Mystery No Start Problem

[Bustedsm]

I'm pretty sure this isn't purple wire related because upon inspection and changing out the starter earlier today I noticed that the purple wire was in fact in pretty good shape for being 17 years old.

Either way, this started Wednesday when I got to school. Shut the truck off and went to class for 4 hours just to come out to the truck not wanting to even turn over in park. Tossed the truck into neutral and it started right up. Went to a buddies house last night to work on his GTi and when I went out to try to get it started the truck wouldn't do anything in either Park nor Neutral.

Replaced the starter because I'd felt that was the problem but I was wrong (although the starter I pulled out pretty much fell apart, the plastic at least). What else could be wrong? Help!

 

[sly dvl]

Re: Mystery No Start Problem

Get your test light out. You need to verify that you're getting 12v at said purple wire terminal in the "crank" position. While you're down there verify that you have 12v constant on the heavy stud on the starter solenoid.

 

[sy2675]

Re: Mystery No Start Problem

could be park/neutral safety switch, PURPLE WIRE, ign, starter, ........................

 

[Bustedsm]

Re: Mystery No Start Problem

Ok, so the truck won't start when rowing through the gears and it doesn't give me any sort of "clicking" sound at all. The radio goes black like it should but nothing. Purple wire or ignition switch?

I can't even use my remote start to start the car, it just sits there.

 

[sy2675]

Re: Mystery No Start Problem

Get your test light out. You need to verify that you're getting 12v at said purple wire terminal in the "crank" position. While you're down there verify that you have 12v constant on the heavy stud on the starter solenoid.

did you do the above?

 

[Bustedsm]

Re: Mystery No Start Problem

did you do the above?

I haven't checked to see if I get 12v when cranking but I can tell you 100% that I'm getting a constant 12v. I can jump the starter no problems.

 

[ROSEDOGGYDOG]

Re: Mystery No Start Problem

I can jump the starter no problems.

By this you mean that when you get a "jump" it starts right up?

I used to have this problem with my 78 Camaro when I put headers on it. One after driving it I went to get some gas and it wouldn't start but after a quick jump it would and this happened on a number of ocassions. If it had time to cool down though it would start just fine. I eventually put a heat shield on my starter and that helped it.

Maybe a thicker gauged wire to the starter might help.

my :2cents:.

 

[sly dvl]

Re: Mystery No Start Problem

I haven't checked to see if I get 12v when cranking but I can tell you 100% that I'm getting a constant 12v. I can jump the starter no problems.

So you've ruled out a starter problem. There's obviously no power (or insufficient power) on the purple wire. Could be an ign switch, could be a neutral safety switch, could be a bad connection at the starter...
You need to figure out where the 12v stops. Is it getting in to the ign switch but not out. Or, in to the neutral safety switch but not out. Do you have schematics?

 

[Bustedsm]

Re: Mystery No Start Problem

By this you mean that when you get a "jump" it starts right up?

I used to have this problem with my 78 Camaro when I put headers on it. One after driving it I went to get some gas and it wouldn't start but after a quick jump it would and this happened on a number of ocassions. If it had time to cool down though it would start just fine. I eventually put a heat shield on my starter and that helped it.

Maybe a thicker gauged wire to the starter might help.

my :2cents:.

By "jump" I mean taking a screwdriver from the constant 12v post to the "purple wire" and it starts right up with the key in the start position. I have to test somewhere, probably tomorrow during the day.

 

[Bustedsm]

Re: Mystery No Start Problem

So, to add to my electrical starting problem I just found out my reverse lights don't work either.....coincidence or irrelevant?

 

[dgoodhue]

Re: Mystery No Start Problem

So, to add to my electrical starting problem I just found out my reverse lights don't work either.....coincidence or irrelevant?

It could be the Park/Neutral Switch (under center console) or related wiring. This also controls the reverse lights. The place to look is the ignition switch at the base of the steering column.