Greeting all, just tried to start my '94 22-RE pickup (2WD, 5-spd manual). I'd just come in from the usual drive home, went to go out again about an hour later. It started to crank as usual then just went DEAD. So, about 1-2 seconds normal crank and then nothing. Battery is fairly new and I just had the starter replaced in March of this year. It has been starting like a champ since then.

I tried again about an hour later and that time, could hear a very faint click from the passenger footwell area. It's not the typical low-battery click, it's faster and softer. The dash lights come on, dim at first then they brighten. They dim when the clutch is in and go out entirely with the brake pedal depressed. No click with the brake depressed. And yes, I made sure the clutch was entirely depressed before turning the key. This truck is pretty bare-bones and doesn't have a clutch start cancel switch that I know of.

I plan to get it towed in Monday, but wanted to see if anyone had suggestions in the meantime. If there's something simple that a total newb could check, I'd rather learn something that just sit back and wait. Any ideas?

 

try a jump start or put a volt meter on the battery to see if it's charged. make sure your battery cable ends are tight.

 

Battery cable ends are indeed tight. I don't have another vehicle handy to jump it at the moment, though I did round up a helper to turn the key. Determined that the clicking noise is coming from the starter relay. Not sure if that helps narrow anything down.

I may have a volt meter around, will have to look.

 

THIS IS JUST A GUESS: I'm suspecting the starter relay is also wired wrong on this model-year, just like JPL's 1991, 22RE 5-speed and these ones: https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f199...l#post52368225
THIS^^^ IS NOT A PROVEN FACT, BUT let us prove or dis-prove it.

How about the starter solenoid. Does it click energetically?

THAT'S THE SPIRIT!
Yes. Check if the starter solenoid, its contact and the starter motor are all working here:
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f199...l#post52367443

Then let us know.
YES, also find your multi-meter. you may need it.

 

Loose or dirty connection, a partially blown FL, and or weak battery.

Test voltage on the battery posts, the battery cables, then on the fuse block in the engine bay.

Test resistance from battery post negative to the chassis.

This ones s long shot.. Disconnect battery positive test for a short to ground in the brake lights positive wire, like a bad trailer harness shorting.

 

While you are looking for your multi-meter, Like AKwheeler AND Co_94 say above, all connections to battery positive and negative should have bare, shiny metal tightly touching bare, shiny metal​​.

 

Naked shiny metal !!

I wonder if something vibrated loose on the starter .

I had a friend get a rebuilt of unknown quality one of the fasteners holding the contacts a few months into the mission vibrated enough to cause a open circuit .

What a royal pain that was to find till it was all over

 

Hi all, thanks so much for the informative supplies! Still have not found the meter but I'm sure there is one out there. I should have some time later today to check a few things.

Unfortunately I may already know the answer. There's been a persistent oil leak somewhere in the back of the engine, not much but enough to leave a little spot whenever I park. I now suspect it has leaked all over/into the starter and that's the issue. It's odd to me though that the truck has not been doing anything out of the ordinary at all, no slow starts, no hesitating, nothing. That last try, it started to crank as vigorously as it always does, and then nothing, like somebody flipped a switch.

I'll still get out there and test a few things. If I'm lucky and it's just a bad fuse, I promise to take this as a wake-up call and get that leak fixed.

 

A "bad fuse" doesn't happen. If there is a "blown fuse" it is because the current in that circuit was too high for the fuse rating and is an indication of a short circuit. even if you replace the fuse and it starts right up there is still the issue of why the fuse blew in the first place.