Gmt800 No Start, But Full 12v

[reiling3]

I been dealing with this issue for a few months. First time was back in July leaving the mall and went to start the truck and nothing. All the lights were on radio...etc WTF. So I sat and logically though about my options...haha yeah right. Actually I just keep turning the key and it started after about six times. Weird situation in general. I never got around to doing anything because it never did it again until about a month ago. So then in a weeks time it did it about 4 times so I figured I better do some research. There were a few threads that had the same problem but they were never updated and about 2 years out of date. But I did get some ideas from them. I did the neutral safety switch check, checked all the grounds, checked voltages. Last thing I did was tap on the starter with a pair a pliers and right away it started. So shiz, i guess I need a new starter. I wasn't completely convinced but the local parts store had one in stock and with 103k I figured it was about time anyways, so I threw it in quick. I would rather do it now in my driveway than in a parking lot in the middle of winter. Its been two weeks and haven't had an issue. I just though I would share my story for any others who might run into the same issue.

[frupp]

I been dealing with this issue for a few months. First time was back in July leaving the mall and went to start the truck and nothing. All the lights were on radio...etc WTF. So I sat and logically though about my options...haha yeah right. Actually I just keep turning the key and it started after about six times. Weird situation in general. I never got around to doing anything because it never did it again until about a month ago. So then in a weeks time it did it about 4 times so I figured I better do some research. There were a few threads that had the same problem but they were never updated and about 2 years out of date. But I did get some ideas from them. I did the neutral safety switch check, checked all the grounds, checked voltages. Last thing I did was tap on the starter with a pair a pliers and right away it started. So shiz, i guess I need a new starter. I wasn't completely convinced but the local parts store had one in stock and with 103k I figured it was about time anyways, so I threw it in quick. I would rather do it now in my driveway than in a parking lot in the middle of winter. Its been two weeks and haven't had an issue. I just though I would share my story for any others who might run into the same issue.

 

My 2000 Suburban did exactly the same thing. I finally located the problem when I tapped the starter with a small hammer. It then started right up. It got progressively worse and I replaced the starter. After two months the new starter began to do the same thing. Tapping it would make it work. I never had a chance to find out exactly why the starter did that as the truck was totaled shortly thereafter. I think it had to do with the brushes not contacting the armature correctly. Tapping the starter moved them into place.

[pm26]

Are you sure this was not a sticking solenoid?

[frupp]

Are you sure this was not a sticking solenoid?

 

I had my son turn the key while I hand my hand on the solenoid. It was working and I even tried tapping it without success. When I tapped the starter it worked. I guess it could have been the solenoid linkage but tapping the starter worked. It isn't pleasant climbing underneath to tap the starter. I tried it from above but that only worked about 10% of the time.

[pm26]

That's what we get with electrical components like starters and alternators being assembled and/or rebuilt in Mexico. Nothing against Mexican people, but unfortunately many lack necessary training and skill when hired to assemble components like these because the objective is to keep the labor costs to an absolute minimum. And what about quality control? How good is it? Does it even exist?

[nickvrebel]

That's what we get with electrical components like starters and alternators being assembled and/or rebuilt in Mexico. Nothing against Mexican people, but unfortunately many lack necessary training and skill when hired to assemble components like these because the objective is to keep the labor costs to an absolute minimum. And what about quality control? How good is it? Does it even exist?

huh??? he said the truck had 103K miles. I remember vehicles as far back as my dad's '79 Pontiac not having starters last that long. Starters are not considered to be a "lifetime" part, they are expected to be replaced at least once in a vehicle's life

[Doug_Scott]

That's what we get with electrical components like starters and alternators being assembled and/or rebuilt in Mexico. Nothing against Mexican people, but unfortunately many lack necessary training and skill when hired to assemble components like these because the objective is to keep the labor costs to an absolute minimum. And what about quality control? How good is it? Does it even exist?

 

Starters have been failing since they built the very first one. This blaming everything on "not being made in the good usa" is wearing thin, fast. I just had an experience today along this line... a buddy's kid (kid is 32) is one of those that thinks anything made in china just has to be crap and anything made here or the usa is of the best quality. He put a rad in his grandfathers car last year, and made everyone wait an extra week so he could source the best rad he could, and one that was not built in china. Well, that rad failed yesterday, and when he was asked to fix it again, he went off on a rant about chinese crap this and chinese crap that. It went on until his father could get him to relax long enough to be reminded that the rad was not chinese. All he would say then was, if it was chinese it would not have lasted this long (8 months).

For those that are old enough to remember, japanese used to be poor quality, look where they are now.

[pm26]

Well, let me give you a few real examples. I went through four sets of rebuilt rear calipers for my car, all rebuilt in Mexico, and all were junk, without exception. I went through two Mexican made radiators from Auto Zone, and both failed within weeks. Bought one from GM dealer, US made, never had a problem with it. Bought a rebuilt power brake booster, rebuilt in Mexico, absolute POS, failed within a month. A new US made part solved the problem for good. This was not for my truck, but an older GM car.

 

This is not an attack on Mexican or Chinese people. It is a simple reality that this country is obsessed with greed and keeps exporting jobs at our people's expense just to keep the labor costs at a minimum. They don't care if they use unskilled workers or if they rebuild the item properly - this is why there are so many problems with Mexican or Chinese rebuilt parts.

 

 

Believe what you want to believe - you are only fooling yourself if you think that the quality of foreign made or rebuilt parts sold at discount auto part stores is good. I still trust US or Japanese made parts more, even though it is true that the quality of some parts is not as good as it used to be.

[txab]