1977 Chevy Suburban IGNITION

SOLYMOON

MEMBER
1977 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN
6 CYL
4WD
AUTOMATIC
136,790 MILES

Hi I have the above car and now have a problem with it when I go to start it there is nothing no clicking just dead, then there are times it starts straight away, drive somewhere, go back to the car and here we go it does not start again, just dead, please can you tell me what might be the problem, the starting motor is ok has been taken of and is ok.
Thank you, susana, portugal.

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JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
108,269 POSTS

Hi:
When the problem occurrs, I need you to check if the starter is getting power. Have a helper turn the key to the start position while you check the small wire on the starter for 12 volts. Let me know what you find.

Joe

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Monday, February 2nd, 2009 AT 8:55 AM

SOLYMOON

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Hi thank you for you time, I will get it checked out, wont be untill this weekend but will get back to you with a reply to the volts, susana, thanks again, its good of you to find the time to help me.

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Monday, February 2nd, 2009 AT 3:55 PM

BOWTIE BABY

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101 POSTS

Sometimes on the older chevy cars and trucks, the wire that comes off of the starter solenoid that powers the fuse box gets a bad connect or broken wire. Do you have power anywhere else in the truck, Headlights or anything else. If not you need to check that wire, its the small one that comes off of the battery cable side of the solenoid. Good luck, Rod

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Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009 AT 9:15 PM

SOLYMOON

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Hi thanks for your time and help first, yes it has the lights working, the starting motor itself is ok has been taken apart cleaned and put back on the car, now the car starts when you turn the key, not like before when it was just dead, but now when its runing, after a very short time it turns it self off the motor I mean just stops. Not so long back I got the car stuck in a field with wet mud up to the doors very wet, could it be that the cables that join to the starting motor could be coroded, I have a very good enginer neighbor who is working on this, but he is a bit lost on where to look next, he said he will be shecking the fuse box, take it of and see if all is ok, but may be it could be the conection underneath the car to the starter, whats your thought on this, thanks again for your reply. Susana. Batery terminals seem ok.

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Wednesday, February 4th, 2009 AT 4:28 AM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

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108,269 POSTS

Hi:
If the engine runs and dies all at once, will it start right back up?

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Wednesday, February 4th, 2009 AT 10:18 AM

SOLYMOON

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6 POSTS

YES BUT CUTS OF AGAIN AFTER A LITTLE WHILE,
REGARDS SUSANA.

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Wednesday, February 4th, 2009 AT 3:51 PM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

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108,269 POSTS

Hi Again:
Now I understand. It's the starter that doesn't work. When you took the starter apart, was the solenoid removed and inspected? If it's bad, it may work one time and not the next (just click). Again, to knopw for sure, you have to check for 12 volts at the starter when it doesn't work. Have you done that? I can't remember if you mentioned it.

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Wednesday, February 4th, 2009 AT 4:07 PM

SOLYMOON

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HI AGAIN, NO HAVENT DONE THE 12 VOLTS CHECK YET, THE GUY WHO IS HELPING ME IS AT WORK ALL HOURS, SO I ONLY SEE HIM AT WEEKENDS, THIS WEEKEND IM NOT HERE, SO IT WILL HAVE TO BE THE FOLLOWING ONE. BUT WHEN THIS PROBLEM STARTED, PUT KEY IN TO START, BUT DEAD NO CLICKING, IT HAS NEVER CLICKED, THATS WHAT MADE ME THINK IT HAS TO BE ELECTRIC PROB, BECAUSE IF IT CLICKED THERE WOULD BE LIFE THERE SOMEWHERE, OR AM I WRONG.
SUSANA.

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Wednesday, February 4th, 2009 AT 4:23 PM

SOLYMOON