ok, i replaced the battery, cables, distributor, solenoid yesterday, had my old starter rebuilt a year ago, and installed a new ignition switch almost 2 years ago..... nothing is older than a year minus the switch... Truck intermittently will not start.. leaving the key on, i can use a lil peice of some #4 feeder wire i grabbed from work, and she starts just fine... loose connection on that post? the lil wire from the ignition switch i would assume? and is that push on connector worth a crap? can i snip that and crimp on a lug terminal and screw it down? should this be a 12 volt signal, or a ground that is N.O. or something.. ? Tested alternator, 14.3 volts 74.2 amps so says my handy lil meter, and beyond that i dont know what to tell ya. I did notice that if i keep turning it occasionally it will fire, but usually early mornings its dead, if its a little warm it starts... odd.. anyway.. ideas? its starting to piss me off.. lol thanks

additionally, it seems to start ok now, but i have about 9-10 volts or so says my dash gauge..??? but the alt tests ok ????? help on this one

additionally, it seems to start ok now, but i have about 9-10 volts or so says my dash gauge..??? but the alt tests ok ????? help on this one

scratch the voltage thing.. missed a ring terminal.. :) still tho... other starting issues may remain.. it is starting.. tonight anyway..

ok.. didnt start this morning, or for my lunch break.. It dims the dash lights a little when i turn it to start, but just enough to know that the switch must be putting power out, but no click from the relay or anything... and additionally on the relay, where is the ground? is it just grounded thru the mounting screws into the fender there? A mechanic I know told me the other post on the relay is a ground... can anyone help me with that one? Possibility that a bad ground at the relay would cause it? I also have an alarm installed but it seems to be ok, everything seems just as it should be good connections all around.. i'm getting a little lost on this one.. so where is the 'smart guy' that can help me figure it out... ????

It is possible that your starter is binding. Were the bushings replaced when you had the starter rebuilt? Have you tried hitting the starter with a hammer?

When you say that it wont start, do you mean that the engine wont turn over? Or is it turning over, but wont run? When you say you start it with a piece of wire, are you jumping 12 volts directly to the terminal on the solenoid? The solenoid is grounded thru the mounting bracket, where it mounts to the fenderwell. The other terminal is not a ground, but is for ignition, which your truck doesnt use. Make sure the mounting surface is clean, and the screws are tight , and not stripped. If you have too, use bigger screws, and run a seperate ground wire to it. Make sure your ground connection on the block is clean and tight, and you have a good ground to the frame, and body. Since you have a meter, check the voltage at the starter, when you engage the solenoid. Make sure that connection is clean and tight, and the starter bolts as well. When it acts up again, check for voltage at the terminal on the solenoid, with the ignition switch in the start position. If you have a full 12 volts there, the problem is with the relay, grounds, starter, or wires in those circuits. If you have no voltage there, its the ignition switch , neutral switch, or wiring in between. The push connector on the wire that energizes the solenoid is fine as long as its clean and tight. The solenoid only draws a few milliamps.

When you say that it wont start, do you mean that the engine wont turn over? Or is it turning over, but wont run? When you say you start it with a piece of wire, are you jumping 12 volts directly to the terminal on the solenoid? The solenoid is grounded thru the mounting bracket, where it mounts to the fenderwell. The other terminal is not a ground, but is for ignition, which your truck doesnt use. Make sure the mounting surface is clean, and the screws are tight , and not stripped. If you have too, use bigger screws, and run a seperate ground wire to it. Make sure your ground connection on the block is clean and tight, and you have a good ground to the frame, and body. Since you have a meter, check the voltage at the starter, when you engage the solenoid. Make sure that connection is clean and tight, and the starter bolts as well. When it acts up again, check for voltage at the terminal on the solenoid, with the ignition switch in the start position. If you have a full 12 volts there, the problem is with the relay, grounds, starter, or wires in those circuits. If you have no voltage there, its the ignition switch , neutral switch, or wiring in between. The push connector on the wire that energizes the solenoid is fine as long as its clean and tight. The solenoid only draws a few milliamps.


I mean it wont turn over, and yea me being an electrician the 'grounding plate' is going to be crap anyway as far as a good ground.. so yea i'll put a ring terminal on it and tie it to the battery's ground, as far as the other push on connector isnt really tight, i wouldnt wire something up that way... but thats just me... but today when i was leaving work it didnt fire, then turned it off then right back on, and it fires... so i'm thinkin it could simply be that switch again... nothing else really makes logical sence..