouble shooting the starter? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Martin64 · 10-20-2005, 09:37 PM

The other day I drove my truck to work because it was raining. On the last stop before coming home I shut the truck off and when I went to leave, I turned the key and nothing. I ended up jumping it at the starter. But before I jumped the starter I jumped the solenoid. When the starter didn't engage I jumped across the other pole and it started right up.

So, did I confirm that the starter and solenoid are fine and I should be looking at the neutral safety switch and ignition switch, or did I prove nothing and I'm still at "square 1"?

**truckdude239** · 10-20-2005, 09:41 PM

umm sounds like an solenoid to me it your crossed the poles and it started. if it is i'd go head an replace it and the starter but thats just me

chevy_fatman · 10-20-2005, 11:04 PM

Had the same problem with my truck, I changed the selenoid, it didn't help and it still won't start after the starter gets warmed up, but after the engine/starter cools down it starts the first time I turn the key, might want to get a new starter and get it over instead of fooling replacing selenoids and wind up changing the whole starter

cdowns · 10-20-2005, 11:17 PM

i'd disconnect the battery then take each wire off of the battery and starter and shine them up with sandpaper/wirebrush put a light coat of dielectric grease on each connection and put them back together don't spkip doing the battery to frame to engine ground either

Martin64 · 10-20-2005, 11:23 PM

Well, when I turn the key I get nothing. No turn over, no clicking, no nada. I did clean the battery terminals so that's good and I checked the ends to make sure they have good connections. So that's why I'm leaning toward the ignition switch or the neutral safety switch.

How do I by-pass the neutral safety switch?

Premium72 · 10-21-2005, 12:14 AM

take your starter to advanced or any other parts store. have em test it. theyll tell you if its good or bad..if good. fix your ingnition..although i wouldnt think it was that..ive changed many a starter in my short life and that always seem to fix the prob. start with the easy stuff..

**53burb** · 10-21-2005, 07:01 PM

There are 2 sets of wires on the NSS. IIRC, the purple wires (on the right) need to be unplugged and "jumpered" together. The other set (green I think) is for the reverse lights. I will check it out tonight if you like if no one else chimes in...

Martin64 · 10-21-2005, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 53burb

There are 2 sets of wires on the NSS. IIRC, the purple wires (on the right) need to be unplugged and "jumpered" together. The other set (green I think) is for the reverse lights. I will check it out tonight if you like if no one else chimes in...

Thanks, that's what I was looking for...., I'll give that a try sometime this weekend because I think it's going to be easier to do than pulling the starter.

**53burb** · 10-22-2005, 12:59 PM

I double checked my Burb last night. I rememembered correctly, purple wires are the ones needed to bypass the NSS and the green is for the backup lights...

Bill72BB · 10-22-2005, 01:08 PM

Just FYI , Check the Battery ground at the block , could be loose or the grd cable worn .

PanelDeland · 10-22-2005, 03:47 PM

I had a F(ouled up),O(ld)R(undown)D(odge) That would fail to start.It wouldn't start at the solenoid and would set for a while then it would start.I could get it to start if I put the jumper cable to the starter post.I messed with it for a couple months(I was a broke teen at the time)before I had enough money to replace the starter.I went to pull it and the cable slid right out of the insulation.I replaced the cable and it worked fine after that.The 20 year old battery cable had corroded in two inside the insulation.

GlennBrittain · 10-22-2005, 09:46 PM

I developed the dead silence when tuning the key to start with a hot motor. Since I was ordering headlight relays, I added a remote starter solenoid. This eleminates the purple wire being overheated by the headers, only the heavy battery positive cable goes to the starter. This fixed my problem.

70 shorty · 10-23-2005, 08:36 AM

I'd do as others have suggested and take the starter off and take it to Advance Auto or Auto Zone if you have one close by and have it tested for free.

Long Roof · 10-23-2005, 12:54 PM

Make sure you clean all ground wires. There are many. Some at the firewall, some at the rad support, some from frame to body. Corroded ground wires have stopped me a few time before.

Aaron

ChevLoRay · 10-23-2005, 01:10 PM

IF you are running headers....and this isn't an answer to the problem that was originally posted.....AND you have problems starting a hot engine, you MAY find that installing a heat shield on the starter will benefit you. But, bear in mind that a lean mixture will increase the heat within the combustion chamber and THAT MAY be part of the problem. I changed my carburetor, from a 600CFM Edelbrock (AFB-type), to a 750CFM Edelbrock Q-Jet, and had to install the heat shield, which solved MY hot start problem.

But, we should all know that the age of our vehicles, and our desires to keep it as original as possible (for some) can cause some problems that can aggravate the fire out of us. Replacement wiring harnesses are not a bad investment, especially under the hood.

Martin64 · 11-19-2005, 06:03 PM

After not being able to get to it for about a month, it turned out to be the neutral safety switch.

10-20-2005, 09:37 PM	#1
Martin64 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Yuma, Az Posts: 477	Any tips on trouble shooting the starter? The other day I drove my truck to work because it was raining. On the last stop before coming home I shut the truck off and when I went to leave, I turned the key and nothing. I ended up jumping it at the starter. But before I jumped the starter I jumped the solenoid. When the starter didn't engage I jumped across the other pole and it started right up. So, did I confirm that the starter and solenoid are fine and I should be looking at the neutral safety switch and ignition switch, or did I prove nothing and I'm still at "square 1"? __________________ Martin Gibson USAF Retired 1964(-ish) C10

10-20-2005, 09:41 PM	#2
truckdude239 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Lewisville, Nc Posts: 10,233	Re: Any tips on trouble shooting the starter? umm sounds like an solenoid to me it your crossed the poles and it started. if it is i'd go head an replace it and the starter but thats just me

10-20-2005, 11:04 PM	#3
chevy_fatman Where's my beer? Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I live in the state of denial.... Posts: 5,621	Re: Any tips on trouble shooting the starter? Had the same problem with my truck, I changed the selenoid, it didn't help and it still won't start after the starter gets warmed up, but after the engine/starter cools down it starts the first time I turn the key, might want to get a new starter and get it over instead of fooling replacing selenoids and wind up changing the whole starter __________________ Paul How do you make the invisible, visible?.........You take it away.

10-20-2005, 11:17 PM	#4
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: Any tips on trouble shooting the starter? i'd disconnect the battery then take each wire off of the battery and starter and shine them up with sandpaper/wirebrush put a light coat of dielectric grease on each connection and put them back together don't spkip doing the battery to frame to engine ground either __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

10-20-2005, 11:23 PM	#5
Martin64 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Yuma, Az Posts: 477	Re: Any tips on trouble shooting the starter? Well, when I turn the key I get nothing. No turn over, no clicking, no nada. I did clean the battery terminals so that's good and I checked the ends to make sure they have good connections. So that's why I'm leaning toward the ignition switch or the neutral safety switch. How do I by-pass the neutral safety switch? __________________ Martin Gibson USAF Retired 1964(-ish) C10

10-21-2005, 12:14 AM	#6
Premium72 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Villa Rica Ga Posts: 889	Re: Any tips on trouble shooting the starter? take your starter to advanced or any other parts store. have em test it. theyll tell you if its good or bad..if good. fix your ingnition..although i wouldnt think it was that..ive changed many a starter in my short life and that always seem to fix the prob. start with the easy stuff..

10-21-2005, 07:01 PM	#7
53burb Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Queen Creek, AZ Posts: 1,004	Re: Any tips on trouble shooting the starter? There are 2 sets of wires on the NSS. IIRC, the purple wires (on the right) need to be unplugged and "jumpered" together. The other set (green I think) is for the reverse lights. I will check it out tonight if you like if no one else chimes in...

10-22-2005, 12:59 PM	#9
53burb Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Queen Creek, AZ Posts: 1,004	Re: Any tips on trouble shooting the starter? I double checked my Burb last night. I rememembered correctly, purple wires are the ones needed to bypass the NSS and the green is for the backup lights...

10-22-2005, 01:08 PM	#10
Bill72BB Thats the Hillbilly way Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Torrance,Ca Posts: 5,980	Re: Any tips on trouble shooting the starter? Just FYI , Check the Battery ground at the block , could be loose or the grd cable worn . __________________ BILL Torrance Calif 90504 Member DUF Club Member Old Farts Club 72 3/4ton Custom Camper BB402/400 trans Dynomax Cerama-coat headers , Hei distributor ,Edelbrock 1411 air,ps,pb,leafsprings ,98 chevy 60/40 seat,S10 shoulder belts tilt,3.54 Dana 60 rear. 16" Eagle wheels with LT265/75 16 tires,Gaylord Lid,H4 headlights with 100W relay conversion. " If I knew I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself " Marriage changes passion...suddenly you're in bed with a relative. A GUY'S PRAYER.... Lord, I pray for a nympho with huge boobs who owns a liquor store and likes to fish and hunt and has a Harley .Amen ,

10-22-2005, 03:47 PM	#11
PanelDeland I am a Referee of life. Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro N.C. Posts: 13,993	Re: Any tips on trouble shooting the starter? I had a F(ouled up),O(ld)R(undown)D(odge) That would fail to start.It wouldn't start at the solenoid and would set for a while then it would start.I could get it to start if I put the jumper cable to the starter post.I messed with it for a couple months(I was a broke teen at the time)before I had enough money to replace the starter.I went to pull it and the cable slid right out of the insulation.I replaced the cable and it worked fine after that.The 20 year old battery cable had corroded in two inside the insulation. __________________ The 47-present Chevrolet and GMC Truck Message Board Network,it's owners,moderators,members,and associates of any type should not be held responsible for my opinion. You can't fix stupid,not even with duct tape. "My appearance is due to the fact that "GOD" does punish you for having too much fun!" Barrett-Jackson has perfected alchemy,they make rust into gold! "You can lead a horse to water but you can't saddle a duck" "Cleverly disguised as a 'Responsible Adult' "Sometimes your Knight in shining armor is just a retard in tinfoil"

10-22-2005, 09:46 PM	#12
GlennBrittain Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Panola County Texas Posts: 401	Re: Any tips on trouble shooting the starter? I developed the dead silence when tuning the key to start with a hot motor. Since I was ordering headlight relays, I added a remote starter solenoid. This eleminates the purple wire being overheated by the headers, only the heavy battery positive cable goes to the starter. This fixed my problem.

10-23-2005, 08:36 AM	#13
70 shorty Where's my beer? Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Glen Allen, VA Posts: 1,768	Re: Any tips on trouble shooting the starter? I'd do as others have suggested and take the starter off and take it to Advance Auto or Auto Zone if you have one close by and have it tested for free. __________________ 70 C10, shortstep, .30 over 250,Hurst shifted 3 spd parts hauler. Holley 390, Clifford Intake, Header, ported cylinder head, unknown bigger cam. 79 Corvette L82, 4 spd, black, red interior, headers, flowmasters, and unkown bigger cam. '03 Grand Cherokee Laredo, 4.0 4x4 daily driver. 165K miles, and runs great '08 Tahoe LTZ 4x4 155K

10-23-2005, 12:54 PM	#14
Long Roof Old School, New Style Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Monroeville, Ohio Posts: 790	Re: Any tips on trouble shooting the starter? Make sure you clean all ground wires. There are many. Some at the firewall, some at the rad support, some from frame to body. Corroded ground wires have stopped me a few time before. Aaron __________________ The Good: - 72 GMC Jimmy 4x4 - 307 cid / 350 th - 70 Chevy Suburban 1/2T 2wd - 454 cid /400 th - 96 Chevy Impala SS - mainly stock - 98 Chevy Tahoe LT 4x4 - all stock The Bad: - 86 Chevy Suburban 1/2T 4x4 - winter beater The Ugly: - 72 Chevy Suburban 1/2T 2wd - parts truck

10-23-2005, 01:10 PM	#15
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	Re: Any tips on trouble shooting the starter? IF you are running headers....and this isn't an answer to the problem that was originally posted.....AND you have problems starting a hot engine, you MAY find that installing a heat shield on the starter will benefit you. But, bear in mind that a lean mixture will increase the heat within the combustion chamber and THAT MAY be part of the problem. I changed my carburetor, from a 600CFM Edelbrock (AFB-type), to a 750CFM Edelbrock Q-Jet, and had to install the heat shield, which solved MY hot start problem. But, we should all know that the age of our vehicles, and our desires to keep it as original as possible (for some) can cause some problems that can aggravate the fire out of us. Replacement wiring harnesses are not a bad investment, especially under the hood. __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

11-19-2005, 06:03 PM	#16
Martin64 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Yuma, Az Posts: 477	Re: Any tips on trouble shooting the starter? After not being able to get to it for about a month, it turned out to be the neutral safety switch. __________________ Martin Gibson USAF Retired 1964(-ish) C10 Last edited by Martin64; 11-19-2005 at 06:03 PM.



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