Truck starter dead?

Reddog1 wrote:
Been there and done that through the years. Sometimes some things are just too simple for our complex minds.

Wayne

X2 LOL

Been there and done that through the years. Sometimes some things are just too simple for our complex minds.

Wayne

Good morning all! What a dummy I am!! I've ALWAYS been a truck guy (by the way, it's a Chevy, not a Ford.. that was Burt, my old Ford.. long gone ) Anyway, I've always worked on them. but this had me stumped. THEN, after leaving it on a charger all night this morning with no results (in fact, the charger was at 1amp this morning) I took out the battery to go get a new one. The side post connection to the battery, which is the starter cable, was completely green with corrosion. The second cable (the electrical system; lights, etc) was getting power through the bolt and that's why everything else worked! I felt so stupid to not do this first! Anyway, the battery was at 13.2v I started the truck and it's running in the driveway right now. I'll go drive it around a while to get the battery completely charged while they are re-surfacing the driveway. Thanks again for all your suggestions...

Sincerely,
The big ol' dummy, Dak ;)

Put the truck in neutral then put it back in park and see what it does. I have the same issue with my truck.

Mote wrote:
Could be the starter on the truck. I've never tried this but some say if the solenoid of the starter is stuck you can tap it will a hammer and it may allow it to work again.
I suppose you have tried jump starting the truck battery to be sure it's not weak?
Good Luck

I know tapping with a hammer used to work on older vehicles.

Did you try the hammer? Mine died the other way, ie: it wouldn't spin, just died. First it was slow starting and eventually it just quit. It was as if the battery was dead, no clicking.

It took me quite a few taps with the hammer but I got it running again and back to my garage for a swap (most starters are fairly easy to replace, just a couple of bolts).

I had an old CJ7 where the starter would die and I had to routinely crawler underneath and give 'er a good ol' tap with a rock to get going again.

Now if you get the low-battery clicking sound, it could also be the wires (as mentioned). Especially if grime/grease has gotten around your motor. You can clean these up and see if it clears (this is usually what gets Discoveries, due to the starters location, but I wasn't so lucky). If you do this, note that the solenoid leads are usually next to each other and also usually hot. You can get quite the spark display if you happen to short them! Disconnect the battery first..

If your solenoid is not part of the starter, you can use heavy jumper cables from your battery directly to the starter motor:

1. Attach the cables to the starter positive and engine block
2. Turn on the ignition
3. Attach far end of negative cable to battery ground
4. Touch far end of positive cable to battery positive until vehicle starts

Its starter related. It sounds like the solenoid is gone and the starter may be bad as well. We had a 1993 Suburban and it worked hard and the exhaust would burn up the starter and or solenoid.

Good luck.

americanrascal wrote:

bobman wrote:
Start with the simple stuff verify you have a good connection on all wires and ground, that's the most likely problem.

Then if that checks out try tapping on the starter while your wife turns the key.

X2

While I always check all possibilites (batteries etc)-- every time I have had starter issues it has always been the ground for me- the connection from the strap to the block or frame. If the ground is red hot---well there's your sign.

X3 on the Ford ground strap. Took me forever to figure that one out.

You have a problem with your starter solenoid. You either need a new one or the contacts are dirty. First try tapping on the solenoid with a screwdriver handle while somebody turns the key. If that doesn't work, try wiggling the cables at the solenoid, then try starting it. If that doesn't work, clean the connections with a wire brush. If that doesn't work, try tapping on the starter with a hammer while somebody turns the key. If the last thing works, you need a new starter motor. If the first thing works, you need a new solenoid unless your contacts were loose or dirty.

Bruce