Ignition problems

I have a 2000 Chevy Tahoe and I just put a new starter in it today to fix what I thought was a selonoid problem. I have switched out the starter relay and replaced the battery.

After installing the new starter, I finished up the oil change and tire rotation, lowered the lift and put the Castrol Syntec in, I then proceeded to hook up the battery. When the battery made contact with the battery cable the engine started to crank. I didn't even have the keys in the ignition. I disconnected the battery and lifted the truck back up to make sure I didn't have any wires crossed. After a thorough check I dropped the truck back down and tried to connect the battery again with the same results. The only thing I can think of to replace is the ignition switch.

Any other thoughts?

you better make sure that you didn't touch the battery wire to the "start" wire from the ignition. It's easy to do.

Nothing touching the start wire from the ignition. My wife just told me this morning that this has happened a few times before I replaced the starter. So that leads me back to the ignition switch. Is there anything else between the ignition switch and the ignition wire post on the selonoid? I tried to trace the wire but I lost it somewhere between the engine and the firewall.

Nothing touching the start wire from the ignition. My wife just told me this morning that this has happened a few times before I replaced the starter. So that leads me back to the ignition switch. Is there anything else between the ignition switch and the ignition wire post on the selonoid? I tried to trace the wire but I lost it somewhere between the engine and the firewall.

It runs threw a starter relay and neutral saftey switch and some fusesand on to ign switch.

Start by pulling the starter relay.
If that keeps it from cranking then it is a stuck starter relay or a short on towards the neutral saftey switch ign switch.

If it still cranks with starter relay out remove the small purple wire from starter relay.
If it still cranks you have a defective starter solenoid/starter.

I have a 2000 Chevy Tahoe and I just put a new starter in it today to fix what I thought was a selonoid problem. I have switched out the starter relay and replaced the battery.



Any other thoughts?

is there 12volts at solenoid terminal on starter? if so then could be ignition switch... if there is no voltage at solenoid then the starter cranking when battery connected and no key in ignition switch means the solenoid is defective.....replace starter.....

I pulled the starter relay and ingition fuses yesterday and the starter started cranking when I hooked up the battery.

Either the purple wire from relay to solenoid is shorted to 12 volt .
Or starter solenoid is shorted.
Unhook the small purple start wire at starter solenoid and if it still does it.
The starter/solenoid is shorted or bad.
If that keeps the starter from running check the purple wire from starter relay to starter for shorting or touching a 12 volt some place.
If that is the problem remove relay/fuse box and flip it over and have a look at the back side where the wires go in.
Good luck
MT

I pulled the starter relay and ingition fuses yesterday and the starter started cranking when I hooked up the battery.
starter is bad .... it has a shorted solenoid....

starter is bad .... it has a shorted solenoid....

Read the 2nd paragraph 1st sentance.

So the nuetral safety switch or the ignition switch. Now does the neutral safety switch stay hot all the time or only when you turn the key over? After looking at the wiring diagram the park/neutral switch would have to be closed at the same time the ignition switch is closed or in the start position. maybe a easy way to check the neutral switch would to put the truck in gear and see if it still tries to start up? Risky I Know. but if I hold the brake while he connects the battery, WHAT COULD GO WRONG!

Found some more useful info I hope

http://www.alldatadiy.com/alldata/AFI~G~C32422~R0~OD~N/0/41746505/41746506/41746536/41746537/34853741/34863246/34864177/123437074/123437102

Read the 2nd paragraph 1st sentance.

So the nuetral safety switch or the ignition switch. Now does the neutral safety switch stay hot all the time or only when you turn the key over? After looking at the wiring diagram the park/neutral switch would have to be closed at the same time the ignition switch is closed or in the start position. maybe a easy way to check the neutral switch would to put the truck in gear and see if it still tries to start up? Risky I Know. but if I hold the brake while he connects the battery, WHAT COULD GO WRONG!


what was the original problem with the starter before any work was done... something is wrong with what is understood....[i replaced starter because i thought i had a solenoid problem] why did you think this?what was going on ? did starter continue to run with no key or did this occur after the new /different starter was installed...

The vehical would try to start sitting in the driveway with no key and no one around. That was before I bought a new starter and put it in.

We just put it back on the lift and get it off the ground just enough to test that one, Lvfirebird70. You're crazy, but I would work in the garage with you any day. Oh, wait a minute, I do.

We just put it back on the lift and get it off the ground just enough to test that one, Lvfirebird70. You're crazy, but I would work in the garage with you any day. Oh, wait a minute, I do.

c'mon Taz! you are taking the fun out of it! We could just use the DAMN CHAINS to stop it from rolling too!

DAMN CHAINS

I know those DAMN CHAINS come in handy though.

The vehical would try to start sitting in the driveway with no key and no one around. That was before I bought a new starter and put it in.

Does it have any add on remote start or anti theft stuff on it?

Pull the small purple start wire off of starter solenoid.
If it still does it it is your started if not work on the key on starter system wiring and relays annd switches.
MT

The vehical would try to start sitting in the driveway with no key and no one around. That was before I bought a new starter and put it in.

so now you will need a voltmeter and measure the voltage at the solenoid at starter and if you have 12volts which i now believe you will , have assistant turn /wiggle ignition key and see if voltage changes...if it is , then i would say the ignition switch is bad.....also you can with out voltmeter remove all wires to starter and then just connect small wire if the starter clicks then you now move key in ignition switch to see if moving it causes it to stop suppling power to starter solenoid coil.... i have had this happen with a ford, the vehicle would just try to start by itself it was the ignition switch as a contact spring failed causing the contacts to remain closed and this kept power on solenoid of starter....

Problem solved...

We dropped the starter and looked at the placement of the wires on the selonoid. After closer inspection of the positive cable coming down from the battery there is a tab that is supposed to keep the cable from turning to far and making contact with the ingnition post on the selonoid. That tab was to close to the bottom part of the ignition post on the selonoid thus causing an electrical arc to the ignition post and making enough full contact to turn the starter over. Not having an over abundance of cable we cut the tab off of the positive battery cable and attached the wires and mounted the starter back to the block. We attached the positive cable to the battery and nothing, (which is good). Put the key in and cranked the engine to life.

On to the next issue, the antifreeze leak.

Problem solved...

We dropped the starter and looked at the placement of the wires on the selonoid. After closer inspection of the positive cable coming down from the battery there is a tab that is supposed to keep the cable from turning to far and making contact with the ingnition post on the selonoid. That tab was to close to the bottom part of the ignition post on the selonoid thus causing an electrical arc to the ignition post and making enough full contact to turn the starter over. Not having an over abundance of cable we cut the tab off of the positive battery cable and attached the wires and mounted the starter back to the block. We attached the positive cable to the battery and nothing, (which is good). Put the key in and cranked the engine to life.

On to the next issue, the antifreeze leak.


Whenever securing these large gauge wires always hold cable lug securely when tightening hardware to lug..... this is important when securing the battery terminals as you can damage the battery posts and also the starter terminals.....