I'm stuck, truck wont start!!!

[Chadly]

When I got out I touched the door and felt a little shock. Got back in a few minutes later and it wont start. Everything else works (lights, radio) but it doesnt even attempt to turn over the engine. Checked the starter and the cables were a little loose so I tightened them up but still not cranking. Somebody PLEASE help!

 

[stumpbuster]

what year?
engine carbed?
if it is, you burned yer ignition module out and replace it

 

[Chadly]

its an 82, carbed 350. I ended up using a screw driver on the solenoid to get it started and took it home to get my car. The starter and solenoid are less than a year old. I'll look into the ignition module and see if that fixes it. Thanks for the help.

 

[sledheadak]

it wont be the module if it started and ran.it has nothing to do with the engine being cranked.i bet if you trace back the wires you will find a shorted wire.

 

[Chadly]

So which wires are you talking about? The wires going to the starter?

Also when I used the screwdriver on the solenoid posts, there was a bunch of sparks. Is that normal?

 

[sledheadak]

yeah thats normal. start tracing from the starter back.there is a interuption in the start signal to activate the solinoid.

 

[Chadly]

OK heres my plan. Gonna check everything going to the starter, both from the battery, ground, steering column, etc... I'm a rookie so not really sure what all is there, but I can follow a wire. Any advice? Thanks for all your help.

 

[79bonanza]

check that little black thing to the left of the brake booster.
my truck did that and the wires were burn up coming from them, wouldnt crank and the cab was dead but the engine would fire if you used a screw driver

 

[chulisohombre]

OK heres my plan. Gonna check everything going to the starter, both from the battery, ground, steering column, etc... I'm a rookie so not really sure what all is there, but I can follow a wire. Any advice? Thanks for all your help.

there should only be 2 or 3 wires goin into the starter.just because you replaced the starter doesnt mean it didnt go bad again.if you jumped the starter you bypassed the solenoid.have some one turn the key to the start position while you check voltage from the s wire on the starter.mine was pink but yours may be different.you will have the positive wire and then the other wire that powers the solenoid.i also had a wire piggybacking the starter and goin to the positive lead.they start wire should go from the starter directly to the firewall at the harness.then from there into the fuse block and up to the ignition switch through the sterring collumn.a wiring diagram will help a lot to check the correct wires.let us know what you find.

 

[Chadly]

Couldnt find anything wrong so I took the purple wire off the starter, cleaned it up real good, tightened it back down and everything worked like a charm.

Thanks for all the help guys!

SEMPER FI!

 

[chulisohombre]

Glad u got it.i figured when you said u tightened it up u cleaned the terminals also.dirty or loose connections and grounds are the easiest electrical problem causer of all

 

[diesel4me]

Sometimes old neutral safety switches dont make good contact,and wont let it crank over too--I always try holding the key in the "start" position and move the shifter around to see if it'll crank in neutral (or any other gear!)--in case it is out of adjustment,or the contacts in the "Park" position are crappy...once I had to drive 50 miles to try to get my sisters car started when she got stranded at a store--all I had to do was pull up on the shifter and it whipped right over,the neutral safety switch was out of adjustment!...