-
Grand Future Air Dried Fresh Beef Dog Food
Air Dried Dog Food | Fresh Beef

Carnivore Diet for Dogs

Go Back   Automotive Forums Car Chat > Chevrolet > Express | G Van
Register FAQ Community
Reply Show Printable Version Show Printable Version | Subscription Subscribe to this Thread
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 10-26-2006, 09:09 PM
vavs vavs is offline
AF Newbie
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 5
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
No ignition at all

I have a 1998 Chevy 1500 Conversion Van. After returning from a road trip, I went to start the van and got a few clicks and then nothing. I have a remote starter (BullDog) which operates when the van runs but right now nothing seems to work, When I open the door, I don't get dome lights. When I turn the key to the accessory position, nothing. When I turn it to ignition, nothing followed by a buzzing sound that lasts for approximately 2 minutes. This is about the same amount of time as the lights would had stayed on if I turned off the van. I checked all the connections on the remote starter and they all seem fine.

BTW on the trip home, while my wife was driving, she flashed the brights and the car stalled momentarily. I thought that something was going on with the light switch but I pulled it out of the system and still nothing.

I know this is hard to diagnose over the internet, but if anyone has any ideas I would be grateful.

I am trying desperately to solve this one myself since I would need a tow and a repair bill for the fix.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 10-27-2006, 04:06 PM
DFBonnett DFBonnett is offline
AF Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 858
Thanks: 5
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Re: No ignition at all

Sounds like either the battery terminals are really dirty or the battery has given up the ghost. Will it start with a jump? How old is the battery? Do you have a voltmeter? Can you pull the battery and have it tested?
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 10-27-2006, 07:47 PM
vavs vavs is offline
AF Newbie
Thread starter
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 5
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Re: No ignition at all

DF, I don't think it is the battery. I have a voltmeter on the dash and it was reading in the 11-12 volt range for the entire trip. I will check the connections to be sure. The battery is less than two years old.

Is it possible to read the diagnostic codes without the car running? I might be able to use a code reader from the local auto parts dealer. I didn't know if the car had to be running to do that.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 10-27-2006, 07:58 PM
DFBonnett DFBonnett is offline
AF Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 858
Thanks: 5
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Re: No ignition at all

Quote:
Originally Posted by vavs
DF, I don't think it is the battery. I have a voltmeter on the dash and it was reading in the 11-12 volt range for the entire trip. I will check the connections to be sure. The battery is less than two years old.

Is it possible to read the diagnostic codes without the car running? I might be able to use a code reader from the local auto parts dealer. I didn't know if the car had to be running to do that.

Use a decent handheld VOM to check the battery. The dash gauges are not particularly accurate. It should read about 12.5+ volts. Charging voltage should read about 13.5. That isn't going to tell the whole story, though. A load test on the battery would reveal more. Can you swap in another battery or get jumper cables on it? I understand the battery is only two years old. I've seen bad batteries that were two minutes old.
I believe you should be able to read stored codes with just the ignition in the "ON" position but if it is the battery or alternator I don't believe it will set a code.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 10-27-2006, 08:32 PM
vavs vavs is offline
AF Newbie
Thread starter
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 5
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Re: No ignition at all

DF,

If the battery is bad, would all of the lights and the ignition not work? Also would that produce the same symptom I mentioned in the first post (drop in power when brights were hit)?
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 10-27-2006, 08:43 PM
DFBonnett DFBonnett is offline
AF Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 858
Thanks: 5
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Re: No ignition at all

Yes and yes
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 10-27-2006, 09:55 PM
ponchonutty's Avatar
ponchonutty ponchonutty is offline
AF Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,432
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Re: No ignition at all

Yep, I 2nd the battery or battery cables as well. GM was notorious for having poorly made batteries that would leak acid down the inside of the cables. This causes the cables to rot from the inside out.
__________________
Silverado Ext. Cab 4x4 z71
Pioneer 4900mp
Orion P6.2 Componet sets front
Orion C63 Coax rear
DirectedVideo 9" all in one DVD with surround


2007 SATURN OUTLOOK AWD XR with full entertainment package
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 10-27-2006, 09:56 PM
ponchonutty's Avatar
ponchonutty ponchonutty is offline
AF Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,432
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Re: No ignition at all

Yep, I 2nd the battery or battery cables as well. GM was notorious for having poorly made batteries that would leak acid down the inside of the cables. This causes the cables to rot from the inside out.
__________________
Silverado Ext. Cab 4x4 z71
Pioneer 4900mp
Orion P6.2 Componet sets front
Orion C63 Coax rear
DirectedVideo 9" all in one DVD with surround


2007 SATURN OUTLOOK AWD XR with full entertainment package
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 10-28-2006, 10:07 AM
twistedtech twistedtech is offline
AF Regular
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 306
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Re: No ignition at all

Being a conversion van it is more than possible that someone overloaded a circut and it has blown a fuseable link.
__________________
If it ain't broke.......screw with it till it is.

Even at a Mensa convention,
Someone's the dumbest person in the room.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 10-29-2006, 07:58 AM
vavs vavs is offline
AF Newbie
Thread starter
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 5
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Re: No ignition at all

Well after several hours and much frustration, the problem was two things working very well together. First, my starter showed some intermitten issues. When it was bench tested the circuit failed once in 6 tries. Second, a wire used in the remote starter (solid yellow in the ingnition bundle) had been spliced and had worked loose. It remained in the splice but was shorting as the bundle would move.

Thanks to all who replied. BTW I see a dramatic increase in the volt meter on the dash. I am up at 14V and it remains steady regardless of load. It used to jump when the directionals were used.
Reply With Quote
 
Reply

POST REPLY TO THIS THREAD

Go Back   Automotive Forums Car Chat > Chevrolet > Express | G Van


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:34 AM.

Community Participation Guidelines | How to use your User Control Panel

Powered by: vBulletin | Copyright Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
 
 
no new posts