Short circuit in starter circut

[Bnoggle]

A few weeks ago I was driving my 1983 C-10, and it seemed to be running alright. I parked in my driveway and came back out to leave in five minutes or less, and the truck would not start. I tried several things thinking the battery was the problem since I could not get power to anything (lights, radio, etc.) however even with a newer battery nothing worked. I then tried tapping the starter and solenoid with a hammer. It started and ran for about 3 weeks. Today I drove it about an hour away (mostly on highways) with no problems. When I got back in the truck to go home the radio and lights would cut out from time to time, but come back almost instantly. About halfway through my drive home there was a sound that sounded like the starter trying to turn for a few seconds, and then everything went off and stayed off. No engine, lights, radio nothing. I popped the hood and tried tapping the solenoid with a hammer, nothing. After a few minutes I turned the key and the lights came on for a second or two but immediately everything went off again when I turned the key to the start position. I then tried messing with the wiring thinking that there might have been a short somewhere, but nothing happened. As a last resort before calling AAA to come tow me home I tried tapping the solenoid again, and the truck started and ran home just fine. It has not had a problem starting and running for the rest of the day. I think the problem is a short circuit somewhere or the starter solenoid is bad. I was curious if anyone else has had a similar problem, or if anyone has any knowledge of which this may be. My truck is a 1983 Chevy C-10 2WD L6 engine, with new vacuum system, distributor, and spark plugs within the last 1,000 miles.

[REVYCHEVY55]

Does it still have side post battery ? Check battery ends under the rubber for corrosion.

[diyer2]

Is it an 83 or 84? Probably not much difference. And why didn't you put a new starter in?

I'm not an electrical genius but maybe the starter is bad and shorts out causing the problem, it is a direct connection to the battery with the ignition switch in between if my memory is correct. It could be the ignition switch also.

Neither are expensive IMO.

[txab]

Replace the starter

[Bnoggle]

I replaced the starter solenoid today, as well as the electronic ignition which I believe to have been the majority of the problem. The battery is still a side post, however it is a newer battery and all tests say it is working fine. The truck is a 1983. It now seems to be running fine but only time will tell if it is something worse. If anyone has any ideas of other parts that could be causing the problem that would be great.

[ChumminsDQ]

Check all grounds. Complete loss of vehicle (lights, radio, ect) is commonly caused by a bad or loose ground whether off battery or one of the major vehicle grounds.

 

I would check all them for corrosion, being loose or oil or contaminates not allowing ground.