Will not start

ROTORY-POWER

MEMBER
1999 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN

I have a 1500 4x4 5.7L with 173,000 miles. The vehicle has been sitting for about three years, but prior to that I was having intermittent starting problems which I found to be a loose connection inside the starter solenoid. I am going to be using the vehicle again and just went ahead and replaced the starter with a brand new (not rebuilt) Autolite one. It is the gear reduction starter. That did not solve my problem so I decided to replace the ignition switch (from a Chevrolet dealer). That did not do it either. The fuses are all good and I replaced the starter relay under the hood. I also just put in two brand new batteries and all the lights, stereo, etc. Work just fine. I can also hear the fuel pump turn on (they are very loud on these). All I can hear when I turn the key is the click of the relay, it does not even try to crank. Any help is greatly appreciated!

5 Replies

SERVICE WRITER

MECHANIC
9,123 POSTS

I know it sounds redundant, but there are three fuses to be sure are good:

IGN A (40 Amp)-maxifuse.
IGN C (20 Amp).
Both in under-hood fuse relay center.

Crank (10 amp) in the left instrument panel fuse block.

I have seen techs overlook one of these and get tripped up.

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Friday, October 4th, 2019 AT 3:43 PM

RASMATAZ

MECHANIC
75,992 POSTS

Lets play-double check all your connections at battery and starter even to engine with the ground-and the firewall.

Now here is how the circuit goes:

The power comes from the ignition switch to the crank fuse 10amp in the I/P fuse block on left side of dash, from there it will go to the transmission range switch out from there it goes to the starter relay, then to the starter solenoid S terminal which is the purple wire.

Do not understand it see: below

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Friday, October 4th, 2019 AT 3:43 PM

ROTORY-POWER

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9 POSTS

Thanks Service Writer and rasmataz. I have again double-checked all the fuses (in left dash and under hood) and they are all good still. I also just double-checked all the connections between the batteries and starter positive the grounds and they are all secure and correct.

I did just notice that I am now not hearing the click of the starter relay when I turn the key though. This now leads me to believe that it may be the transmission range switch? Any ideas on that? Where is it located and how can I check to see if that is the problem without actually replacing it first?

Thanks again for all your help!

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Friday, October 4th, 2019 AT 3:43 PM

RASMATAZ

MECHANIC
75,992 POSTS

It is on the left side of the transmission verify the wires. Now locate the plain purple and purple/white jump this two together and attempt to start. This will eliminate the TRS. Does not work, have someone put key in start position while you look for power at purple wire-not there we are right back to the fuse and ignition switch. If it is there check the purple/white wire it has to come out of there to get to the solenoid-not there do something with the TRS-either you replace it or try to adjust it.

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Friday, October 4th, 2019 AT 3:43 PM

ROTORY-POWER

MEMBER
9 POSTS

I solved the problem!

I tried all of the above and got nothing, so I went back to the relay, took it off and jumped it! Imagine my surprise when I turned the key and it actually started! I guess the "new" relay that I bought was not actually new.

For anybody who is reading this and having the same problem, try the following to determine if it is just your relay that is bad (based on my vehicle stated above, yours may be slightly different):
1. Remove the starter relay from inside the fuse box under the hood.
2. Place a piece of wire between the 85 and 87 terminals where you pulled the relay from, which should be the two closest to the driver side fender (be 1000% certain that the wire does not touch anything else).
3. Try to start the truck using the key, if it starts then you have a bad relay, if it does not then the problem is something else.

Thanks again rasmataz for all of your help, I wish I would have found this site before I replaced the ignition switch! I have a couple more problems that I need to address, so if I cannot figure them out I will be back again soon!