starting problem

Help me figure out what I did to my truck. On Sunday I hauled some firewood a few hundred yards in the woods, washed the truck thoroughly, and repainted the frame with Rustoleum black to keep the rust off this winter (spray paint).

This morning I get back in the truck for the first time since Sunday. I turn the key and nothing happens. No cranking. I ASSume it's the battery and hook-up a booster. Still no cranking. All the accessories (lights, stereo, blower fan) work as normal. Guess it's not the battery.

I had to run (literally run, not drive) to work today and didn't have time to get further into the diagnostics. When I get home tonight, where should I start looking?

A couple of theories/questions:

1. Are there any sensors I could have accidentally gotten wet when washing the underbody or gotten a little spray paint on that would kill the start process?

2. Obviously, I'll check connections to the starter

3. What sensors are required to report to the ECU/PCM before cranking can begin?

Thanks,
Dave

 

I wouldnt assume that its the battery as all his other electronics are working, I would look over everything that got painted and make sure there wasnt anything that shouldnt have been. Also try tapping the starter with something to c if it makes it start, it could be going defective, but I havent heard of that happening to anyone yet.

 

yeah thats true but usually you would hear a tick when trying to start it wouldnt you? Im not the best person to be giving advise i guess lol Im usually the one asking for it.

 

I'll try that when my wife gets home with her car. The Boosterpak worked the 1 time I needed it, so once again I ASSumed it was working this morning. Always good to check, though.

 

So, what stuff could I have accidentally sprayed with paint that would prevent starting? Example: let's say I got some overspray on an 02 sensor. That wouldn't prevent starting. Maybe it would throw a code.

 

I scrubbed the frame by hand with soap and water, and then used a hose sprayer for rinsing.

Everyone may be right that it's just the battery (I'll found out tonight), but the fact that it came right after the rinsing and painting got me thinking it could be more complicated. So, I wanted to be prepared to think about other causes in addition to the battery.

 

what's year is your truck? If every accessories are working,and you have the juice(light up,head light,stereo)are working normal
Here the bad news:

1/ it's could be your distributor(won't spark up)
2/ Your ECU is fried.

It's happens to me a while back,everything working fine.I pulled in the Garage. I need to get out to get some stuff couldn't start. Battery still good. Haul it to the Stealer(Don't do what I did) It's was the ECU, cost me about 2 weeks of my paycheck. I hope your is not that serious.Good luck

 

Ok,my bad. I got 97

 

When you painted your frame, you may have painted over the ground. To check, when you boost you truck, use the battery for a ground. If it starts, your ground is good. If is does not start, switch the ground to the engine or frame. If it starts now, you ground is dirty.

Good luck

 

Thanks everyone. When I get home, I will try:

1. Jump start with a car
2. Check fuses
3. Check grounds
4. Hope the list is done by #3.

I'll report back.

 

Mine clicked last night as well. I really don't get how all my problems appear on here from someone else right as I have them! At least it started on second try, no problems since.

I will second one thing though, the MOST LIKELY is your starter, its always subject to the weather. If it doesn't start, bang the starter with a hammer or maul, something big, try it twice at least. Sometimes you'll knock some shit loose and allow the brushes to make better contact.



Do your lights dim when you turn this key? If they do, your starter is working Find the problem somewhere else, probably the battery.

 

haha, I believe it very possibly could be my muffler bearing too.

 

Check the battery voltage first. Then go from there.