truck broke down, NEED HELP!!!!

[TheRedRanger]

pulling out of the neighborhood and the engine just cut out, the battery light came on first(the battery has been going but its been fine the last couple days.) but when i turn the key it just clicks. i had it towed home but have no idea where to start. any advice at all would be useful... thanks in advance.

 

[a-5 freak]

sounds like a starter soleniod. Did your battery recharge at all after you started it? might also be a alternator.

 

[TheRedRanger]

well i read ur thread that talked about urs going out, but my lights still go on, the radio and everthing is still getting power. and the battery charges when it starts. lol.

 

[Mark_88]

Loose wire somewhere...start with the ground on the starter...that one always works its' way free on mine...and test the battery if you have a voltmeter...often I can turn on my lights etc but there is not enough juice to crank the starter...

 

[MikeWild]

Check your battery leads, they're know for corroding from the inside. They may look fine, but that's not always the case.

 

[TheRedRanger]

my battery is only pushin 10 volts. thats not enough to start it right? we put a jump start on there and it went to 12.3 volts but it still wouldnt start. i guess ill check the other ideas then. it sounds like its cranking and the starters working, but still nothing...

 

[Pistons23]

is the motor turning over? if the starter is just clicking and not turning over then it could be the starter solenoid. my friends truck had that problem. it just died while he was driving it. turned out to be that solenoid.

 

[a-5 freak]

is the motor turning over? if the starter is just clicking and not turning over then it could be the starter solenoid. my friends truck had that problem. it just died while he was driving it. turned out to be that solenoid.

he said all it did was click, so that means its gotta be the starter solenoid.

 

[fastpakr]

he said all it did was click, so that means its gotta be the starter solenoid.

?
If the relay is clicking, it could still be the starter itself, lack of sufficient power from the battery, or a wiring problem.

 

[Pistons23]

he said all it did was click, so that means its gotta be the starter solenoid.

in his last post he said it sounded like it was cranking and it sounded like the started was working. thats why i asked if it was actually turning over. so it isnt necesarily the starter solenoid. it could be the starter itself or loose wiring.

 

[Mark_88]

Try giving the solenoid on top of the starter a rap with the end of a screwdriver...if it engages after that then your solenoid is sticking and probably on the way out...

You can also try jumping the relay on the firewall by placing a screwdriver across the terminals...but be careful with that because those tend to fry very easily once the plastic housing gets brittle...if it works by jumping that then just replace that part...

But, again, it sounds like just a loose wire...

 

[Hardwareman]

When my 95 did that it ended up being the wiring. I took out my starter and jumped it with some battery cables and determined it was good. It ended up being good as well.

I don't remember which wire it was but you're going to have to check it all out first before just throwing a starter at it. Heck, some auto stores will check the starter for you.




Allen

 

[pocket-rocket]

I agree with Mark. I actually had this same thing happen on my truck not to long ago. When I went to investigate, the wire that hooks to the starter that gets power when you turn the key to the start position had worked its way out. Plugged it back in, and it fired right up.

 

[TheRedRanger]

thanks alot guys, but half the stuff u guys r saying i dont even know how to get to, ill have a couple friends check out wat ur saying. this is a video of wat its doing tho...

VIDE0

 

[pocket-rocket]

That sounds like your timing belt broke. Reason it sounds funny is only two cylinders (from the sound of it) are getting compression because the cam isn't spinning. The starter is working fine, ignore it at this point. Take the plastic cover off of the top front part of the engine and have someone watch to see if your belt is turning when you crank it. Charge your battery too, it sounds a little low.