Starting Issue (Possible Ground Issue)

[DreamRyder1963]

I am having trouble getting my 71 C10 to start. The radiator went out last week and the truck sat for a couple of days till the new radiator came in. Well when I got everything back together the truck would not even engage the starter. The brake light in the cluster would come on and thats it. I jumped the solenoid and it started to turn the truck over but it was very slow so I replaced it with a known to be good starter. It still did not start the truck. I decided it had to be a bad connection somewhere so I replaced the cable ends and tighten all the connects I could find. Nothing happened so I swapped the battery (a brand new Optima Red Top) and it started finally!

I drove my truck to work yesterday and on the way I had a new hose blow out on me. I pulled over and let it cool off. When it cooled off I tried to move it to a safer place and the truck would not start! I figured that the solenoid was simply heat-soaked and would be fine later.

This morning I fixed the hose and it still would not start. I decided it must be a ground issue so I disconnected and cleaned the connection at the block and checked a seperate ground someone attached to the fender. It still will not start. I took both batterys to work today, I work at Advance Auto, and checked them. It looks like the Optima is fried but the other battery has 1100 cca. Last time I checked that should start a stock 350 with no troubles. I could use any ideas on what I might have missed. Thanks for your help.

[Zable49]

I would check your fuseable link (+ cable from post to fender)... I would also check your main harness at the firewall. I've had the firewall block curoded causing the starter to not get signal to turn over. Then if thats not it. I know you said you checked you grounds, but I would make sure its grounded at these locations with no grease and paint in between your wire and item-
Battery to motor
Motor to body
Body to frame

Good luck, let us know what ya find.

[DreamRyder1963]

I by-passed the fuse-a-ble link by directly connecting the wires together so that should not be a problem. I will try to check and reinstall all the grounds with dielectric grease tomorrow.

[DreamRyder1963]

I noticed these relays on the firewall while I checked the wiring harness. Does anyone know what they control?

[DreamRyder1963]

I figured out what the relays on the firewall were to. Appratently they are for the TCS and therefore not likely to be my problem. I have cleaned and greased all of the grounds within the engine bay, and I still have the same problem. I do not think it is the igition switch since the brake light on the dash appears when I try to start the truck but I can not think of what else it could be.

[Don Quixote]

Sounds like your starter celenoid is giving up the ghost. Does it start when you put the screwdriver shaft to the leads?

[DreamRyder1963]

It sounds like the starter spins but does not extend. I guess its time to change the starter again.