Well my starter died on my '93 so I called the dealer to get prices. They wanted almost $600 for a new one so I started calling the parts houses and found one for $200. Anyway I took it to a local repair shop and they said it was done so I had the wife go pay and get the keys because I wasnt going to get home until after they were closed. I went to pick it up last night aprox 11:30 pm. I hit the key for a split second and it fired right up . I turned my headlights on and after about 5 seconds they went off almost like I had blown a fuse (headlights, marker lights, radio, guages all dead) but engine still running. I went to get under the dash to get to my fuse block and looked and the dash lights were on but verrrrrrry dim. My wife had just dropped me off and made sure that my truck had started and then left so the only way home (aprox 8 mileson a dark country back road, 20*f lightly snowing, burrrrrr.) was to drive, with no headlights . Hope I dont come across any cops I headed down the street and all of my lights started flickering (bright-dim-bright-dim and so on) and my guages were going crazy as well. My wife realized that I wasnt coming so she turned around (thank goodness) and I took it back to the shop and left it there again . Hopefully they can get it figured out. If not, oh well. I have you guys to rely on, right? Any info would be greatly appreciated just in case. Thanks in advance and sorry so long.

 

Were the lights, etc., flickering with your grid heaters cycling? If so, then the heaters cycling is pulling your voltage WAY down . . .

Check your ground connection at the battery -- might be loose from the guys at the repair shop

 

It's a pretty simple set up, 2 wires on the starter. If all connections look good, return the starter. Sounds like you opted for a rebuild for that price. I got a rebuild too from Autozone over a year ago. I just replaced it this year. It had an arching burn mark on the alum. housing. I can't blame them though. It may have gotten water damage at deer camp, or ice/water damage from plowing. Everytime I tried to start it, it drained the battery to zero. It's only held on with 3 10mm star head bolts, not real painful to put on if your worried installation fees a second time.

 

They found it. They forgot to hook up the ground wire going from the battery to the body It is up and running great again . Thanks for all of your input.