Wont start...help

[91Sleeper]

Ok, I had the starter click problem and installed the hot shot relay( or whatever it's called / I can't remember :roll: )...worked great for about 2 or 3 days, then I get in my truck and try to start it last night and when I turn the key I get nothing :rant: just a faint clicking noise that is not coming from the starter this time but seems to be somewhere on the drivers side just in front on the firewall maybe. I checked the battery and it's fine, I checked the connections and they are good and tight with no corrosion, I checked the for juice to the starter and a good ground as well as the hot shot relay connections...all seem ok , I pulled the fuses and they are good. So, WTF is it this time? I'm thinkng it's a wiring prob somewhere but could the starter just be bad? The "check guages" light is blinking also, but I don't know what the hell for.

Oh, and has anyone else just about lost thier friggin mind tryin' to tighten up that damn hot wire nut on the starter?...just wondering.

Any suggestions to fix would be appreciated :tup: Thanks

 

[mattw]

Re: Wont start...help

There is a little box on top of the steering column that has the actual switch that triggers the starter relay. Its probably bad. I forget the name of it but I got one at NAPA.


-Matt

 

[Flyin Ryan]

Re: Wont start...help

Can't really think of anything off hand that would be clicking on the driver's side except for a relay but neither of the two on the firewall on that side have to do with the starter.. one's ac and tthe other's the fuel pump relay. do you have your hotshot relay mounted over there, is it that relay that's clicking or have you tried by passing the hotwire setup?

 

[91Sleeper]

Re: Wont start...help

Can't really think of anything off hand that would be clicking on the driver's side except for a relay but neither of the two on the firewall on that side have to do with the starter.. one's ac and tthe other's the fuel pump relay. do you have your hotshot relay mounted over there, is it that relay that's clicking or have you tried by passing the hotwire setup?

My hotshot is mounted over on the passenger side. I haven't tried bypassing the setup...just pull the relay out of the hotshot?

 

[91Sleeper]

Re: Wont start...help

There is a little box on top of the steering column that has the actual switch that triggers the starter relay. Its probably bad. I forget the name of it but I got one at NAPA.


-Matt

Hmmm....that kinda sounds like where the little click is coming from. It's very faint and what's with the "check guages" light flashing on and off when I have the key in on position?

 

[mattw]

Re: Wont start...help

what's with the "check guages" light flashing on and off when I have the key in on position?

Got me.. You don't have a jumper in the aldl port grounding out the diagnostic pin do you?


-Matt

 

[91Sleeper]

Re: Wont start...help

Got me.. You don't have a jumper in the aldl port grounding out the diagnostic pin do you?


-Matt

Uh...say what? :dunno: All the wiring was done by previous owner and he did a real "slick" job :roll: A jumper in the Aldl port...tell me where is that located and I'll check it out. If it does then is that a bad thing? I'm pretty green to all that stuff but I do appreciate the help. Well, I'll have check it out further this evening, I've slept 3 hours in two and a half days ..time to crash :sleepy:

 

[SY2932]

Re: Wont start...help

ALDL port-where it is and what it does can be found here.

 

[91Sleeper]

Re: Wont start...help

ALDL port-where it is and what it does can be found here.

Theres nothing in the ALDL port. The clicking sounds like the starter again after all :rant: when I got underneath it and had someone bump it . Been trying to tighten up the hot wire post nut with the starter on but having a hell of a time, guess I'd just better take it off, I think thats the problem. The mechanic at GM shop put the hot shot on and I don't think he got the nut on tight because I can move the pos. cable and see it turning the nut back and forth a little. But I still don't understand why it started fine for 2 or 3 days and then "click" ? seems to me that if it was tight enough to start it up before then why the trouble now? Oh well, better get to it

 

[Flyin Ryan]

Re: Wont start...help

Well my guess would be from engine viberations you might or might not have enough contact each time on the post to get the juice to the solenoid.. eitherway you ll have to drop the starter in order to get to the post.. I did so and ended up stripping the hell out of the f-n threads on the post so now I have to get a starter!

 

[91Sleeper]

Re: Wont start...help

Well my guess would be from engine viberations you might or might not have enough contact each time on the post to get the juice to the solenoid.. eitherway you ll have to drop the starter in order to get to the post.. I did so and ended up stripping the hell out of the f-n threads on the post so now I have to get a starter!

This truck has a Code Alarm system installed...I think it's the problem now.

 

[91Sleeper]

Re: Wont start...help

I have been at this all day and can't figure out how to uninstall this alarm system... :rant: I have the general idea, just find the ignition wire and unhook the alarm relay wires that are inline and re-attch the ignition wire like it's stock. I cannot make any sense of the mess under the dash and now must seek professional help :roll: Any electrical wizards out there make house calls? This is a mess!

 

[mattw]

Re: Wont start...help

The ignition wire is purple and it runs down the steering column then down to the right. I think it must head back toward the fuse box from there as it goes though that connector that plugs into the the back of the fuse box. I may be able to get you a pic of it this evening.

If you take the loom off of that thick ~1" bundle of wires that goes over your brake booster you will find your purple wire in there as well.


-Matt

 

[SY2932]

Re: Wont start...help

The ignition wire is purple and it runs down the steering column then down to the right. I think it must head back toward the fuse box from there as it goes though that connector that plugs into the the back of the fuse box. I may be able to get you a pic of it this evening.

If you take the loom off of that thick ~1" bundle of wires that goes over your brake booster you will find your purple wire in there as well.


-Matt

There are actually three purple wires in that wiring harness. The one that you want will be the largest of the three.

 

[cloneman315]

Re: Wont start...help

there is probably a starter kill relay in the purple wire,make sure there isnt if there is take the relay out and put the purple wire backtogether and if that isnt it the starter is bad,the starter click is usually the starter solenoid burnt up,replace it and heat wrap it up.

 

[91Sleeper]

Re: Wont start...help

there is probably a starter kill relay in the purple wire,make sure there isnt if there is take the relay out and put the purple wire backtogether and if that isnt it the starter is bad,the starter click is usually the starter solenoid burnt up,replace it and heat wrap it up.

Yup, it was the alarm system causing the problem, there was a starter kill relay. I got it running and was so relieved I didn't have to drop that damn starter

Thanks for all the help guys :tup: