Stopped starting

[mrgm]

1979 C20
Silverado
454 TH400
Stock

I'm sure someone has had this problem.
Washed engine bay at local do it yourself wash, with the wand. Went to start and turned on wipers at the same time. Just fast clicking sound...but was not like a starter sound. All accessories still operational..ie lights, ac fan, etc. motor did not run over, starter did not make a noise. I let sit for a little, tried again, nothing..no more clicking sound. So I had it towed home. I checked the basis stuff, fuses, battery connections, starter connections. So I just assumed starter. Pulled mine off went to parts store and had it tested. Was fine. Grabbed another since I pulled the original out. Replaced. Same thing. So them assumed ignition switch. Replaced, same thing.

Still nothing when I trying to crank. Starter does not engage.

So I come here to look for a possible problems, troubleshooting advice and solutions

Edit: battery is about a year old and strong

[Corts60]

Have you put a voltmeter on the battery yet?

[mrgm]

Originally Posted by Corts60

Have you put a voltmeter on the battery yet?

Yes. Battery is good

[franken]

You should post the voltage reading to the nearest tenth.
I'd suggest to stop throwing parts at it and troubleshoot the issue.

[Corts60]

Perhaps neutral safety switch?

[kipps]

Check voltage at the battery, both before and during cranking.

Check voltage at the starter terminal, both before and during cranking.

Confirm the truck is in park, and short the starter to the small crank terminal.

This should narrow down the problem considerably. Report back.

[Dead Parrot]

My first thought was dead battery. The fast clicking sound is the starter solenoid engaging and then releasing due to low voltage. Batteries sometimes die just that quick.

Could also be an alternator going bad and the battery got too low to start on your drive to the car wash.

Before doing anything, check your battery voltage. Then jump start it. Disconnect the jump source. Make sure all accessories are off. Wait a few minutes and recheck the voltage. If the alternator is working, the voltage should show some increase.

Alternative - if you have a battery charger, let it charge overnight and try starting.

[75C10]

There is a positive battery junction block on the top of the firewall about in the middle ish - drivers side. Test with voltmeter. If the connections are not perfect, everything in the truck will work but the truck won’t start. I suspect when you washed the engine compartment something might have happened. Tighten that connection (there is two nuts to tighten).

[mrgm]

Originally Posted by Corts60

Perhaps neutral safety switch?

How would I check that?

[mrgm]

Originally Posted by kipps

Check voltage at the battery, both before and during cranking.

Check voltage at the starter terminal, both before and during cranking.

Confirm the truck is in park, and short the starter to the small crank terminal.

This should narrow down the problem considerably. Report back.

12.5 at batt
12.10 with switch on (fan turns on) no diff when switch place to crank

No sure how to short the starter. Do I jump the two connections (see pic)

[mrgm]

Originally Posted by Dead Parrot

My first thought was dead battery. The fast clicking sound is the starter solenoid engaging and then releasing due to low voltage. Batteries sometimes die just that quick.

Could also be an alternator going bad and the battery got too low to start on your drive to the car wash.

Before doing anything, check your battery voltage. Then jump start it. Disconnect the jump source. Make sure all accessories are off. Wait a few minutes and recheck the voltage. If the alternator is working, the voltage should show some increase.

Alternative - if you have a battery charger, let it charge overnight and try starting.

Starter was fine. Had it tested. Is there a starter relay... that could be clicking

[mrgm]

Originally Posted by 75C10

There is a positive battery junction block on the top of the firewall about in the middle ish - drivers side. Test with voltmeter. If the connections are not perfect, everything in the truck will work but the truck won’t start. I suspect when you washed the engine compartment something might have happened. Tighten that connection (there is two nuts to tighten).

Put voltmeter to each post. Have 12.50 on each. What does this post serve? Is there an in-line fuse between ignition switch and starter?

[pound41]

76 C10 454 stepside. Truck my dad left me. It sits at my Mom's we would start it occasionally. We started it ran fine. Weeks later went back. Dead No lights no power.
Check the junction box on firewall.No power getting to it. Sanded the grounds and the cables. Tested battery to the starter. Battery was sending power the starter. Expected the wire from the Starter to the junction box to be bad. It wasn't Totally stumped threw another starter on it. Started fine lights worked everything . Never experienced that before

[kipps]

Originally Posted by mrgm

12.5 at batt
12.10 with switch on (fan turns on) no diff when switch place to crank

No sure how to short the starter. Do I jump the two connections (see pic)

Yes, those are the two connections to short together.

There's possibly an open connection between the crank position on the key switch, and the starter. By shorting it, you'd be bypassing that broken wire.

[Factory Guy]

May not be related

but I drove my 1970 Chevelle to the car wash, washed the car DID NOT WASH the engine compartment. Started the Chevelle and drove the car out of the wash bay, 50 feet away to dry it off. Dried car off for maybe 15-20 minutes. Upon reentry to leave car would not start. NO clicking or anything. Tried jumping it, Nothing. Ran down to the parts store, bought a new battery she started just fine, and has been running fine ever since (some 7 years ago).

Moral of the story today's batteries sometimes just go bad, instantly?

Weird I know. A buddy of mine had the same issue with his 1971 Corvette.

[cadillac_al]

Yeah, I have seen batteries that test out at 12.5 volts but do a load test and it drops like a stone. They can trick you sometimes. It does sound water related though. I would try jumping those terminals in the photo in post #10.