Not starting

If it will start if you tap the starter, it’s the starter.

 

UPDATE! Just got home, found a message from the dealership, they now claim it's a 2ed clutch safety switch, but they want to replace the starter with an OEM starter also. This is why I don't take it to the dealer for service. They claim a warranty of 12 months on the parts & labor. We'll see.

 

Your dealership sucks...

If it is the clutch safety switch why are they installing a starter?

Dude you need to ask some hard questions.

Hint: It's the starter.

 

I find it is amazing that this Dealership cannot troubleshoot a simple starter problem.

Someone needs to put the mechanics feet to the fire and get some answers from the dealer.

 

If it was the clutch safety wouldn’t it start with the clutch start cancel button pressed?

 

What is it that you are calling a battery harness? The Pos battery cable?

Checked what ground? The clamp on the battery post (yes, it's important) or any of the several other grounds in the engine compartment?

Of course it's important that the battery is charged and properly connected. However, if that's where the issue resided, rapping on the starter would be futile.

 

When the ignition switch is turned to start, current is sent to the starter solenoid. This causes the starter solenoid to close a pair of heavy contacts, thus relaying current through the starter motor, spinning the starter motor/starter gear, which in turn sets the engine in motion

 

I guess I wasn't clear. I know what it is, I didn't know if that was the problem, I've replaced enough on my riding mowers over the years. Shame is I'm partially disabled so if I get down to go under my truck I might not be able to get up without help. As to this dealer, he dose suck. Last service manager & I did not see eye to eye on anything. They scratched the paint on the back of the cab, I complained, he sent me a touch up stick.This dealership has 5-6 different makes, chevy being one. A few years back one of their employees took a high end vett for a "test" drive. Thrashed the car. Last I heard it was still in court. But my other choice is a 30 mile drive. I just hope this fixes the problem or I'm due some $$ back. Then I can get on finishing a 14 year project.

 

I’ll bet the issue wasn’t what the dealer said. It was probably something simple like a loose battery terminal but they were too embarrassed to say so. So they said we’ll tell him it was this bullshit story.

 

But that wouldn’t explain why a tap to the starter git the motor up and running.

solenoid. Old school fix was to tap the starter. IIRC.

 

No, one of the first things I checked was the terminals, replaced the entire harness, positive, negative, & the starter ground. & I had forgotten about the clutch bypass switch. I never used it. The starter replacement is a $$ grab. If this doesn't fix it this service manager is gonna have an issue with me. I already skipped over them & bought 2 cars from their competition. I took both there for my free oil changes. Dealer BS is why I go anywhere else. The custom shop I deal with is great, but too far with an iffy running truck & a very long tow.

 

Your right about that. manager has given me a 12 month warranty, tow included, just hope they go off road! If not my 5,000,000 is coming from the Nigerian generals wife, & 15,000,000 from IMF.

 

The starter has no additional ground wires other than mounting flange to the engine block.

 

Wow there is going to be a lot of money dumped into that truck when all is said and done.

 

Checking the grounds does NOT mean the one on the battery terminal but where it attaches to the engine block and frame and chassis. Have ALL those been checked. Why once again, did tapping the starter / solenoid let it start??

Unless depressing the clutch again re-triggered the clutch switch.

 

there are FSM procedures for no start situation. Seems they are not following the FSM. You have a clutch start cancel button? Never know at this point.

 

My clutch switch started going out so I pulled the relay & stuck a bypass wire in. I didn’t like having to stomp the clutch to start anyhow.

When I said something simple like a loose battery terminal I meant something simple such as a loose battery terminal. A pos aftermarket starter, defective oem starter, poor starter connection, starter not getting good ground, cable from battery positive to starter is bad, oxidized battery terminals, clutch switch or relay not plugged in good, etc.

I lean towards not believing what I’m told by someone who couldn’t figure this out. If you’re tapping the starter to start, your primary problem is down there. Secondary would be your battery is weak, clutch switch has high resistance, battery terminals are corroded, do you want those fixed so you don’t have a no start failure due to something other than what we fixed at the starter? No? Then it’s noted on the bill, customer declined...

 

I've been doing preventive maintenance since the day I bought the truck, it was my only transportation & where I live there is NO public trans. The plan was always to turn it into a trail rig, when $$ allowed. It only took 14 years. Before I go the next step I want to make sure I'm not building a piece of yard art. I don't feel like another truck payment, so making sure I have a firm base to start with is #1! Other wise I buy another truck & start throwing $ at someone else's problems. No matter what this is cheaper than a new 35,000 truck.

 

Dealer replaced 2ed clutch safety switch. Truck now starts strong. Better for the $. Now for the upgrades.

 

Did they also replace the starter as you stated earlier?