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No Start One Day, Start The Next

Big T

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Location
Fullerton, CA
This is my son's '94 K2500. He reported that after sitting for 2 weeks the truck would not start after cranking the engine over for 20 seconds, 5x in a row. Just nothing. Then the next day he went out to start it and it fired immediately, again and again. Unlike my '99, he has a new starter that turns the engine over quickly. The CEL is not on. I will try to pull codes this weekend.

As it's not my truck and I'm not driving it, it's hard for me to gauge this. He has a PMD mounted in the bumper and has experience some stalling events. Truck has 285K miles on it and we do not know when the IP was last replaced.

He has a spare PMD, though has misplaced it at the moment. I think we'll start there. Also plane to upgrade lift pump to the early model Walbro FRC 10 with Leroy's harness and pre-filter. Injectors were changed at 245K miles.
 
I'd be suspecting an intermittent power issue, maybe ign switch etc

Son says yes to ignition switch problems. He'll turn the key and all he gets is a "click". No starter turnover, like a dead battery. When that happens, he turns the key off and back on and it will then start right up. This happens very infrequent, like about once every 100 starts.
 
Son says yes to ignition switch problems. He'll turn the key and all he gets is a "click". No starter turnover, like a dead battery. When that happens, he turns the key off and back on and it will then start right up. This happens very infrequent, like about once every 100 starts.
Could be a loose nut or ad connection on the solenoid terminal of the starter.
 
When you know there is an intermittent problem like his iggy switch is known- begin there. Get it replaced first.

Then when he finds the spare pmd, buy a second heatsink and a plug end filled with silicone from Leroy if he sells them, otherwise junkyard make your own or Blue hummer sells them. Then mount the dang thing where it can be used. What if that sucker dies on the freeway? He can move the wire in 10 secnds and get out of there before getting smashed by a 20 car pile up.
 
If the cel doesn't come on when the key is turned on, you know the ECM isn't getting power as one of the 1st things it does when powered is perform a lamp check. Start with the intermittent power issue. 94 still uses the old style ignition switches that would cause all kinds of issues.
 
OK, do we need the switch or also the lock? He also has the turn signal not returning to off after left hand turns. Do we get a new switch for that? I assume that when your replacing the ignition switch, the turn signal is also right there.
 
Just the ignition switch- no lock

Just the turn signal switch- no stalk

Mess around with the hazard switch, ensure it works proper. Those went bad frequently also. If in doubt, replace it also while there.

All factory parts only -no aftermarket crap here- it is too annoying to fix twice.
 
Turn signal could be a bad cam, horn brush ring is same part, or broken spring. @THEFERMANATOR is dead on for knowing if things are powering up from the SES lights. Just one exception: if you don't wait 30+ seconds for the ECM to power off after switching the ignition to off the lamp test will NOT happen. (Or the results will be unpredictable.) The Caps in the ECM keep it on for 30 seconds after key off.

Are we talking about the Krap starter solenoids that have been plaguing 6.x starter rebuilds for over 6 years now? Like this?

 
Just the ignition switch- no lock

Just the turn signal switch- no stalk

Mess around with the hazard switch, ensure it works proper. Those went bad frequently also. If in doubt, replace it also while there.

All factory parts only -no aftermarket crap here- it is too annoying to fix twice.

He says hazard switch works. I ordered AC Delco OEM for the ignition switch and turn signal switch. Honestly, I've been after him to get on the turn signal since he got the truck. Now we'll finally do it.
 
Turn signal could be a bad cam, horn brush ring is same part, or broken spring. @THEFERMANATOR is dead on for knowing if things are powering up from the SES lights. Just one exception: if you don't wait 30+ seconds for the ECM to power off after switching the ignition to off the lamp test will NOT happen. (Or the results will be unpredictable.) The Caps in the ECM keep it on for 30 seconds after key off.

Are we talking about the Krap starter solenoids that have been plaguing 6.x starter rebuilds for over 6 years now? Like this?


No, he said it would be like 1 out of 100 start attempts. He did install a NAPA starter. It turns it over fast when it operates.

We're going to try the ignition switch and the turn signal switch.
 
This is what the most recent start looked like yesterday, after failing to even turnover the day prior.

 
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