starter? cap? ghost?

[vegas80step]

Whats up guys...
a few weeks ago I was having trouble starting my truck.. I found a problem with the rod in my column and thought everything was OK..

Now it's having trouble again...

some times it fires right up.. other times it acts like the battery is dead even though it's not.. after a few turns (all like the battery is dead) it will fire right up...

Starter?

Could it be a problem with my distributor, cap or wires?

I was reading online that auto zone can test my alt, bat, and starter.. true?
every time I have been in there they look lost.. like they woke up in the back room and don't know how they got there... lol...

thanks for any tips...

[Goldfinger]

sounds like bad connections or solenoid. clean up the terminals on the ign system

[joe231]

Could be a bad starter or bad cables.
Does it act differently when the engine is hot or cold?
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[old Rusty C10]

first thing you do is clean every connection in the starting system incuding grounds .On all the battery cablesinspect for corrosion , cracks etc ill bet youll find your culprit..

[jhngardner367]

Check the battery cables,and while you're at it,check to see if the solenoid is loose,on the starter.
I've seen a couple'so far,especially on autozone/O'reilly's starters!

[64shortbox]

Have you checked the ignition switch at the column? You know where the rod connects. You can loosen the screws and slide the switch further down the column, maybe the rod from the key isn't pulling far enough to engauge the starter circut.

[vegas80step]

Thanks for the input everyone... last week I replaced the key with a push button, checked column and rod, also swapped out the battery terminal connections.

today at your guys advise I traced all wires, made sure everything was clean and tight...

I just got back from Auto Zone and they said that my battery was good, alternator was good and....... my starter failed.....

It was looking that way anyway.. So probably a safe bet huh?

Looks like I have a new starter in my future... Any recommendations???

again thanks for the input everyone...

.

[motornut]

i've seen the big batt post on the starter solenoid get baked inside
sometimes removing the cap there, it can be turned to work again
but when i did mine the flywheel was part of the problem (worn out)

[grayharville]

Ive had starters work fine until the truck gets warm, and then they get heated and wont work; it acts like the battery is dead. I have that problem with my 4x4 right now.

I would recommend just getting a lifetime replacement starter from your favorite parts house, that way if it goes out again, its their problem!

[vegas80step]

My two year old tells me "ride the truck, cool...."

So... I tell him if it starts will take the truck.. thinking I'll just leave it running at the parts store..

I go to Orileys get the lifetime starter.. figure even if it craps out, it's not too hard to get too..

On the way home it feels like I'm out of gas.. I have gas though...

And dead on the side of the road.. Pretty sure My fuel pump took a crap.. Oh the joys of truck builds... lol....

[grayharville]

a pump is all of 20 dollars and a 30 minute job, get it done

[vegas80step]

Originally Posted by grayharville

a pump is all of 20 dollars and a 30 minute job, get it done

For sure... at this point I'm thinking about running two and a toggle switch just in case, lol... ill be the weird guy with an on board back up fuel pump...
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[stroker87]

I was going true the same thing you are just last week on my 95 some times it start right up then it would give the impression of a dead battery it was the starter I picked up one from Napa for $60 solved my problem

[grayharville]

An electric pump wouldn't be a bad idea, but usually they'll give signs before they completely crap out
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[motornut]

just don't add an "extra" pump like my PO did on my 79,what ever works eh
with a few extra pieces lol
if you find leaning over the side, bad pull the inner fender,sit on the tire
kept my backside out of the -20C heat lol

[vegas80step]

new pump, new starter fires right up... thanks for the input everyone...