Hey guys, so i'm not 100% sure if this is electrical or not but i dont see what else could be going wrong. This is only the 2nd time its happened in 4 months but it worries me in case I end up stuck out in the bush. I drive a 1988 pickup v6 efi.

So the first time it happened i left my truck sitting for 5 days while i went on a trip and when i came back the truck just would not start, it turns over a couple of times at first but it slows quickly and than stops altogether. If i leave the truck in acc mode the battery gauge says its at around half way when normally i'm always generally closer to a higher charge. I also hear the CTM in the glove box click which is good but other than that nothing after trying to start it once or twice. It's deffinetly not my battery because my cd deck and dash clock are hard wired to my battery and they will still work perfectly (we tried jumping it before i realized this and melted a terminal haha). The only way i can get it started is with a push start. I took it to my buddy whose a mechanic at the shop and it would start every time that they tried and nobody there had a clue what it could be, His boss said it could be a worn solenoid and it wont start in hot weather occasionally but this morning i woke up and this all happened for the second time except I drove the truck 10 hours prior to starting it this time and also i live on vancouver island and it was exceptionally cold all night and this morning when I tried.

Sorry for the essay guys but i really need to figure this out asap!! Thanks ya'll!

ps: once i get it started once, it will start every time after that

 

Starter contacts inside the starter worn out?

A paragraph or two would be nice on the eyes

 

I'll go check right now, the problem is that it might be another 3 months til i found out if i fixed it or not haha. and also the fact that i absolutely hate anything electrical on a vehicle and until i take a course on it I have no idea what i'm dealing with.

 

Try checking the voltage at the starter solenoid:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...shtml#EasyTest

Check it now when it starts OK, record the value then next time it acts up, recheck the voltage and see if it is different. If not, it may be the contacts as they tend to act up intermittently at first, maybe every month or two then getting more frequent as they continue to wear out. If the voltage is different (lower) when the truck won't start, then it is something upstream of the starter:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...l#OtherOptions

 

It never fails! I start researching a problem and your name pops up with the solution! you rock 4Crawler! thank you!

so this is the kit from Painless I need? P/N 30201
Hot Shot Plus With Engine Bump Switch Relay Kit



http://www.shopatron.com/products/pr...er=30201/302.0

 

That looks like the kit I used. There is also one w/o the separate switch that costs a bit less.

 

I spent the extra $ and went with the switch version...Thanks again 4Crawler you have saved me again!