At times I will turn key and get nothing, I have power as the dash lights come on but no turnover of the starter not a noise or a tick. then several miutes later it will start right up. any ideas???

 

First check you connection to the battery. Take them off and sand the terminals a bit. Then I would check your ground wire. Lastly your starter may need to be rebuilt with some new brushes.

 

if it was a bad battery connection you would get no power whatsoever to any dome, or dash lights. sounds to me like u have a really poor ground, or its time for a rebuilt starter.

 

Sounds like the starter to me. Mine is doing that too and it's starter. The other day I turned the key and the solenoid stuck and even when I turned the key off the starter was still turning the motor over. I had to hit it with a hammer to get it to stop.

 

Sounds similar to my issue that I'm having. Bad ground. Test it by hooking a jumper cable from the negative battery post to the trucks frame and see if the problem persists. If not, bad ground. Mine is turning out to be a bad ground and positive line to the starter. Good Luck.

 

would the starter still be the problem if it turns when jumpered?

 

Mine did that and it was the 20 year old starter solenoid contact...it can work itself loose. I cut it off and put on a new connector, no problems since. If not that, try hitting your starter with a hammer next time like mentioned and see if it starts afterwards. New starter contacts might help too.

 

actually if the battery ground cable is loose it'll provide enough amperage to run things like lights and stereos but it'll choke on high draws like starters or winches. tighten those battery clamps!