Hey guys, I need some help. On the way to the grocery store I went to crank the truck and nothing. When I tried it again it turned over for a second but then stopped. Tried it again and it cranked, so I headed out. Wife did her shopping and when I went to crank it...nothing. I don't hear anything trying to do anything. I have a pull cable and it has gotten stiff to pull and doesn't want to go back, this just started but I don't know if it's related. Voltmeter is showing 12 volts and doesn't pull down when I turn the key to crank it. I didn't have many tools with me and we had groceries to get home so I had to leave it there. I'm going back in the morning to try and figure it out. What do I need to check? I am scratching my head at this point. It's the first truck listed in my sig. Thanks.
Rick

 

I'd start by checking the starter relay.

Also, quickly test the starter ckt by taking a long piece of wire and connect it to the starter solenoid, then touch the other end to the hot battery post. If it cranks/starts, then the problem is other than the starter, but this could take you home.

Possible culprits, and related wiring and fuses:
1. Ignition switch
2. Starter relay
3. Starter solenoid

Also, on automatics, there's a safety switch that allows starting only in P or N only. Is there one for manual?

 

This one is an automatic, and I checked the neutral safety switch, cleaned it, etc. I just replaced the ignition switch about a year ago, but that doesn't mean it's not bad. Where is the starter relay located?

 

Check the starter contacts.....

 

Solenoid could be stuck, smack the starter with a hammer or something solid while the wife cranks.

 

Tried the smack thing on the starter. The only thing I had was a pair of channel locks. Didn't work. Lary, when you say contacts, are you talking about the connections?

 

Use a jumper wire and try and start the engine from the small terminal to the battery terminal on the starter solenoid,

BE CAREFUL THE TRUCK WILL START IN GEAR, do not put yourself in harms way!

Does it start or click?
Headlights work ok?

Check your engine ground cable.

I have a pull cable and it has gotten stiff to pull and doesn't want to go back, this just started but I don't know if it's related.

Since you said your pull cable got hard to pull, I believe you probably lost your engine ground, when this happens all of the starter current finds any conductive path back to ground, any pull cables ancillary grounds and drive line joints, your pull cable is probably welded together, check and make sure the shutdown lever on the injection pump moves freely.

I installed axillary engine grounds using #000 welding cable.

Jim

 

I you say you have 12 volts that is low, mine starts and runs at 14 volts, turn your lights on try and start if the lights go out it might be the batteries, if the lights stay brite, head for the starter, good luck cheer`s

 

12 volts according to the gauge on my truck. I turned the headlights on, they were bright, left them on for a minute or so, the voltmeter didn't budge, so I think the battery is ok, but I'll check it with a voltmeter tomorrow. I am going to disconnect the pull cable and make sure it's free. I can hear a faint click when I turn the key but I can't tell where it's coming from. Where is the starter relay?

 

It'll be a little over 12 without the engine running and the surface charge is off, like 3 minutes with the ignition switch on. 14 volts is the charging voltage. He said lights are good, and battery voltage doesn't drop at all when he turns the start key.

It's ignition switch, it's supply (fusible link), or starter relay. If it was the starter solenoid, the starter relay would be clicking.

If there are 3 relays on the driver's side inner fender, the center one is the starter relay, and the rear one is AC. Swap in the AC relay for testing.

 

While figuring it out, why don't you start your truck, by jumping the solenoid, and drive it home?

 

1) 12 volts, bright lights and a faint click, pull the battery cables and clean the ends. 2) Swap the starter relay out with another one. 3)If you're sure you're not hydrolocked you'll probably be pulling the starter next.

 

Thanks for all the input, guys. I've been taking notes! Hopefully I'll get this thing figured out in the morning. If you think of anything else, please post! Thanks.

 

Update. Well I got out to the truck and figured I'd check the obvious first, so I wiggled the negative battery cable and it was very loose. I thought, "It can't be this easy". Well, that wasn't it. So I tried swapping relays. Still nothing. So I ended up jumping a wire from the solenoid to the battery, and it cranked. Got it home, shut it off and then tried to crank it back up. It fired right off, three times in a row. So now what?

 

Glad you were abke to drive it home.

Save the jumper wire, better yet keep it there ready to use if it happens again.

Check the wire from the solenoid to the relay socket, and also the wire from the relay to the ignition switch. Something is amiss there. It still could be a faulty solenoid though.

At least now you're an expert on starting problem.