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Originally Posted by mrchuckles
I have an old 84 Silverado. A couple of months ago, I started having problems with it not starting (nothing...not even a click!). It just happened a few times, usually when it was hot outside-then after I let it sit for a while, it'd start right up. This happened about 3 times over a couple of weeks and then ran fine for over a month. But yesterday, it did it again. I let it sit all day and it did start a few times later that night. but then it went completely dead! Usually when it wouldn't start, i'd still have battery power, but last night everything went dead. What could the problem be? Any ideas?
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next time it doesn't start, (assuming you're not dressed in a suit, and going to work,...) crawl under the truck and put a test light on the positive starter post on the solenoid.(big one) this should have 12v all the time. if not, suspect a bad connection at the battery, bad ground, at the solenoid or what MCR10 stated. (bad cable)
if you turn the key to the start position, and have 12 volts at the large positive starter post, and on the ignition wire: your starter may have a bad "winding" internally and should be rebuilt, or replaced. sometimes a hammer (bang, bang) will be enough to jar it to start this time, but not too much longer. a bad solenoid can be suspect as well. to determine that, jump these two terminals. if the starter turns over, it's the solenoid. if not: starter.
if you get no voltage at the ignition key wire:
1.) the small wire that goes to the solenoid, that comes from the key. if you get nothing, suspect an ignition switch. if you DO get 12v at this wire when turning the key, and the large starter post has 12v, then the solenoid might be bad and should be replaced. (don't forget to jump them to confirm it)
2.) if you get 12v at the ignition wire and nothing at the large positive post, have a friend wiggle the positive cable. as stated by MCR10, the cables can look fine on the outside, but be corroded internally. if this is the case, replace the postive terminal. you may want to consider replacing the negative one as well.....
if the whole truck's going dead...(if i understand you right) then a bad terminal or cable sounds right..........
