1999 Z71 chevy truck dies

[palomino]

My 1999 Z71 5.7 chevy truck dies when I am going down the freeway or where ever, no warning, then it won't turnover at all. It has died when I was turning around in the driveway. The whole dashboard lights up and it goes dead. Won't turnover for maybe 5 days, then it will. What the heck, my mechanic can't figure it out. Please help me. My dream truck has turned in to a nightmare!

[Gooseneck]

Just a wild guess, ignition switch. Or it could be low voltage. Is your alternator charging? Have you tried to "jump start" it when it won't crank?

[palomino]

Hi, I had the alternator, battery and starter checked and they said they were ok. I haven't tried to jump start it, and my mechanic can't make it happen. But it has happened to me at least 6 times. The freeway and the busy intersections are the most fun. He thinks it might be the ignition switch too, so why won't he just replace it? He says he wants it to happen to him first. It's been at the shop for a month. Thanks for your reply, Pam

[Gooseneck]

When it dies and will not "crank" (engine will not turnover), that's when the troubleshooting process will have to be done. If it goes back to working and you take it to a shop, troubleshooting is next to impossible. The reason the mechanic does not want to just replace the switch is that he will have to charge you to do that whether it fixes your problem or not and a good mechanic does not like to get into a guessing situation, although sometimes good troubleshooting involves good guessing. Good luck!

[palomino]

Hi, I know he doesn't want to just start changing out parts, without knowing if that is really it. He is an awesome mechanic and I trust him. After all this time I am ready for anything he wants to do to get it fixed even if it is wrong. A mechanic at my Husband's work said to start it up and then while it is running to turn the key like you are going to start it, not all the way tho, if it is the ignition switch, the truck will die. Are there any other ways to check the ignition? Thanks for your help. Pam

[Gooseneck]

The best way to eliminate the ignition switch as a problem is to just replace it. If the contacts in the switch are worn or corroded and make contact sometimes and sometimes not it could be hard to test. But as I say this is guess work and your mechanic dosn't want you stranded on the road. Thats why he's trying to get your truck to fail for him, so he can troubleshoot.

[toivo]

make sure your battery and ground connectins are clean and tight. and the wire to the solenoid on the starter is tight.

[palomino]

Hi, I asked my mechanic to replace the ignition, he did, although he didn't feel good about doing it, cause he didn't get to see the truck die. It has been running great ever since. Thanks for all your help! Pam