No crank/no start nightmare

Tiny
BFRAZER
  • MEMBER
  • 2000 CHEVROLET S-10
  • 4.3L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 159,000 MILES
Just bought truck so I do not know much about the history. When I bought it, it had a blown head gasket. I had it towed to my house. I replaced both head gaskets and all the rest of the gaskets above the heads. Got everything put back together, turn the key, and does not even get a click. I checked for power at the #30, #87, #85 terminals of my starter relay. I have 12 volts at these terminals. What I do not have is 12 volts in the start position, when I jump the #85, and #86 terminals of my starter relay. I took the cover off off the relay, and when its plugged in, I can close the contacts manually, and the engine will crank over. I can even get it to run if I prime it first. I checked for 12 volts at the crank fuse, okay. I checked for 12 volts at the purple wire at the park/neutral switch in the start position, okay. I manually jumped the purple to the purple with white stripe wires at the park/neutral switch, nothing happens. I checked for continuity on the purple with white stripe wire from the park/neutral switch to the #87 terminal on the starter relay, okay. That is where I am at now. What do I check next? Should the #86 terminal be a ground? I believe it is opened. I saw a step by step method on here for checking the circuit. I did that and it brought me to where I am now, lost.
Friday, September 2nd, 2016 AT 12:39 PM

11 Replies

Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,757 POSTS
Check for a missing ground on the back of the right cylinder head.
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Friday, September 2nd, 2016 AT 1:07 PM
Tiny
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I did that, that was my number one suspect. I have checked that more than once to make sure I have a solid ground. I am thinking I need to check the #86 terminal wire on my relay to wherever it goes for continuity.
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Friday, September 2nd, 2016 AT 1:52 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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Pin 86 goes directly to that ground on the engine.
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Friday, September 2nd, 2016 AT 1:56 PM
Tiny
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So that black wire that grounds to the back of the head on the right side is a direct connection to #86 of my starter relay? I was thinking that the #86 terminal turned into a yellow/black wire and it ran to the #76 terminal of the PCM? I am going to go put hands on my truck and do a continuity test from #86 to both.
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Friday, September 2nd, 2016 AT 2:12 PM
Tiny
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Does anyone have a good detailed schematic for my trucks starting circuit they can send me?
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Friday, September 2nd, 2016 AT 2:13 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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Yes, that is what I said.

https://www.2carpros.com/images/external/85086884.gif
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Friday, September 2nd, 2016 AT 2:14 PM
Tiny
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Okay, I am 100% sure that my ground wire is good. I have 12 volts on the #30 terminal in the start position, I have 12 volts on the #87 terminal, but I am only getting.374 volts on the #85 terminal in the stasrt position. That is the starter relay terminals in the distribution box. Help!
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Friday, September 2nd, 2016 AT 5:38 PM
Tiny
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Okay, so the #85 terminal goes from the relay, to the park/neutral switch through the purple with white stripe wire. I checked the continuity on that wire and it is good, (.000). I tried jumping the purple with white stripe wire to the purple wire down at the park/neutral switch. Nothing happens. I do have 12 volts at that plug on the purple wire in the start position.
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Friday, September 2nd, 2016 AT 5:42 PM
Tiny
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That only powers in the "start" position. It comes from the neutral safety switch.

Check the 10 amp crank fuse in the under-hood fuse box.
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Friday, September 2nd, 2016 AT 5:43 PM
Tiny
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So, everything is kind of pointing towards the park/neutral switch? I do have 12 volts at the crank fuse also.
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Friday, September 2nd, 2016 AT 5:45 PM
Tiny
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If you have power at the Purple with white wire, then you should have it at the relay also. If not, the fuse box could have a problem.
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Friday, September 2nd, 2016 AT 5:46 PM

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