Tahoe won't start from time to time lately...

[KMeloney]

Hey all,

 

Recently, my '02 Tahoe has not wanted to start on occasion when I get in the truck. The sysmptom is that everything electronic inside the truck turns on as usual, but there's not even a hint of starter-action upon turning the key.

 

After screwing around with some sequence of hitting LOCK and then UNLOCK on the key fob, and opening and closing the door (and waiting more than 15 seconds in between doing this things), the truck starts right up.

 

It's clearly NOT a battery issue, nor does it appear to be a starter issue (there's no strain in start up when it does start up). It appears to be security-related. It appears to maybe cut off the fuel so nothing happens when I turn the key. And, again, there appears to be some sequence by which I can eventually start the truck, but I don't know exactly what the sequence is.

 

I guess I need to know the following:

 

1) Does someone know exactly what's happening here?

 

2) Is something failing that's causing this to happen a lot lately (5 times in the past 2 weeks)?

 

3) Is there a TSB related to this?

 

4) Where can I go from here?

 

Thanks, folks!

 

-Kirk

[bobcat5544]

Hey all,

 

Recently, my '02 Tahoe has not wanted to start on occasion when I get in the truck.  The sysmptom is that everything electronic inside the truck turns on as usual, but there's not even a hint of starter-action upon turning the key.

 

After screwing around with some sequence of hitting LOCK and then UNLOCK on the key fob, and opening and closing the door (and waiting more than 15 seconds in between doing this things), the truck starts right up. 

 

It's clearly NOT a battery issue, nor does it appear to be a starter issue (there's no strain in start up when it does start up).  It appears to be security-related.  It appears to maybe cut off the fuel so nothing happens when I turn the key.  And, again, there appears to be some sequence by which I can eventually start the truck, but I don't know exactly what the sequence is.

 

I guess I need to know the following:

 

1)  Does someone know exactly what's happening here?

 

2)  Is something failing that's causing this to happen a lot lately (5 times in the past 2 weeks)?

 

3)  Is there a TSB related to this?

 

4)  Where can I go from here?

 

Thanks, folks!

 

-Kirk

 

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(VTD) only disables the fuel injectors not the starter

 

you might want to go by a autozone or advance auto parts if you have one around have them hook the OBDII test up and see if there is any codes, write them down, then let me know

if there is no codes then it is not the Vehicle Theft Deterrent system. it could be the ignition switch

[bigblueZ71]

Your starter is going out, couldn't hurt to test it (mine never strained either). My 00 silverado just did the same thing cluster would light up and radio would come on but is was like I was turning the key with no battery. Got a new one and everything is fine now.

-Cory

[redvett]

If you have a lot of keys on your key ring, that causes wear on the lock system and falure. Ditch all the keys and replace the lock mechanism.

[bobcat5544]

starter is an idea, but most on the time you will hear either a single click (amature has a dead spot), multi clicks (very high amp drap), or a spin noises (bad throw out sol). it very rare to have a strater with a very very very high amp draw where it does not do any thing and then wait a little and it work fine

[KMeloney]

Your starter is going out, couldn't hurt to test it (mine never strained either).  My 00 silverado just did the same thing cluster would light up and radio would come on but is was like I was turning the key with no battery.  Got a new one and everything is fine now.

-Cory

 

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Cory -- Did it click or anything when it wouldn't start? Mine makes NO noises when it doesn't start.. Bobcat's response is what I suspect, too, but I'm just not sure.

 

Redvett -- I have an '01 Corvette. I'm very aware of the whole column lock nonsense that plagues some Vettes. Are you suggesting that there's a similar problem with the Tahoe's? For what it's worth, I never lock the wheel position when I get out of the Tahoe, but...

 

Bobcat -- I suspect it's the ignition switch, too. I'll have to check into that.

 

Anymore thoughts?

 

Thanks, folks!

 

-Kirk

[bigblueZ71]

Kirk,

Nope, no clicking at all, that is why at first I didn't even suspect the starter. It was like turning the key in a truck w/ no battery(lights and radio would come on but that was it). I too suspected the ignition switch when this happened but my dad told me to test the starter and sure enough the starter was the problem.

-Cory

[KMeloney]

Kirk,

Nope, no clicking at all, that is why at first I didn't even suspect the starter. It was like turning the key in a truck w/ no battery(lights and radio would come on but that was it).  I too suspected the ignition switch when this happened but my dad told me to test the starter and sure enough the starter was the problem.

-Cory

 

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Thanks! No point in not having this checked out!

 

-Kirk

[ex10psi]

Hi there, bringing back an old thread after doing a search on starting problems.

 

I've got an 99 Yukon doing the exact same thing as your Tahoe... did you narrow it down to the starter?

 

I also PM'd you, thanks for the help!

 

 

Kirk,

Nope, no clicking at all, that is why at first I didn't even suspect the starter. It was like turning the key in a truck w/ no battery(lights and radio would come on but that was it).  I too suspected the ignition switch when this happened but my dad told me to test the starter and sure enough the starter was the problem.

-Cory

 

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Thanks! No point in not having this checked out!

 

-Kirk

 

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