So my starter would perodically not start the truck. I could get under there and tap on the starter and it would crank.

I saw a few posts on here where you could replace the contacts, I called around and found them at the stealership. When I installed them I noticed that one of the contacts had a longer tab on one side than the other side. It took a few minuites but I figured it out. Put the starter back on and walla it cranks. Drove it for a few days and noticed that every now and then it would hesitate to start just like before. Finially I went to start it after a few days and nothing!!! Didnt even try to tap the started, just got mad and jumped into my other truck and left. A few days later I went to crank it and it cranked fine, never moved from that spot. In the past if it wouldnt crank you could tap the starter and it would crank, if I waited a few days and came back to it I would still have to tap it to crank it. Now Im puzzeled.

The thing I noticed is that it would crank fine and after you drive it to a location and shut it off it might still hesitate (as in nothing) to crank. Keep turning the key over and it would crank

Do I just need to get a new starter ( i dont think so). Or is there a relay I should be looking at?

Any advise would be helpful....sorry for the spelling. Ill be back on later tonight

Thanks
Shawn

 

ive had a problem kinda like this before with my other car. it wouldnt start but a jump start and it would start with no problem. the starter solenoid can go bad without the starter going aswell so next time it does it try and jump start it and see if the problem still happens.

 

Have you checked your battery?

 

yup checked the battery....cant jump start cause its an automatic....thanks though

Anyone else?

 

Your wire connector to starter is lose. Cut off and replace.

:wabbit2:

 

Isn't a "jump start" when you use jumper cables from another vehicle to augment your own battery power? I'm pretty sure you can do that with an automatic (in Park, of course).

Are either of you talking of (what I call) a "push start," where you push (a manual) in neutral and then ease off the clutch to turn the motor over?

 

^^ you beat me too it. lol yes you can jump start a auto....

 

Sounds like my problem, almost exact same description.

Turned out being my ignition switch. I installed a "starter button"

On my 1986 there is no starter relay, it runs right from the key switch.

One time it would start, another nothing. Funny thing was, I could jump it everytime, that is what fooled me for so long, still can not explain why.

But I put the started button on last summer and have yet to have the first problem.

You can check this by jumping power to the control wire on the starter, mine was easy to get to behind the wheel on the passenger side.

 

Sorry dude...thought were talking about pushing it off......yes it does start when u jump start it.

I will take a look at that wabbit....thanks.

Seagull...thanks...i have an extra parts truck I can rob a key switch from if what wabbit said doesnt work..

In fact..thanks all, yall have been very helpful !!!!!

 

WHERE IS THE STARTER RELAY PLEASE? Someone who has seen it or replaced it.

The origional starter wouldnt start sometimes and at last after tapping it, I thought the contacts were stuck, because it would just start by its self. So i replaced it and still nothing. I replaced the ignition and still nothing. I think it is the relay and I cant find it.

 

I also did run a hot wire from the battery to the small wire on the side of the starter and it started but sometimes the starter would keep on turning over. That told me that the connections are good and battery is hot.

 

?????

 

Awww come on...nobody knows...Where is wabbit?

 

Did you check/replace the spade/blade connector that plugs into the starter like I suggested?

:wabbit2:

 

No I have not cut it off yet. Tested it and it is getting 10 volts but I think it's supposed to get 12 volts. Connect the battery to the starter and it starts and runs but the starter is still engaged. Would that plug cause a 2 volt drop?

 

go buy new power and ground leads...

it will not hurt..

the more grounds you have the better..

once that is taken care of, and it still wount work

you need to put a mulitmeter on the wire the go's to the solenoid and ground the other part of the mulitmeter. and you should get 12 volts when the the ignition is turned to start.

i think you actually might have a bad spot in the armature of your starter...

 

Ok I replaced it and nothing. I did jump the starter again and when I took the hot wire off the battery terminal, it still turned over

 

Ok will try that tomorrow but I think I have a good ground because when I hook a hot wire to the starter it starts but the starter won't disengage when I take the hot wire off and the starter is new

 

When I turn the switch I'm getting 11 volts. Will that turn the starter or do I need 12 volts

 

?????