Need help with electrical. Truck won't start.

[zacattack20]

Ok so a couple weeks ago when I'm out, my truck wouldn't start. I got out looked at the fuses all looked good, then jumped back in and the truck started.

As I stopped again and got back in to start it, it had a really slow start like it almost wasn't going to but then did start. I had no fault codes at the time. I stopped again and this time I couldn't get it to start up at all and had to have it towed after trying everything I could. It did end up having two pending codes for the crankshaft and camshaft sensor which weren't there before.

I don't know if those had anything to do with it but I had those sensors laying around so I swapped them out. Throwing parts but I didn't spend any money. That didn't fix the problem. I also checked the fuses, the AM fuses and alternator that run through the starter circuit, and they are fine.

This whole time when I try to start it, I hear the relay click and then the starter click once but not try to turn over at all. Before I had it towed, twice I had the engine start to turn over slightly but then stopped and then nothing

I know it's not the contacts because I replaced the contacts and the plunger not too long ago. Also the starter works. I pulled the starter to inspect and didn't see anything wrong and tested off the truck. I then put it back in and I can jump the starter straight from the battery and the engine will start right up.

I spoke to a technician and he suggested that he thinks it's still the starter that is the problem. Is that possible that somehow the starter would still cause the issue even though it works with direct power? Or what else should I be looking for? Don't want to spend $160 some dollars for a new starter for it not to fix the problem.

 

[IBallEngineer]

Ok so a couple weeks ago when I'm out, my truck wouldn't start. I got out looked at the fuses all looked good, then jumped back in and the truck started.

As I stopped again and got back in to start it, it had a really slow start like it almost wasn't going to but then did start. I had no fault codes at the time. I stopped again and this time I couldn't get it to start up at all and had to have it towed after trying everything I could. It did end up having two pending codes for the crankshaft and camshaft sensor which weren't there before.

I don't know if those had anything to do with it but I had those sensors laying around so I swapped them out. Throwing parts but I didn't spend any money. That didn't fix the problem. I also checked the fuses, the AM fuses and alternator that run through the starter circuit, and they are fine.

This whole time when I try to start it, I hear the relay click and then the starter click once but not try to turn over at all. Before I had it towed, twice I had the engine start to turn over slightly but then stopped and then nothing

I know it's not the contacts because I replaced the contacts and the plunger not too long ago. Also the starter works. I pulled the starter to inspect and didn't see anything wrong and tested off the truck. I then put it back in and I can jump the starter straight from the battery and the engine will start right up.

I spoke to a technician and he suggested that he thinks it's still the starter that is the problem. Is that possible that somehow the starter would still cause the issue even though it works with direct power? Or what else should I be looking for? Don't want to spend $160 some dollars for a new starter for it not to fix the problem.

Yes it "could" be the starter, or it could be a cable or ground issue. Do you have a voltmeter to test with? If you do, start by testing battery voltage while you or someone else tries to crank the engine. If it cranks let it go a few seconds to get a good voltage reading. What is it?

opcorn:

 

[LittleCaesar]

Pull the starter and take it to NAPA, etc. to have it bench tested. I think it will test fine.

Next time it does this pull a plug (keep a ratchet and such handy) and see if you have spark. It may be an igniter that is going bad.

Also how is your timing? It sounds like the motor is out of time. Pull the cam cover and see. The tensioner could be maxed out if it hasn't ever been replaced. I'd start with this first!

Check the wiring that leads to both of the sensors as well.

 

[TheDurk]

Please explain exactly how you jumped the starter. Did you connect to the large terminal, the small one, or both?

 

[zacattack20]

Well I kind of disappeared there after posting this. Was just looking for some ideas but I am pretty sure I have it figured out, just haven't fixed it. Just really busy.

Yes it "could" be the starter, or it could be a cable or ground issue. Do you have a voltmeter to test with? If you do, start by testing battery voltage while you or someone else tries to crank the engine. If it cranks let it go a few seconds to get a good voltage reading. What is it?

opcorn:

Tested that already, had voltage to the starter.

Pull the starter and take it to NAPA, etc. to have it bench tested. I think it will test fine.

Next time it does this pull a plug (keep a ratchet and such handy) and see if you have spark. It may be an igniter that is going bad.

Also how is your timing? It sounds like the motor is out of time. Pull the cam cover and see. The tensioner could be maxed out if it hasn't ever been replaced. I'd start with this first!

Check the wiring that leads to both of the sensors as well.

Just replaced all that and did a timing belt and everything a few weeks earlier, timing was fine.

Please explain exactly how you jumped the starter. Did you connect to the large terminal, the small one, or both?

I used jumper cables attached to the battery and then the positive to the large terminal and then clipped the negative to the body of the starter. Then used some wire and a screwdriver and connected the large terminal to the smaller terminal connector and it started right up. Same way I tested it out of the truck.


But anyway, on to what I am pretty sure is the issue which is going to be quite a bit of a headache because well wiring sucks. I felt that the sensor faults were too much of coincidence, so checking the starting wiring diagram, the two sensors share a common ground. The ground is the little tiny on the side of the intake manifold next to the diagnostic port. Everything looked good there, I unbolted it and re-bolted it and check the ring connectors, noticed no issues. Went to start it, and still nothing. Frustrated, I grabbed the wire loom and shook it around a bit. Go to start it up and now it started up perfectly. Tried a couple more times and no problem whatsoever starting. So somewhere in the damn loom there is going to be a semi-broken wire that I will have to find. I'm still not driving it until I find it because I don't want to be stranded somewhere again.

 

[IBallEngineer]

Well I kind of disappeared there after posting this. Was just looking for some ideas but I am pretty sure I have it figured out, just haven't fixed it. Just really busy.




Tested that already, had voltage to the starter.




Just replaced all that and did a timing belt and everything a few weeks earlier, timing was fine.




I used jumper cables attached to the battery and then the positive to the large terminal and then clipped the negative to the body of the starter. Then used some wire and a screwdriver and connected the large terminal to the smaller terminal connector and it started right up. Same way I tested it out of the truck.


But anyway, on to what I am pretty sure is the issue which is going to be quite a bit of a headache because well wiring sucks. I felt that the sensor faults were too much of coincidence, so checking the starting wiring diagram, the two sensors share a common ground. The ground is the little tiny on the side of the intake manifold next to the diagnostic port. Everything looked good there, I unbolted it and re-bolted it and check the ring connectors, noticed no issues. Went to start it, and still nothing. Frustrated, I grabbed the wire loom and shook it around a bit. Go to start it up and now it started up perfectly. Tried a couple more times and no problem whatsoever starting. So somewhere in the damn loom there is going to be a semi-broken wire that I will have to find. I'm still not driving it until I find it because I don't want to be stranded somewhere again.

Whoa, man. What sensor faults? So you ARE getting battery voltage to the large cable at the battery? What about the trigger wire?

Originally you had a slow cranking issue, now you have a either NO crank, or it works fine if you move the harness?

By the way, are you still using your push button start? Have you tried bypassing that?

:hungry:

 

[nc-grayson]

are your battery terminals good? I just replaced mine because the positive side wasn't making good contact with the post even though it was screwed on tight as crap.

 

[zacattack20]

Whoa, man. What sensor faults? So you ARE getting battery voltage to the large cable at the battery? What about the trigger wire?

Originally you had a slow cranking issue, now you have a either NO crank, or it works fine if you move the harness?

By the way, are you still using your push button start? Have you tried bypassing that?

:hungry:

I had mentioned I had pending faults for the camshaft and crankshaft sensors which in the wiring diagram are part of the starting process. They share a common ground connecting to the intake manifold by the diagnosis port. I have power to the large terminal, that just comes straight from the battery. Didn't check the trigger/smaller terminal, but I'm guessing that was where I was not getting anything as the computer was telling it not to start.

I had bypassed the push start already and was trying both the push button and key. Same thing both ways.

I had a no crank. Then I had a slow crank once but started. And then I had a bunch of no cranks. Haha. It cranks and started now that I jerked the harness around, but who knows when I go drive it around and hit a bump. It appears to me to be some wire in the harness.

are your battery terminals good? I just replaced mine because the positive side wasn't making good contact with the post even though it was screwed on tight as crap.

Yeah they are fairly new, maybe a couple years old. But I cleaned them up as well as the battery posts.