Bad Starter?

Kodiak450 · June 2, 2011

Go to start my truck and nothing. No sound from a failing starter, nothing. Battery is fine and is only 2 years old and fully charged. Tried a jumper pack just in case and still nothing. Anyone have an idea what could of went wrong here? I thought maybe starter just died, or bad ignition wire? I heard no signs of a bad starter in the last month, just nothing happens when you turn the key.

desrtrat · June 2, 2011

i would check for a bad relay first. some of the older models you could swap out with your ac relay to check if it's bad. lot cheaper than replacing a starter, only to find a relay bad, or a bad wire or ground..

good luck

Kodiak450 · June 2, 2011

I could care less if I need a starter, warranty company covers it. But thanks for the relay idea.

Doug_Scott · June 3, 2011

Clean battery cable connections, even do it if you think they must be clean, they can look clean from the outside, and be really bad on the inside.

Make sure the neutral safety switch thinks the truck is in park. Try shifting to neutral to see if that makes a difference.

Shaners · June 3, 2011

Did you check the ground wire to the frame?

Kodiak450 · June 3, 2011

I checked some wire that had a clip type ending on it that plugged in the the right of the starter below the starter near the block. I think the starter needs to be replaced, it's the orginal one and looks old and rusty on the outside. Kinda hard to inspect under the truck as I have no lift to lift the truck and get a better look at it.

PharmZ71 · June 4, 2011

This exact same thing just happened to me a week ago. I checked all the fuses, relays, etc...ended up getting towed. It was a bad starter.

Kodiak450 · June 5, 2011

This exact same thing just happened to me a week ago. I checked all the fuses, relays, etc...ended up getting towed. It was a bad starter.

So no pre warning of a starter failing huh? Just one day wouldn't do anyting when ignition was turned?

sonjaab · June 5, 2011

Again check your battery connections. Since you have a plow it is possible

that one of them is loose or has corrosion. Another thought is the internal

crush washer on the battery is flattened out so you have a bad connection.

The added plow power wires to the battery have a habit of causing a no power

situation as they age from moving around from the constant back and forth

shifting while plowing.

Since the crush washer is crushed you really can't tighten the cable enough

without breaking the internal battery connector to the plates inside.

Been there and done that with my truck and plow set up.................

The cure is to add a big flat washer to the battery post and mount and tighten

the battery cable over it.

PharmZ71 · June 5, 2011

This exact same thing just happened to me a week ago. I checked all the fuses, relays, etc...ended up getting towed. It was a bad starter.

So no pre warning of a starter failing huh? Just one day wouldn't do anyting when ignition was turned?

Nope. Worked perfectly until it didn't. I thought the same thing...wouldn't I have noticed the starter getting weak? I figured it was electrical, but it wasn't -- unless the shop screwed me which I doubt -- independent guy I trust.

Kodiak450 · June 9, 2011

Talked to the mechanic yesterday, he said my battery was dead when he intitially went to look at the truck. Don't remember leaving any dome lights on after I parked it there. Told me, that if battery has low voltage, that my truck will not start cause of some device needs a certain amount of volts in storage? Don't know what he said it was again. He said it has been starting everyday after the battery was charged, but I find this odd, cause after I tried starting it even though there was charge int he battery I placed my jumper pack on and it still wouldn't start.

With plow power cable, it isn't hooked to my battery, it's connected to the red power point box that comes from the battery for additional add ons like plows, amps, ect. All my wires are in great shape, also apply dielectric grease every 4 months or so to all electrical parts to prevent any corrosion from forming.

I'll be picking up the truck tomorrow, and hook up my battery tender to it when truck is parked. It was sitting for 2 weeks and alarm was active, but it wasn't like it was cold outside. Battery is under 2 years old as well and is the OEM delco battery.

Kodiak450 · June 9, 2011

Update: Just got off the phone with the shop and they determined it was the starter after I talked to the mechanic and I guess he took another look at the truck. My extended warranty is covering the cost of the new starter and labor to install it. Once again, my warranty is profiting for me. Best $2990 ever spent for an extended warranty imo.

desrtrat · June 9, 2011

Kodiak450 · June 9, 2011

Looks like I need a new coil pack and 02 sensor now. Went to get my truck and after I started it it was running ruff and vibrating. I knew it was a misfire occurring in one of the cyclinders, so I told the mechanic and he said drive it around for a bit. Well after I filled it up with gas, the engine light was blinking and my acceleration felt hesitant, brought it back to the shop and the 02 sensor was coming up as a problem on the computer diagnose. Then he found a bad coil pack. I was pretty happy about all of that too, cause the extended warranty covers those parts as well. So they gave me their GMC 2500HD van to drive home as I opted to not drive the truck home running the way it was, only to have to bring it back tomorrow for when the parts come in. Glad to have parts crappping out now and knowing the warranty covers them, then to not have a warranty and one heck of a bill to pay for.