Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Starter

[ewcmr2]

Apologies if this has come up before, but I don't remember reading about this particular combination.

Strange set of circumstances leads to no start. Driving on the highway, I noticed that when I flashed my lights to let a trucker come over, the stereo blinked out and the parking brake light illuminated. Stopped at a rest area to walk the dogs, and when we went to leave, turning the key did not engage the starter. Diagnosis so far--dash lights up when key is turned, power is getting to starter relay, fuel shut down solenoid is not pulling up (with key on, it stays up when lifted manually), jumping main battery cable to starter solenoid signal wire creates a small spark (but NOTHING else).

Jumping the starter posts and getting nothing would make me think the starter is dead, but what about a dead starter would cause the fuel shut down solenoid to not activate and confuse the stereo and dash brake lights?

Edited to add: and the dome light is randomly coming on and flickering as we're driving.

 

[JR]

Sounds to me like you've got an intermittent connection. Battery cables all clean and tight? Batteries fully charged?

 

[ewcmr2]

Yes, battery voltage fine, cables fine.

 

[ewcmr2]

And...alternator light just came on for five miles and then turned off.

 

[Missouri Mule]

Sounds like you have some bare wires touching in a harness. Are you able to start engine. If rod is staying up on fuel shut off you should be able to start it.

On older trucks the connection from the battery to the power distribution center comes loose (at PDC).

Battery cable to starter can ground out on engine or components.

If you have tools you could try pulling the cap of solenoid and make sure every thing is alright in there.

If turning the key to start doesn't start it you can turn the key to "run" position, pull the starter relay and put one end of a wire to the terminal that has power and the other end to the terminal opposite it. That should turn the starter and start it. If nothing is wrong with the starter.

 

[ewcmr2]

There wasn't much diagnosis before original post, we were in Nebraska Saturday morning, had to be in Pasadena Sunday afternoon and then up to Monterey Sunday evening... Push starting 20,000lb truck/trailer gets some odd looks at rest areas!

The starter solenoid seems to have been the problem. It's was gunked up enough that it wasn't clicking into position when keyed. The starter relay also feeds the fuel solenoid so that could explain why solenoid wasn't pulling up when starter wasn't spinning.

No explanation for the Dome, Brake, and GEN lights...