Willdsl

Yesterday the engine cranked to start one turn, stopped, and then kept cranking and started. twice. I cleaned the battery posts just because. Today it barely started and now it won't crank at all. Batteries 12.6v. Dash lights all good. With key in run position fuel solenoid not lifting but can lift by hand and it stays up.
Push in the clutch, turn the key, nothing, no cranking at all. Starter was replaced 3-4 years ago but not with heavy duty contacts.
This is from my recent previous thread to which i haven't been able to get anything done with yet. Don't know if they are related.
My engine has been slowly getting worse over the last 9-12 months.
1. RPMs have dropped according to my tach from 850 or so to 600, less with A/C and lights on, like 500 rpm's.
2. It takes more cranks to start. Used to start bam, right up not even one starter crank. Now 5 or more cranks unless I give it throttle, then chukes black smoke when it starts.
3. Loss of power, used to go pretty good especially once you hit 1700 rpm's. Now doggish until almost 1900 rpms then the power comes.
4. At 23-2500+ rpms lots of grey smoke especially in 3rd gear. Used to give black smoke when I punched it.

Fuel filter, oil &filter, air filter all changed religiously at correct intervals.
Had valves reset at around 124k.
Any advice?

BILTIT

Sounds very much like an IP problem, many have had the same symptoms.

patdaly

Couple of things, you say no power and you changed the fuel filter, did you also clean the pre-filter? Have you checked the fuel pressure?

RPM drop is either a lack of fuel, or over time, the linkage wears and needs to be re-set. Find your fuel issue, and it may fix itself, if not, easy to reset with a 10 mm wrench and some contortionist activity.

On your fuel solenoid, check the fusible links, grounds, and relay, should be one of those. ( Assuming you tried cranking, it does not come up until the starter engages! )
Starter is a throw of the dice, you say a few years since you changed it, where did it come from? Most rebuilds aren't all that good.

Willdsl

Starter isn't cranking at all. Haven't been able to get to pre filter,fuel pressure regulator banjo bolt thing or fuel pressure check at idle or WOT. My most worry is the starter isn't cranking anymore. Could any of the previous things cause the starter not to crank? Starter came from NAPA. Can i supply power to the single 12 gage wire at the starter to see if it cranks? Or do i need to take it out and take it to NAPA, whom I don't trust thier starter checker very much.

9812vram

you need to give power to the small wire on the starter - this engages the solenoid which gives power to the starter through the large wire.

Smoke, power issues, idle and hard starting all sounds to me like you're getting air in the lines.

infidel

Make sure it's in N, key on, then crawl under and short the big connector bolt to the small one.
If it doesn't crank the starter is bad. If it does crank the small wiring has an open short or the ASD relay in the underhood fuse box is bad.

Willdsl

Thanks, I'll try powering the starter ignition wire to see if the starter works. ASD relay? Is that Automatic ShutDown relay? Is that one the ones on the top of the firewall above/near the breake master cylinder? as for other issues I'm pretty sure I am going to have to replace the fuel lines, tank forward. pre screen, overflow valve and then check fuel pressure. I just need to get it started first so I can get it home.

Willdsl

oops, I see Infidel mentioned ASD "in' 'the underhood fuse box".

patdaly

Hey, seriously, Genos Garage has Factory Service Manuals on CD for our 97s for 35 bucks.

Best Investment I ever spent. I save a copy on a thumb drive and keep it in my truck as well as a copy on the SD card in my phone, that way no matter where I am, all I need is a 'puter to get info.

Willdsl

Thanks to everyone.
Starter was dead. New starter and fired right up. Kept old one to rebuild. While I was under there I found every fuel connection at rubber to metal wet. Will replace fuel lines front to back, pre screen filter, overflow valve then maybe have timing checked/reset.
Also, with starter out, finally found idle adjustment. Bumped it up some, not enough yet, but it helped the starting some.
If Genos has a manual for $35.00 I'm getting one with my filter order.
Thanks again.
Great site!

TheWaterman1000

Ok.. Dumb question. Was the "main" starter dead or the solenoid? Asking because My starter started to get freaky and did the short to fire up the truck. I now keep a solenoid rebuild kit In the truck now.. Starter is original and still working fine..