Unusual starting/electrical problem.

About two weeks ago, I went to start my '89 S10 Blazer 4.3 and it just clicked so I was like S**T!! I tried it again several times and it started. I thought it was a fluke. I stopped somewhere for about an hour and when I went to start it it did the same thing. So I tried it a few more times and then it started. I thought the battery wasn't getting charged very well even though the gauge read 16 or something. I stopped again but only for a few minutes and when I came back it started up on the first try. I got home and left it for a few hours and when I came back to it I took off the battery cables from the battery to check them. They were perfectly clean and so was the battery so I reconnected them. It then started right up so I figured the connections weren't tight enough or something, problem "solved".

This morning after leaving it alone all weekend I go to start it and it wouldn't start, even after trying many times. I go out and try again and it cranks but I didn't start it. I try to crank it again and it clicks. The battery reads exactly 13 volts on my multimeter which should be more than enough to crank the engine.

-The temperatures were about 40 degrees here throughout the last few weeks so I don't believe that temperature has any effect on the situation.
-The battery is a brand new Die Hard Gold which I believe to be good.
-The starter never did sound so great and never seemed to crank the engine very fast but more than adequate to start it. I was thinking maybe the starter would warm up a little while clicking and then it would work, but I don't think that is the case.
-The battery cables could partially be at fault as they appear to be original. They don't look bad on the outside but that doesn't say anything about their conductivity.

I would appreciate any feedback or other posible causes for this very weird problem.

Thanks, Mike

Even though the cables look clean, clean them again...then follow the ground and remove it and clean it at the area it bolts to the block...if you really fill adventurous clean the end on the starter but remember to keep the neg. off while cleaning the positive wire ...even with all this it may be your solenoid on the starter going...good luck...

>1989 S10 blazer 2wd 4.3liter 248,000 miles & still runs great (most of the time)...

I had a similar problem with a drain on my battery.

I did all standard troubleshooting checks +new battery/checked alternator/checked connectors, fuses, etc. ...
Next thing i know i hear a buzzing noise from inside the fuel tank (while the vehicle is turned off).
I look up under the rear bumper and see a rubber plug with two wires (tan and pink) unsecure and hanging next to a 1" electrical access hole. I can feel water pooled up right at the opening. Unplugging the connector, the amp drain drops from 2.5A to 0.5A!

It had been pouring rain for weeks (several inches a day), and it looks like rain water leaked and pooled up on top of the fuel tank. This created a short to ground that drained my battery in about 3-4 hours.

I'm guessing the water was enough to saturate the wiring of either the fuel sending unit or the fuel pump causing the dead battery.

It is drying out now under cover.

...

Having the same blazer with 2000 less miles, I would say don't trust the voltage on the dash meter . Nor the temp . I added aftermarket gauges and sensors . Your simptoms sound like the starter solenoid worn out internally . Mine had a new starter on it when I bought it two years ago . But I have continous mysterious electrical problems . I expected this much out of an older one . Power windows , locks ,wipers, lights. They all have failed me in the two years , But its allmost new now . If posible , pull the starter off and take it to a parts store for testing under a load . Rob

The next time it fails to start, take a tire iron or some othe type of tool and firmly but lightly tap on the solenoid. You should be able to see the solenoid/starter clearly over the top of the front passenger tire when you lift the flap in the wheel well. After giving it a tap, turn the key and try to start it. If it starts you know that the solenoid is getting stuck and it is time for a new starter. The tap tends to jar the solenoid loose. I had to put a heat shield on my 93 solenoid to keep it from sticking.

Check the date guys..... someone dug up an old thread.

Sorry about the old post date but I found the short-to -ground (thanks help this website) follow up to my above post.

The wiring harness to the rear turn/backup/brake lights, the dome lights, and the fuel pump/sender was fed under the driver side carpet directly under where my right foot usually is!

It wore through and caused a series of nonstop problems starting with the fuel pump and ended with erratic brake, turn signal. and back up light combinations.

I found the short by reading the schematic and checking the leads on the dome light with an Ohmmeter which showed zero ohm short to ground. It is a straight line to the HORN/DM fuse so I pulled up the carpet and smelled burned wire right away. The wire was almost the whole way through ..I'm surprised anything was working at all.

There are several circuits connected together taht include the TURN/BU HORN/DM that all go to the rear of the vehicle. The dome light circuit is Hot at All Time so it fed juice to the fuel pump after the engine was shut down.

The wiring under the driver side carpet was completely soaked in rain water and the break in it had copper wires fraying out of itmy girlfriend said she felt like her back was on fire one day, lol