94 s-10 starter trouble

[hanovt]

I have a 94 s-10 pickup 4 cyl 2.2. Around Thanksgiving time the truck would not start after sitting for a little while; the gauges and lights would come on, but then they would only dim when i turned the key, nothing else would happen. the selonoid didn't click at all. I pulled out the starter, and in doing so I had to cut the wire going to the selonoid (the smaller 10 gauge wire), I also replaced the battery cable. I got the starter tested and it worked. I reinstalled everything and it worked fine.

I had to go back to school and when I came back a week ago it started doing the same thing. I turn the key and no click, but the lights dim, meaning it's drawing power, but the selonoid isn't clicking. I took out the starter and got it retested. I then re did the wire going to the selonoid and put everything back in. Needless to say it still doesn't work.

For what I can tell it is getting it's power (I jumped it with another car) and it is taking some power when i turn the key because lights dim. I'm thinking that it may have something to do with the ignition switch (which is doubtful because the lights dim), or something like a bad ground. Is it true that the whole starter is grounded by just the bolts screwing it in, or does it have to ground to the bracked that holds the back in?

--Thanks a lot for anyone's help. sorry for the long story.

[Chris Stewart]

What do you think of your battery?

[DelCoch]

Have your battery checked with a load type tester. What kind of cables did you have when you tried to jump start it? The cheap jumper cables often won't do the job.

[hanovt]

i feel like i'm atleast giving it all enough juice for the selonoid to atleast click. I can try just getting a new battery.

can a battery get that weak after being only a year old, providing it sat for a couple months?

[DelCoch]

Originally Posted by hanovt

. . . can a battery get that weak after being only a year old, providing it sat for a couple months?

Yes it can get that weak from sitting a couple months. A good charge may bring it back, depends on how long it sat in a run down condition. Have it charged up and tested.

[jdl]

I have seen some GM tech info, that states, if you are going to let the vehicle sit for 20 days or more without starting it, you should disconnect the negative battery cable.

There are some issues with leaving the battery disconnected. You loose the clock and radio settings, and the computer may forget some of the run parameters, meaning when you hook-up the battery and start the vehicle, the vehicle may run rough for a few minutes, till it relearns a few things. Different vehicles react differently to having the battery disconnected. At least it should start and run.

When the problem is ongoing, use a voltmeter across the battery posts, take a reading. Have a helper turn the key to start, see how far the reading drops. Generic info says, with the key turned to crank, the reading shouldn't drop below 9 volts. That spec is a little subjective, use your judgement. I use a digital multimeter.

[hanovt]

Well i went and go the batter charged and it worked! thanks a lot guys.

But now I have another problem. My blinkers won't blink. They stay solid. The 4-ways work fine. Also, when I have the lights on and I hit the break, it turns off the real tail lights, but the cab break light gets brighter.

[DelCoch]

Check the bulbs and bulb sockets on the parking lights and tail lights for corrosion.

[hanovt]

I worked on it today and I found a harness that was put in for towing that was put in the lines by the back of the truck. I pulled it out and now all my lights work perfectly.

Thanks for everyone's help.