Burb Won't Crank/start

nomoduc · May 25, 2010

Here's my problem. When I turn the key to start it,nothing. When I try again, engine doesn't ever do a full crank over then stops. It doesn't even continure cranking.... Turn key again,engine may or may not try and crank over. I've changed battery,battery cables,starter....same thing..... I suspect maybe ignition problem....the module...switch...... Ready to bring to shop.....but would like input first...

Thank You

Ape0r · May 26, 2010

Checked your starter relay? Poking around with a voltmeter could have saved you from buying quite a few parts!

UndeadGMC · May 29, 2010

Sounds exactly like a ground problem. Relays can have symptoms as you discribe especially the starter realy on your particular truck but its more often that they stop working completly not intermittent.

1. Check your engine ground first if you havent already when replacing the battery cables. If you replaced the whole length of cable then you most likely saw the ground from the engine when you were routing the battery cable to the starter. It can get real hot down there next to the exhaust helping to corrode the ground strap.

2. If your grounds are all good next thing to check is that starter relay with a meter, but like I said they are usually simply alive or dead not intermittent.

3. The next thing to check would be the ignition coil. Coils are notorious for causing intermittent problems when they are going out. Local auto parts stores can test coils or you can do it yourself with an ohm meter. Problem with asking a parts store to test it for you is you have to find someone smarter than you to do it. Most of the time they will say something like, it has to be in the vehicle to test it, or we don't have the tool to do that, and once in a while one will actually just admit they don't know how.

4. The last thing to check is the distributor pickup coil. If the pickup coil is on its way out it will also cause the exact symptoms that you are having. You can usually get the pickup coil to work though if you get it hot enough by repeatdly cranking the engine (like 20-30 times if you live in a hot place, 50-80 times if you live in a cold place). Note heating the coil is not a fix, because it will only get the engine to crank and as soon as it is about to start it will die. Its a good way to determine if the coil is your problem though, just remember to be using a good battery and only crank the engine for 5-6 seconds each time or you will wear down a good battery real fast.