Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Won't start

[Wray]

Parked truck, went shopping, came back 2 hours later, truck would not start. Turned over fine. Left truck parked overnight. Returned next day, truck started up, ran okay. Turned off engine, tried a little later, would not start. Fuel gauge sending unit was replaced 90 days ago. Truck has always run fine, no problems ever, except those caused by dealer on recall repairs. Any ideas?



___________

94 auto Trans Go -- TSP 230 hp, alcoa, 265-75 mich, 355 posi, 150k 21mpg.

 

[Joe G.]

When it doesn't start leave the key on and check to see if the fuel solenoid has pulled up. If it has not pull it up by hand and hit the starter. If that works you probably have a bad fuel solenoid relay. That's the big one of the two on the firewall near the master cylinder. That's the most common cause of this problem. The blue wire on the positive post of the battery may be loose or corroded and cause the same symptom.

 

[PKemp]

JoeG is right. I had the exact same problem. Check the wire on the battery and replace the relay. Check "LarryB" he's got some good replacement parts for this kind of thing.

 

[BDeArmon]

I have the same basic problem... parked truck last night, hard starting this morning..... sort of. Would not start on the first 10 seconds of cranking (always starts after 2 - 3 seconds of cranking, on first try). Now it randomly starts on the first try, or the 4th... or whenever it feels like it.



There is no way to see if the contacts are closed or not (sealed relay) on the previously mentioned relay. With the key on, engine off, I can plug in the relay and there is no audible click when the relay closes... yet I went from there directly to the ignition switch and turned to key over to start (without rolling it back to "stop"), engine started... . telling me that the relay I am looking at either closes when the starter is engaged, or is not needed to start the truck. I am looking at the larger of the 2 relays between the master cylinder and the engine, load wires are ~10g red, one has a black tracer, one has a purple tracer, the control wires are ~12g brown and 14ga black with a brown tracer... is this the correct relay????

 

[JFaughn]

It should be the only 70 amp relay in that area , I've taken a lot of these apart , pry the box off then you'll see a small spring roll that off then the mount for the moving half of the points will pivot out then if you see black spots [ not all the time] you can file or sand paper round again. if you crack the box use a little silly cone to seal .

 

[BDeArmon]

That was the one I was looking at... and that was the problem.



Damn I love the internet.