starting issue

[koolademan22]

I went to start the truck 2 days ago the battery volts showed 9 volts on the gauge. tried jumping it not luck swapped batteries and still no luck. Let it sit all day then was able to start it and run errands. Went to put gas in it and it would not start nor was I getting fuel coming from the injectors flat towed it home let it set a full day when out this morning and started it right up. and help would be appreciated

 

[Road Trip]

1) Sudden Go/No-Go start issues with no previous warning is most often
a loose connection on one side OR the other of either positive or negative
large gauge cables. Given you already swapped out the battery (and assuming no
breaks in the cables in the vicinity of the battery terminals) ...I would 1st
check that the other end of the large ground cable is firmly connected to
a clean surface.

Also check the other side of the large gauge positive cable down to the
starter solenoid for a solid connection.

2) For completeness I would also verify a tight connection of the control
(small gauge) wire at the starter solenoid. In last place, probability-wise,
you have an issue at the ignition switch intermittently not sending the
start signal down to the starter solenoid.

NOTE: Your 9-volt reading on your gauge would make a case for the
1st scenario where the overall vehicle is NOT seeing the full voltage/current
available from the battery? If you have a handheld voltmeter, does a voltage check
right at the battery terminals agree/disagree with the gauge in the dash?

And what is the behavior of the headlights if you turn them on while
you are experiencing a 'no-crank' issue? Constant brightness
before/during/after? Or do they dim when you attempt to crank?

Really check both sides of all large gauge cables in order to either fix
the vehicle OR eliminate them so that further troubleshooting can be done.

Good luck --

 

[Road Trip]

One more possibility, depending upon how much/how little noise is
made when attempting to start the truck. IF the truck makes *zero*
noise when attempting to start, you may want to verify that your
neutral safety switch hasn't become intermittent.

(Just like trying to start an automatic trans truck with the shift
lever pointing to 'R' or any of the forward positions. Of if it's
a manual trans, attempting to start the truck without fully
depressing the clutch pedal.)

Of course the above does not explain the '9 volt' reading on
your gauge, but for completeness I wanted to add this. Stranger
things have happened.

1 more thing. If you could describe the sounds associated with
trying to start the truck (1 click & partial starter turn before stalling,
multiple clicks but zero starter rotation, 0 clicks + zero noise, etc) ...this will
help us trying to suss this long distance. (That and the headlight
behavior as mentioned previously.)

Let us know what you find, fixed or inop. Good luck --

 

[koolademan22]

One more possibility, depending upon how much/how little noise is
made when attempting to start the truck. IF the truck makes *zero*
noise when attempting to start, you may want to verify that your
neutral safety switch hasn't become intermittent.

(Just like trying to start an automatic trans truck with the shift
lever pointing to 'R' or any of the forward positions. Of if it's
a manual trans, attempting to start the truck without fully
depressing the clutch pedal.)

Of course the above does not explain the '9 volt' reading on
your gauge, but for completeness I wanted to add this. Stranger
things have happened.

1 more thing. If you could describe the sounds associated with
trying to start the truck (1 click & partial starter turn before stalling,
multiple clicks but zero starter rotation, 0 clicks + zero noise, etc) ...this will
help us trying to suss this long distance. (That and the headlight
behavior as mentioned previously.)

Let us know what you find, fixed or inop. Good l

I have checked all wires on the truck, and all wires are tight. I have good lights no dimming at all. I sometimes get fuel sometimes not has a new fuel filter on it. I can let the truck sit for a day or two and it will start and run for an hour or more then go to get back to leave and the truck won't start. It acts like low power or a no fuel condition.

 

[JDGMC]

Not sure if your no-start condition is due to bad cable connections, ignition, or safety switch based on your initial request for help or a low charge /shorted battery based on your last post of low power/no fuel. You mentioned swapping batteries, not sure if that means a new battery or an equivalent old battery. I would begin with making sure your battery is fully charged before starting the vehicle. After charging the battery measure the voltage and CCA if possible. I would then start the vehicle and check the alternator to make sure it’s functioning properly while the vehicle is running with a load on the system(lights, blower, radio, etc.). Go for a 15-minute drive (w/system load) and check the alternator output again at idle. Turn the vehicle off and measure the battery voltage and CCA. The values from the measurements should point to where your problem may be including connections. If that's all good start the vehicle again. If the starter engages and the engine is turning over normally (much like it sounded after charging the battery in the first step), but it does not start, you will need to look at the ignition or fuel system. If the starter does not engage examine the connections to the starter for corrosion regardless of how tight the connections are. If all is good the starter may be in question. If you report back what you find (measurements/conditions) someone will most likely have the next steps or a solution to your starting problem.

 

[Erik the Awful]

Clean your battery terminals thoroughly with a wire brush. They can develop tarnish that looks clean but won't conduct.

If you have side posts, consider swapping to top post. The side posts have a tendency to loosen up.

 

[Road Trip]

I have checked all wires on the truck, and all wires are tight. I have good lights no dimming at all. I sometimes get fuel sometimes not has a new fuel filter on it. I can let the truck sit for a day or two and it will start and run for an hour or more then go to get back to leave and the truck won't start. It acts like low power or a no fuel condition.

Sir,

In order to assist, we need to know all you can tell us about how your truck
is misbehaving. It makes a troubleshooting difference if the engine can't start because
it is not being turned over with the starter versus the engine is being spun over
at the proper speed by the starter...but the engine won't fire up.

Which of the 3 main scenarios below best describes the way your truck is malfunctioning?

****

1) Intermittently, starter does not crank the engine over at all.

1A) When the starter does work, it turns over at normal speed.
1B) When the starter does work, it turns over much slower than normal.

****

2) Starter always cranks the engine over, but intermittently the engine does not fire.

2A) When the engine doesn't fire, there's no fuel delivery. (ie: engine can be
induced to start with starting fluid/WD40/fuel squirted manually into throttle body?)

2B) When the engine doesn't fire, there is fuel but no spark?

****

3) Engine starts & runs for a couple of seconds before dying on a '98+ GMT400
with the Passlock security feature. (still enabled)

****

And of course if you have already found/fixed the problem, please share that
info with the forum.

Good luck!