Full battery, wont turn over

[Skunksmash]

Having some kind of starting issue. The truck won't even try to turn over. But the battery is full. 87 TBI 5.7L

What is usually the cause of this? Perhaps a dead starter? Or a dead switchkey? Do starters just up and die, or do they sound different as they get weaker and weaker?

[rich weyand]

Change the starter cables. They oxidize internally with no outward sign any time after ten years or so.

[OldCreek]

Check your ground (-).

[franken]

No click, nothing at all?
If so, the solenoid isn't starting the starter and the problem is on the low current side.
Lights? Horn?
Jump the solenoid, or measure the voltage to ground at the solenoid S terminal with the key in the start position.
What's the battery voltage?

[Kurt L]

i agree with rich had the same problem with a toyota one time put a new cable from the starter to the battery no more problem.

[Hubscrub]

give the starter a few taps with a hammer see if it moves then.

[Skunksmash]

Yeah no click, nothing. But I have headlights and everything. I think its the switchkey, maybe. It jiggled it and tapped on it a little bit and it started working. The switchkey has been kind of worn out since I got the truck. You can take the key out while the truck is still running.

Battery voltage is fine at 13.8v

[cadillac_al]

You can jump the solenoid with a screwdriver to verify that the starter has enough current and that it works.

[Hubscrub]

another thought,if you have a tilt column try moving it up and down, i've have problems with mine where it wouldn't start. Not totaly sure how it all works but think there is a rod in the column that engages the ignition switch under the dash when you turn the key and wasn't doing it in certain locations.

[meter swinger]

You can remove the top cover from the collum and take the bottom cover off and loosen the bolts on the collum bracket until the collum drops a little. Then you can see rod on top of the collum that runs between the ign. Tumbler and the ign. Switch at the base of the collum. Turn the key and press down on the rod with needle nose pliers. If it starts your key tumbler is bad. They are cheap pot metal and have a small tang on them that breaks off.

[rs74]

Sounds like maybe some sort of ignition issue in the column. I was originally going to say check your connections on the relay on the firewall above the distributor. I had that issue a while back. The terminals were corroded and not making contact.

[Skunksmash]

Originally Posted by Hubscrub

another thought,if you have a tilt column try moving it up and down, i've have problems with mine where it wouldn't start. Not totaly sure how it all works but think there is a rod in the column that engages the ignition switch under the dash when you turn the key and wasn't doing it in certain locations.

Yeah I've been moving it around lately, maybe that has something to do with it.

But thanks for all the help everyone! I will try all of these methods to get it fixed

[franken]

Battery voltage is 12.7 with a full charge so you have a magic battery I guess that's at idle...
The key on column vehicles move a rod connected to a switch down the column a bit.

[Skunksmash]

The wife's toyota says 13.4v at idle and 13.8 at 2k rpm. Its not uncommon

Your battery is probably just old

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Skunksmash

The wife's toyota says 13.4v at idle and 13.8 at 2k rpm. Its not uncommon

Your battery is probably just old

x2.... Or not magical.

[blazerkid]

try hitting the bottom of the starter with a hammer

[hatzie]

Originally Posted by Skunksmash

The wife's toyota says 13.4v at idle and 13.8 at 2k rpm. Its not uncommon

Your battery is probably just old

That's a little low. 14-14.5 is what you should see engine running.
12.7 maybe just after shutdown before it settles down to 12.2 or so.

[rich weyand]

Originally Posted by hatzie

That's a little low. 14-14.5 is what you should see engine running.
12.7 maybe just after shutdown before it settles down to 12.2 or so.

I think it's more like 13.2 volts right after shutdown. The surface charge will leak off over a dozen hours or so and settle between 12.6 and 12.7 volts for a fully charged battery.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automot...rminal_voltage

[lanconcj]

my neutral safety switch went out on my 78 causing the same problem. At the time, it was a $5.00 part.

[hatzie]

^^^ Good thing to check ^^^

Originally Posted by rich weyand

I think it's more like 13.2 volts right after shutdown. The surface charge will leak off over a dozen hours or so and settle between 12.6 and 12.7 volts for a fully charged battery.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automot...rminal_voltage

Within the margin of error for my cheap shop meter.
If she settles to around 11.8-12.5 I'm happy.

[Skunksmash]

Dont know what was going on, it seemed to fix itself. Till it leaves me stranded lol

Gotta be either the switchkey or one of those column issues

[Skunksmash]

Well it left me stranded. And you guys saying it was the starter, you must have been right.

Cause I grabbed a hammer and tapped on the starter a few times, and then turned the key again and it started right up. What is the issue? Can I fix this starter? Or do I have to buy a new one?

[gchemist]

You can have the solenoid replaced. However, most people just opt for a new starter.

[Skunksmash]

I kinda want to find the exact problem and fix it myself. I love turning my own wrenches whenever I can.

What exactly does it mean if you can tap the starter with a hammer, and then the problem goes away? Is that the solenoid? Could it also be something else?

And just in case, where exactly is the neutral safety switch located? I'll check it out too.

[rich weyand]

Did you ever change the starter cables? They can be on and off like that.