serious electrical problems

[grahamstein]

see if you guys can figure this one out, all lights and radio work untill i tun the key. As soon as the starter engages i get the famous click and everything dies, lights on the dash and everything. if i take the key out for a few seconds everthing comes back on. Tried jumping it and no luck, voltmeter reads 12.2 volts. Headlights radio, everything works untill i try to start it. Any ideas?

 

[cr133r]

Possibly the ignition switch? Either its worn out or out of adjustment(loose bolts could do it).

Its on top of the steering column below the gauge cluster and has a large connector going to it(possibly green). Pain to get to/replace.

 

[LIVEEZ]

loose battery cable, corroded battery cable, bad battery, shorted battery (internally), bad starter, or worst case seized engine.
hope this helps

 

[grahamstein]

ignition switch could be the problem, but it doesnt seem likely, like i said, everything electrical in the car dies as soon as i engage the starter, battery cables are new, connections are good, i tested the battery and that seems fine, even tried to jump it, there was no spark when i connected the cable so the battery has about the same power as the one i am using for a jump. no way the engine is seized, and starter was replaced a month ago. Thanks for the suggestions but thing still wont start.

 

[myclone]

http://syty.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=19209&highlight=start

 

[AUSyTyIN]

Check and clean the engine ground, make sure the connections on the battery tight, check battery cables for looseness at connectors. Also check the wiring to the starter.

 

[grahamstein]

well i had checked all the connections last night, i went to my truck this morning, turned the key and the damn thing started with a little hesitation and the starter turned pretty slow. I got it home turned it off, turned the key again and it started like it was brand new. I dont know why it would die like that yesterday and start right up this morning, at least i have it home now, but i could still use some sugestions to keep this from happening again. Right now im thinking its the battery but i dont know why it wouldnt start last night with a jump.

 

[myclone]

well i had checked all the connections last night, i went to my truck this morning, turned the key and the damn thing started with a little hesitation and the starter turned pretty slow. I got it home turned it off, turned the key again and it started like it was brand new. I dont know why it would die like that yesterday and start right up this morning, at least i have it home now, but i could still use some sugestions to keep this from happening again. Right now im thinking its the battery but i dont know why it wouldnt start last night with a jump.

The symptoms you are describing were also happening to me and the link above is what I found.

Symptoms:

turn key but nothing happens with the starter
lights would dim slightly when key was turned
batt voltage checked good
connections checked and were good
starts fine sometimes other times it wouldnt
starting malfunction was random as in hot/cold or the like didnt matter
jumping the batt didnt do squatt

 

[AUSyTyIN]

:evil: Damn hood gremlins! :evil:

 

[4C FED]

well i had checked all the connections last night, i went to my truck this morning, turned the key and the damn thing started with a little hesitation and the starter turned pretty slow. I got it home turned it off, turned the key again and it started like it was brand new. I dont know why it would die like that yesterday and start right up this morning, at least i have it home now, but i could still use some sugestions to keep this from happening again. Right now im thinking its the battery but i dont know why it wouldnt start last night with a jump.

I would check for correct voltage at the starter when you try to crank it over.
If the voltage is not there then batt. is bad or maybe one of the battery cables is badly corroded under the insulation.

 

[grahamstein]

The symptoms you are describing were also happening to me and the link above is what I found.

Symptoms:

turn key but nothing happens with the starter
lights would dim slightly when key was turned
batt voltage checked good
connections checked and were good
starts fine sometimes other times it wouldnt
starting malfunction was random as in hot/cold or the like didnt matter
jumping the batt didnt do squatt

Sonuds almost exactly what happened to me except the lights didnt dim, everything just died completely. After taking the key out for a few seconds they came back on, but everthing electrical died when turning the key.[/img]