Electrical Gremlins

[Chantz]

My Sub is giving me some electrical grief. First, my taillight went out, and upon replacing the bulb and having it not work, I tried a voltmeter and sure enough, the driver side taillight gets no power. Every other light works just fine. Should this just be a broken wire, or is it usually caused by something else?

As well, my starter is still giving me trouble. When first installed, the wires weren't tightened down, thus causing a loss of power. It went away but came back, where when you go to start it, one of two things happen. First, it will not start. The starter will get a half turn then stop, after that I won't get anything unless I wiggle the negative cable coming off of the starter. If it does start, it will run rough and the voltage will be all over the map. Doing something like flipping on the signal light will kill it instantly.

Me and my friend recently took out the starter and re-installed it, tightening down the wires as much as we could while not stressing the bolts. Ran like a dream for a while, but the problem is back and it will die on you if you aren't watching for the signs. I'm not sure what it is that is causing this, but it needs to be fixed. Only I can drive it because only I know what the signs are and what to do about them. Help on this would be appreciated VERY much. Thanks!

[Borguy]

Originally Posted by Chantz

I won't get anything unless I wiggle the negative cable coming off of the starter.

Seems like cleaning the contacts (sandpaper) and re-tightening the cables could fix this.

Electricity ??
Not sure but aren't the taillights connected in parallel (not the brakes/turn)? So at least you are getting power back there when one of them works.... (bad wire from right to left??)

[Chantz]

Could be. I have the passenger taillight still, but that's not legal, so it doesn't really work. And I don't think that cleaning the contacts is the problem, as it wouldn't cause the truck to die WHILE already running, but would just hinder it while starting. But I could be wrong. Wouldn't be the first time and it certainly wouldn't be the last

[jdl]

I was trying to understand your post? Are you saying you run the negative battery cable to the B+ terminal at the starter solenoid?

As far as the starter, is that a new starter? Are your battery cables good? Does your battery have a good charge? Is your charging system working ok?

If you use a socket and breakover on the end of the crank, can you turn the engine over by hand.

My wiring diagrams aren't very good for your tail lites, but, the brown wire for the socket, should carry the voltage, with the lite switch turned on, is it hot. If it isn't, you should be able to run a jumper from that brown wire to the brown wire at the side marker lite, if that lite has power. It should work, if the bulb and socket are ok.

Did you check for trouble-codes, may not be any, I was just curious?

[kevin265]

$100 says its poor grounds. My truck has one neg. cable to the engine, 1 to the inner fender next to the battery and of course I sanded down to bare metal prior to attaching. 10 yrs in the car stereo business and it never fails 4 out of 5 cars have poor grounds.

[Chantz]

The starter is a used one from the local salvage yard. The old one siezed up on me. The cables and charge are good, and the charging system also appears to be fine. And I haven't tried turning it over by hand, no. I'll check the grounds, but my money is on a cracked ring terminal or something like that.

As for the taillight, that would be awesome as a quick fix until I actually fix the wire. Thanks for the help.

[tomawood]

I have a 87 suburan, and the tailgate is locked with the window up, the key won't open the window, how do i get the window open , or get into the motor?