no start issue

[jim ellis]

Need help with a small problem.My 69 c-10 will not start occasionally.
have replaced the battery cables,the starter(rebuilt gm),ignition switch,ran new correct guage wire from ignition switch to starter.
Does not seem to make any difference in it being hot or cold.Starter will click but not engage.
Any help with this problemwould be greatly appreciated



Thanks
jim ellis

[VetteVet]

to the forums

In order to solve this problem you need to isolate the primary circuit from the control circuit. the primary circuit being the battery, battery cables, and the solenoid and starter, and the control circuit being the small wires from the ignition switch to the solenoid.

To do this, the next time it happens you should immediately jump from the positive battery cable on the solenoid to the S terminal on the solenoid where the purple goes. If the starter works then the problem is in the control circuit. You say you have already replaced the wire from the ignition switch to the solenoid. Do you have a neutral start switch on the steering column for an automatic trans? It will have 4 wires going to it, two purple and two green. If it is worn then it could be the problem. Actually the first thing to do is wiggle the shifter a bit while holding the key in the start position. You can also connect the two purple wires together and try to start the engine. this bypasses the switch and If the switch is bad the engine should start. Be cautious though as the truck will start in gear and the same applies if you jump the starter.

The next step would be the firewall block and a poor connection between the purple wire terminals between the cab side and the engine side. That would account for the intermittent no starts. A less likely reason might be the hot wire to the key switch which also runs through the firewall block. It is the red 12 gauge wire from the engine side harness. A quick check on this would be to blow the horn when the condition occurs. A weak voltage would cause the horn to sound anemic also the headlights would be dimmer than they should be.

Good Luck and keep us posted.

[cdowns]

clean all contact points for cables and wires to bright and shiny and coat with thin coat of dielectric grease especially all 4ends of the battery cables

[ole dollor]

welcome to the board from Texas, have you done anything to the truck , like change out the motor, if you have , then check all the motor grounds, motor to frame, firewall , etc. they could be missing or dirty....just another thought...