Archived Truck Wont Start

[kgarciactd]

help. i am stuck at school and my truck wont start. doesnt even try to turn over. i would suspect battery but i just had new batteries put in last month. all accessories work. all lights work. after replacing lift pump my truck had trouble starting occasionally but would fire up every time. now it wont even turn over.

 

[DavidC]

Sounds like the starter contacts. They are known to go out suddenly. Some have gotten it started by rapping the starter with a hammer. Larry B's carries the heavy contacts for replacements.



Dave

 

[EKlem]

Does it not do anything or does it make a ticking sound? Also, do all the lights go dim when you try it? If it is ticking, then you have dead batteries. What happens is that the solenoid closes and reopens rapidly as the load from the starter draws the voltage down, causing the solenoid to open so the voltage goes back up and it continues in this loop. If the lights go dim, you at least have something going on.



I would agree on the starter contacts. If a hammer doesn't do the trick, some people have had luck with rotating the starter a bit and then trying again. This can be accomplished by putting the truck in a high gear and rolling it a bit, then trying to start it.



If you have access to a multimeter, that will tell you a lot. Obviously, the first thing to check would be battery voltage. Then, see whether you have voltage on the hot side of the solenoid. Then check the switched side of the solenoid by having a friend try to start it. If that doesn't do it, it is probably your starter contacts.



I hope that you get your truck running again soon.

 

[kgarciactd]

well i got it started, i tapped the starter a few times with a heavy metal object and that seemed to do the trick. the question now is, is it the starter itself or just the contacts

 

[RAJohnson]

Just change the contacts, and all will be good

 

[kgarciactd]

thanks for the help guys. i just bought some of larry b's contacts. will wait to get them and see if they work.