my truck wont start, where to start?

[rangergirl1990]

I don't plan on checking into any of this myself, unless it is SUPER basic. The point is I don't want a mechanic charging me to flush this and replace that if the problem is a tiny wire or something. So any best guesses based off my description would be greatly appreciated!

A few months ago my car began having issues starting. On the first try it would ch-ch-ch-ch-ch, but not start, and on the second try it would roar right up just fine. It never took more than two tries, and sometimes only took one try. Then last week I got in and turned the key and just got one loud CLICK of failure. When the key was half turned my music, lights, and power windows worked, but when turned all the way I kept getting one single click/clonk sound. Not quite sure how to describe it. I was able to get it started after 4 or 5 attempts, and for the next few times I drove it either started fine or did the ch-ch-ch-ch one time before starting. Then I got the big CLICK again yesterday and it took what seemed like 100 tries to start. I plan on takin the ol' girl in tomorrow and we tend to get screwed at the mechanic. Thanks in advance for reading and responding!

 

[azreb]

The first thing I would check is the battery terminals. They could be corroded. A good mechanic will check that before the expensive things. It might be a loose connection somewhere in the circuit. That could take more time to isolate, but I wouldn't expect it to be an expensive fix. Good luck.

 

[adsm08]

My list of top suspects would be a bad wire/connection somewhere around the battery, then the battery itself and then the starter.

I have been working in dealerships for 5 years now. I have never seen anyone recommend to flush anything for a no start or hard start condition. I think the closest thing I have ever seen to that was the time I sold a guy a fuel filter when he brought it in for a hard start, and frankly that had more to do with the filter not being changed in 80,000 miles.

 

[rangergirl1990]

My list of top suspects would be a bad wire/connection somewhere around the battery, then the battery itself and then the starter.

I have been working in dealerships for 5 years now. I have never seen anyone recommend to flush anything for a no start or hard start condition. I think the closest thing I have ever seen to that was the time I sold a guy a fuel filter when he brought it in for a hard start, and frankly that had more to do with the filter not being changed in 80,000 miles.

Nobody has recommended I flush anything yet- but good to know that is not the answer if they do! Any time I have ever taken my truck in for a problem there's been multiple things fixed or replaced or flushed before the problem Is fixed. Hoping this won't be a repeat. I wish someone would just have had these exact symptoms and could give me and answer! Since power Is fine for my lights, radio, etc, could the actual battery still be the problem?

 

[tad]

Lights and such can work fine with a bad battery connection. After you disconnect and clean the terminals, and you still have the problem, I'd move on to the starter.

A common problem is the starter approaching end-of-life. If this is the issue, you can try tapping on the starter with a hammer. If it starts up afterward, the starter is going bad and you know what your mechanic should fix.

If it still doesn't start, check the connections on the starter and the starter solenoid (triangle-shaped box with two posts, on the driver's side toward the rear of the engine bay).

 

[CheapRanger]

Since power Is fine for my lights, radio, etc, could the actual battery still be the problem?

Yes, it still could. One reason, is voltage drop, where you have 12 volts going to everything, but you have a wire problem that causes an increase in resistance, so the amperage isn't there. (think of a faucet, crack it open and you still get water, but not enough pressure to water the yard)

Do you have access to a multimeter? YouTube has links on how to use one to check the battery voltage, which is a simple check you could do (not going to get into voltage drop tests) that you can use for other things as well (batteries in other things at the house). You could also climb under the car and look for loose or hanging wires. Those are some basic, peace of mind tests.

 

[spraymonkey]

like everyone else has said, check your terminals and follow the wires going back to the starter, and checking for resistance is good too, you may have a broken wire(s) inside the insulation and not even know it. But it to me it sounds like your solenoid on the starter is taking a dump, Solenoids purpose is to "PUSH" the armature and gear out and mesh with the flwheel. So for me i would look at the solenoid, on the starter, if you dont know what that is there are two basic parts, The starter itself which is quite big, and on top of it is a little mini version, that is your solenoid.