1987 C10: No Start!

[JasonCzerak]

I just can win this week with mechanical crap.



87 C10, v6, auto 4x4. Not sure of the trim level, tho 47,000 (not 147,000) original miles. (any buyers!?!?!, lots of room for a B series.



For some reason some of the electrical components stopped working. This IS a TBI motor. (could of fooled me by the way it starts and runs to be a normal carb... )



What works: Break lights, radio, heat/ac. blinkers, starter, ignition, fuel guage.



What does NOT: headlights, interior lights, ECM, gauge cluster lights,



Not sure: whippers, fuel pump(s) (dual tanks)



The reason I know the ignition works is that if you hit it with some starting fluid she fires for a few seconds.



No fuel smell out the tail pipe. Kinda odd that the head lights died at the same time the ECM/fuel management/TBI quit.



I'm looking on line for some method to test this truck. Might have to get to autozone for a DRB type tool...



The funky other thing is there is no ignition light. or check engine light.



I've checked all the fuse, they look brand new. . No obvious lose or broke wires.



motor attempts to start very well.

 

[Matt400]

First year for fuel injection and last year for that body style, I always did like those.



Sounds like you have lost a main power source into the cab.

Check at the starter battery lug, there are fusible links there that can blow and cause that kind of an issue.



Forget the scanner for now to test the on board diagnostics. I bet that once you fix your headlamp trouble, it will fix the no start too.

 

[JasonCzerak]

It was dark, so I may have missed something. I do not recall any fuse able connections AT the battery. I'll look for this in the AM

 

[TBurow]

they might be on the starter some gm's have fusable links at the pos batt cable hookup on the starter.

 

[Hoefler]

There are 2 fusible links at the starter, they are red and 10 gauge wire. Some times they get too close to the exhaust pipe ( especially after a starter swap ) and prematurely blow.

 

[JasonCzerak]

Yeah, I've got a better look in my limited time last night. I see the 2 wires, They go up after the starter and over the bell housing some place and I lose them.



how close are the fuses to the starter?



I'll look for those tomorrow, maybe run a bypass wire from the battery over to where it joins in the wire harness.



For such a wide open under hood area, it sure is cramped by the motor.

 

[Matt400]

how close are the fuses to the starter?

The fusible links are bolted to the same lug the main battery cable is bolted to "at the starter" Some of these models had a junction lug mounted straight back at the top of the fire wall, jump 12v to that lug and see if you trouble goes away.

 

[JasonCzerak]

Fixed!

I checked the positive junction on the firewall. It worked (all wires were poked with the light tester). So I got into the wire harness that goes into the fuse box on the under hood side.



I assumed that the 2 red's were the only two and were the positive feeds to this. One was working, one was dead. I didn't feel like checking at the starter again as it's rather greasy and cramped(and cold and dark out side... . ). So I grabbed some 10gauge I had in the garage and by-passed it t the battery. Head lights lite up and motor fired up.



Thank all for the help and suggestions!

 

[JoshPeters]

I wouldn't suggest leaving it without a fuse. That could be one way to be on the news for a Car-B-Q