Help!!! 94 1500 Won't Start, Maybe Connection Problem

[tleeburks]

Help, Please!

I have a 94 Silverado 1500 Extended that is sitting at the mall that won't start. Here are the particulars. The hood light comes on and the radio comes on. This happened last summer. Luckily it happened in my work parking lot. Seems the side post were very corroded with blue residue, dust, whatever. My friend, cleaned and cleaned both post and the cavity it screws into on the battery. It took awhile but it finally started. I guess it wasn't connecting just right to get the starter going, (starter is about a year old, rebuilt). Anyway, I cleaned both side post connectors out, especially the positive one, I used soda pop to do it. Cleaned them pretty good, even tried to jump it with my car because I noticed the battery level was low when I turn the ignition. But no go. I do have a continuing tap, tap, tap right behind the glove box. It starts as soon as I hit the ignition for about 10 seconds, also does it when I turn ignition off. Anyway, its my son's truck, teenager, you know how that goes, he needs it. So I am in a desperate situation. My mechanic charges 75 bucks just to lift the hood. I'm gonna drag it back to the house tomorrow, try to work on it on Easter. I need some great quick advice. Please help!!! I'll be checking back periodically all night. Thanks.

[klinn]

The blue stuff you were talking about is corrosion. It comes from the battery acid. My bet is over the past year the positive cable has been getting eaten inside the conduit from the acid. I have seen a battery cable corroded all the way down to the starter and the outside of the cable looks normal. I removed the cable after finding a pile of corrosion on the starter and cut open the insulation to find it completely eaten up. The radio and hood light only need about 10 amps to run, the starter needs over 180 to run. If the cable is not capable of that, it will cause the rest of the system to "starve" for power. Which is most likely the noise you hear behind the glove box. If thats not it, my next check would be the ignition switch. It's located on the top of the steering column at the base.

[tleeburks]

is it easy to install the positive battery cable wire? i noticed it has a couple small wires running along it. also, i did an ignition switch on a ford escort. it wasn't bad. is that difficult? also, do you think the starter is fried? im gonna go the battery cable route first obviously for cost, and then go further. might have to take off starter to get to the cable wires. i take starter to parts store for testing for free. wish me luck. i really appreciate the advice. thanks

[klinn]

The couple of wires you see are most likely the charging wires. The OE cable should have the complete cable assembly. An aftermarket one will have a pigtail you will have to splice in. No, a positive cable isn't hard, just watch the routing near the pass. exhaust manifold and make sure you get the loops back around the cable to hold it in place. You might drop the starter to help make it easier to install, but I don't think it is required. You would, however be able to have it tested to make sure it works, like you said.

I have found the ignition switch isn't too difficult. I usually drop the column down and let the steering wheel rest on the driver seat. Then the switch is right on the top. Just watch the dimmer switch push rods and ignition lock cylinder push rods. They like to pop out when you take the switches off. Also, make sure you have them adjusted properly, or they will not work right. Hope this helps.

[skipr]

I agree with the cable theory. I had the same thing happen on my 1968 SS El Camino. Before you replace a ignition switch make sure it's needed. You can hot wire and bypass the switch to give you a better idea if thats a problem .