It's not the starter/solenoid

[MikeyP]

My starter went out on Sunday. It was a 14 month old AC Delco. Never had any issues. When we tested it the starter worked, the solenoid worked, but for some reason the solenoid would not engage the starter. I replaced it Wednesday night and it worked fine for about 24 hrs. Then nothing, no crank, no click, no nothing. The same thing that was happening with the last one.

I'm not sure what to do at this point. I want to take the new starter out and return it, but I'm afraid to put another in and have this problem for a third time. I'm thinking something is shorting it out. It's confusing cause everything seems OK . Wires look good. Really frustrated and now no transportation.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

MP

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

What battery voltage?

Are you running headers?

 

[k30bb468]

Check your ground .
Had a similar problem , R&R'd starter, worked good for almost 2 weeks, then wouldn't crank.
Found that my engine to frame ground wire was broken ,fixed ground, no more problems.

 

[throttleissues]

Check to see how much voltage you are getting to the starter lug while cranking. I've had battery cables look good and work bad before. Starter works for a while and craps out from always operating on low voltage or is no longer getting enough to make it all work. Good luck with it.

 

[MikeyP]

It was turning great for 24hrs. Looks like 12volts on the guage. I haven't checked it with a voltmeter since installing the last starter. 14 running.

I'll check the voltage, and the wires. Pretty sure the wires are good though.

MP

 

[MikeyP]

Ok, so it's not the soleniod.

Ok, so it's not the starter. It's the "mechanical interlock" in the steering column.

I checked the cranking sytem diagnosis section of my service manual after checking the wires from the starter. It said:

"A vehicle with an automatic transmission has a mechanical interlock in the steering column which does not allow the engine control switch to turn to the start position unless the transmission is in the park or neutral position."

I went out to the truck and attempted to start it in neutral and nothing. I shifted into park and tried again, and nothing. I did notice that the shift lever seemed to wiggle a little in park, or just didn't seat well. I wiggled on it and turned the ignition and it started right up.

So now I'm thinking I need to replace this switch, but I have no idea where it's at. I'm also a little confused because the manual mentions a "magnetic switch" as well. Does any one know where the switches are, and how to get to them?

Thanks,
MP

 

[smalltowncowboy]

if you have a tilt steering wheel, tilt it down and turn the key. see if it starts that way.

 

[MikeyP]

It's tilted...

It is actually down all the way. I'm 5' 8''.
If I make sure the column shifter is snug, no problem.

Would like to make sure I don't get stranded again though. Is the shifter easier to replace than the switch? If there is a way to snug-up the shift mechanism without changing the switch that would be fine.

MP

 

[Thunder]

Your problem is most likely the nuetral safety switch. It is located on top of the steering column down by the firewall. Easy to replace.

 

[MikeyP]

Neutral safety switch

Thanks. That's the info I needed.

MP