Starter / Solenoid Issue for 1999 Z71 5.3L

ldptex · April 24, 2014

I have a 1999 Chevy Z71 4x4 truck with a 5.3L engine. I have an issue that I cannot figure out. On warmer days when I drive long enough for the engine to heat up, when I shut the engine off and try to restart my truck, there is no engagement of the starter or solenoid. If I let the truck set for around twenty minutes the engine will start. I replaced the starter/solenoid and that did not fix the problem. My transmission was rebuilt a couple of years ago and when I replaced the starter I did not realize that there was suppose to be a heat shield over the solenoid. The transmission shop left it off. I installed the heat shield but I still have the same issue. This does not happen in the winter time when temperatures are cooler. Does anyone know what is causing this problem. I can't drive anywhere in the spring, summer, and fall without knowing that I will have to let my truck set for twenty to thirty minutes before I can start it. All other electrical (Lights, radio, horn, etc.) work fine during this time.

Doug_Scott · April 24, 2014

First thing to make sure of is the neutral safety switch is properly adjusted. Try moving the shifter to neutral and see if it makes any difference. Also try moving shifter around slightly while trying to start it. I only mention this because you mentioned having trans rebuilt at some time. It was just the first thing I thought of.

If it is not the neutral safety switch, and If letting it sit until it cools down works, then you have what is called a heat soak issue. It can be either the solenoid or a connection issue or the actual starter motor itself. Generally if you do not hear any sound at all when the key is turned, then it is a bad connection on either the power cable at either end, or the ground cable, at either end, or a bad connection at the starter solenoid, or starter ground connection(loose starter mounting bolts). By no sound, that is whay I mean, absolutely no sound at all.

If you hear a click, but nothing more, then you have either a bad solenoid, or bad windings in the starter motor itself that become an open circuit when heated. This can also be a bad connection between the solenoid and starter that is heat related.

Once you verify all cable connections by actually removing the cable connection, cleaning and attaching them again, and have verified starter to engine connection is both tight and no corrosion exists between starter and engine, there is not much more that it can be. You really should use either a volt meter, or test light to check for power at the various spots while someone tries to start truck.