'99 won't crank

[MikeD266]

'99 1500 Z71 5.3 ext cab 4x4. 247k miles. Simply won't crank.

Drove to the store the other night with no issue. Parked. Locked with remote. Came out 15 minutes later and had no juice to the starter. Full dash power. Gauges read fine. Had full charge on battery. Just no power getting TO the starter. Starter module clicking in the fuse block under the hood. Swapped it with a good module controlling the headlights to make sure. Then swapped the ignition module out just to be safe. Checked every fuse I could think of in both cab and engine compartment fuse bays.

Attempted to disconnect neg terminal on the batt a few days ago and found it won't easily break loose so I didn't force it. I've had a side terminal simply fall off of a batt while connected to the neg cable w/o ever touching it. Didn't want to tempt Murphy if I didn't have to. Truck hasn't been driven as much as usual the last month or so. Also noticed an intermittent activation of the ABS at low speed recently if that makes a difference.

Thoughts?

[777stickman]

When you say "no power getting to the starter", was that checked with a test light or volt meter at the starter? Starters can and do go bad requiring replacement.

[MikeD266]

Hi Stick,

Unfortunately, I don't have a meter to throw at the problem... But I've been able to tell that power is getting from the key to the starter relay in the fuse block at least. I can only ASSume that the problem is somewhere between there and the starter.

It wouldn't surprise me if the starter itself is the problem as it's OEM with 247k on it. I've just never had one go on me w/o any kind of warning at all. If nothing else, I've always gotten that Bendix spring "click click click" happening at least. To have one go out of the blue like this seems odd to me. Figured I'd dig around to see if there could be issues with the security system locking out or a fusable link somewhere or something simpler than the starter itself...

[777stickman]

The starter in my '98 Sub 7.4 went out at the Post Office 3 years ago. No click, no noise, nada.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by MikeD266

Hi Stick,

Unfortunately, I don't have a meter to throw at the problem... But I've been able to tell that power is getting from the key to the starter relay in the fuse block at least. I can only ASSume that the problem is somewhere between there and the starter.

It wouldn't surprise me if the starter itself is the problem as it's OEM with 247k on it. I've just never had one go on me w/o any kind of warning at all. If nothing else, I've always gotten that Bendix spring "click click click" happening at least. To have one go out of the blue like this seems odd to me. Figured I'd dig around to see if there could be issues with the security system locking out or a fusable link somewhere or something simpler than the starter itself...

when the starter don't engage/click and the head lights don't dim when attempting a start...get a hammer and give the starter a hit..this done when an assistant holds the key in the crank position usually works, as this is most likely worn motor brushes or solenoid contacts..

if this where newer starter the connections ALL must be checked for security even the one with no wire on it..

your sudden loss of the starter is no unusual...

now the problem of finding a starter that will fit without SHIMS.....

I use usa industries starters,,good price and no shims...

[cramer_77]

got a 77 c-10 350, starter went out on with no noises or anything, had drove about 80 miles earlier that day went to leave the house to go to the local cruise in and nothing there it sat.

[3mikeman]

My 99 2500 did the something and it wouldn't start when i was camping. All it would do is click click. Thank God a fellow camper was a mechanic and found that the starter wire from the starter to the solenoid had broke off had to jump start it with a pair of vise grips.

[MikeD266]

Well.... I lucked out... Turned out that the connection from the solenoid to the starter broke/rotted right at the end of the connector. Thought about just soldering in a new connector and seeing if that worked but with 247k on the starter I figured I'd make a few calls to bone yards since they are all well stocked now with clunkers. Found a used starter with a listed 100k mi on it for $40. Gave all of the connections a quick once over with the Dremel to clean everything up. Turned over on the first try.

Thanks guys!