My Tahoe will only turn over very occasionally...I have replaced every connection to my starter, had starter and battery tested...to no avail...this has been going on for about two years but has now gotten to where I cannot even drive it...I am at the end of my rope. I can't afford to take it to a shop and really need it rrepaired as I am unemployed and trying to find work...
I will try to help, powell. Your start circuit from battery to ignition switch to starter-and back to battery. You may need to check every thing here, including the grounds, for a loose connection, or just possibly a failing part.
If only complaint is intermittent starter action, and no other problems with ignition switch, let's assume switch is good, so battery to ignition switch is good. Now from the switch, a yellow start wire goes to the instrument panel fuse block, to "crank" fuse #8 (10 amp), from there a purple wire goes to the safety switch. If manual it is a clutch pedal position switch (simple on/off switch-when clutch down switch is on). If automatic, purple wire goes to Transmission Range Switch on the transm.-in park or neutral the purple wire has continuity in and out of switch.
From that switch, the purple wire goes to the starter relay (under hood fuse-relay center). Now the relay: purple wire in start will energize the relay- wire goes to coil side of relay, and then coil side goes to ground. On relay power side, the power feed is a red wire-and it is the same red wire that initially sends power to the ignition switch. A 40 amp fuse in fuse-relay center sends power to ignition switch, and a splice goes to the starter relay as the power feed for relay. When relay is energized, contacts close, and power is sent from relay to the starter solenoid, again on a purple wire. When solenoid contacts close, starter motor is connected to the big battery cable on the starter.
There is your start circuit. try a new or different relay, try a new or test the clutch switch (or transm. range switch). Buy a $5 test light and use it to check where power is lost when starter won't operate. Hold key in start and check if fuse #8 is getting power. Check the safety switch, with key held in start, the purple wire should be hot. Check if relay has a power feed (pull relay out and check terminals) and if relay coil has a power signal in start. Check the relay's coil side ground. If that ground is intermittent, relay won't work.
When it won't start, use a test light, you should be able to find it.
Good luck.
So none of this has helped at all...I have replaced wire from relay to starter, bypassed trnsmission safety switch...and still the same exact thing...
I think its time for some effing dynamite...nothing is helping at all, I have no rig, no job, and really soon, no place to live...fml
Wish I could help more. Check if the crank fuse has power to it with key held in start. Is the power feed at the starter relay showing power-should be hot at all times-one terminal where relay plugs in. Someone may need to do a "voltage drop" test from battery to starter. If you bridge the two posts at the starter-the big battery cable to the post where the purple wire connects, it should make the starter motor operate (with key off). That will verifdy the starter motor has juice to crank-it should crank over-be careful of anything in the way of the belts when the engine starts spinning over. Is your saecurity light on or flashing? That could have immobilised the start circuit.
That's just it, when I tested the voltages at the starter, I had nothing from the relay, but I can hear the relay working, which is why I changed the wire down to starter...I will test it again when I have some help here..Thanks
If you hear the relay work, hear it click, then you may be good to that point. Make sure the feed to the relay is hot. Possible the relay itself-the electrical contacts inside are not connecting to shoot power on to the starter. If another relay on the car has the same part number on it, try swapping relays. Often they will use the same relay for different applications.
I messed with the relays, the AC and Starter have the same relay, so I swapped them out and it did nothing so I changed them back and now its turning over. I am guessing I have a bad connection at the relay or inside the relay, maybe in the fuse block. Thanks for all of your help!!! Don't know that ot's solved, but its turning over and its only done that like 6 times since June.
Good to hear. And best regards.
Ok, so after that, I got nothing since. Today I crawled under it and tried to bridge the starter itself and it did nothing at all, just sparked a bit, but the motor won't turn over, starter doesn't engage...
Add a CommentI had the key on when I did that, I also tried it with the key off, but nothing
Yes, bridging those two terminals should have started the engine cranking. It just sparked? Man, that sounds like a bad starter. Only other possibility would be a lost connection between battery, starter, and ground. The starter motor itself is case grounded to the engine by the starter mounting bolts making it tight.
and, I intended to add, check the battery ground, the engine to body ground strap, and the battery positive to starter connections. If all good, I'd say your starter should be taken off and tested again.
Thanks very much, that helps a lot
×
SOURCE: '96 Chevy Tahoe won't start
i had similar problem. hard to start in morning but once started, would start everytime until next morning. i changed fuel pump, filter, fuel pressure regulator, coil, cap, rotor, pickup coil, battery. i was finally told the '96 had a recall on the fuel injection assemby. i changed that out with the new mpf system and it solved the problem. runs like a striped ape. hope this helps.
james bentley
1,551 views
Usually answered in minutes!
×