help plz : starting problems
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 494
Likes: 2
From: rockwall tx
help plz : starting problems
no one on the full size chevy website seems to be able to help with this so im seeing if someone here has a little insight. this has been an on going issue for the past month, one day i was running some erronds around town and on the last stop my truck won't start. have dash lights, radio, everything but it doesnt even click out of the starter. so i replace the batter. 4 days later the same thing happens, so i replace the altenator, and pull out all of the stereo and wires cause i found a break in the hot wire. thought that would cure it. today i drove to work, went to lunch, then went to go home and the same thing again. this is a 92 gmc 5.7 and i have replaced just about everything but the engine itself.
has anyone had this problem?
has anyone had this problem?
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,665
Likes: 1
From: Ontario
I will assume your starter is similar in setup to that of a C3...
If you are not even getting a click - your starter solenoid is bad or it is not getting enough voltage.
The solenoid needs a good solid 12 volts to pull in and start the motor turning. If you have a wiring problem (loose connections, rusty wires, broken wires, bad ground, bad switch...) then there will be a voltage drop between the battery and the starter meaning your starter solenoid will not be getting enough voltage to engage.
Put a voltmeter on the solenoid and try to start the engine. If you have 12 volts (or close to it) the solenoid is getting enough power so it must be bad. If you have 11 volts or less its probably the wiring between the battery and the solenoid.
If you are not even getting a click - your starter solenoid is bad or it is not getting enough voltage.
The solenoid needs a good solid 12 volts to pull in and start the motor turning. If you have a wiring problem (loose connections, rusty wires, broken wires, bad ground, bad switch...) then there will be a voltage drop between the battery and the starter meaning your starter solenoid will not be getting enough voltage to engage.
Put a voltmeter on the solenoid and try to start the engine. If you have 12 volts (or close to it) the solenoid is getting enough power so it must be bad. If you have 11 volts or less its probably the wiring between the battery and the solenoid.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,804
Likes: 4
From: Standing still with all my might Texas
Cruise-In X Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09-'11
It could also be a bad starter. The one in my vette would work sometimes, but it had a bad spot on the armeture contacts and if it happened to stop with the bad spots lined up with the brushes it would only start with a jump or a freshly charges batter (more voltage would help ark across the bad spot).
Another thing you might check is the grounding strap (or cable) between the engine and the frame. If it is bad your battery might not charge properly, and/or the starter will not get a good ground.
Good luck!
Another thing you might check is the grounding strap (or cable) between the engine and the frame. If it is bad your battery might not charge properly, and/or the starter will not get a good ground.
Good luck!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,117
Likes: 0
From: San Jose CA
Originally Posted by jlaw68
thanks a bunch for the help. will pull the starter tomorrow and let yall know what i come up with
My C3 has the similar issue. Starter runs good simetimes,
does not even click sometimes. After a few attempts of turning
key, starter eventually runs.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
From: Eau Claire WI
had simular problem
Mine was caused by the inside wire on the solenoid grounding out. Had lights/accessories, etc but the wire had turned and was grounding on the block. it was an easy fix but a b..... to find!!
this may not help as i think your solenoid is only a 2 pole vs 3 pole.
this may not help as i think your solenoid is only a 2 pole vs 3 pole.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 494
Likes: 2
From: rockwall tx
took the starter out and took it to oriellys and had them test it, the machine spun it right up but, the machine probably puts out over 12 volts so even if it had a bad spot probably wouldnt be able to tell unless i had it taken apart. so hopefully a new starter will fix the problem. o and after all of this i take the vette out for a spin and now it is missing a little at idle and low speeds. the problems never end!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 494
Likes: 2
From: rockwall tx
Originally Posted by GroundPounder
Please let us know what you came up with.
My C3 has the similar issue. Starter runs good simetimes,
does not even click sometimes. After a few attempts of turning
key, starter eventually runs.
My C3 has the similar issue. Starter runs good simetimes,
does not even click sometimes. After a few attempts of turning
key, starter eventually runs.
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